The Influence of Network Position on Executives’ Preference for Imitation over Innovation: A Scenario-Based Experimental Approach
This study investigates how the different dimensions of a firm’s network position influence executives’ preference for imitation over innovation in new venture development, thus reflecting their preference for uncertainty. Through a scenario-based experimental approach involving 1024 responses from...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/1/4 |
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| author | Guojian Zhang Francis Boadu Yu Xie |
| author_facet | Guojian Zhang Francis Boadu Yu Xie |
| author_sort | Guojian Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates how the different dimensions of a firm’s network position influence executives’ preference for imitation over innovation in new venture development, thus reflecting their preference for uncertainty. Through a scenario-based experimental approach involving 1024 responses from 64 senior executives, we examine how network centrality, structural equivalence, and structural autonomy shape these strategic preferences. The findings reveal that firms with higher network centrality tend to favor innovation over imitation more strongly. At the same time, those in structurally equivalent positions show a greater preference for imitation. Structural autonomy does not significantly affect these preferences. This study contributes to the literature by revealing how different network structures uniquely influence strategic decision-making in uncertain environments, offering valuable insights for scholars and practitioners. The scenario-based experimental method enhances the precision of the findings and provides actionable implications for real-world decision-making in venture development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01e7c3d162a040c8b0d1ea75850d5ae1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-8954 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-01e7c3d162a040c8b0d1ea75850d5ae12025-01-24T13:50:26ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542024-12-01131410.3390/systems13010004The Influence of Network Position on Executives’ Preference for Imitation over Innovation: A Scenario-Based Experimental ApproachGuojian Zhang0Francis Boadu1Yu Xie2School of Management and Economics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, ChinaFaculty of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi P.O. Box 854, GhanaResearch Center for Enterprise Management, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, ChinaThis study investigates how the different dimensions of a firm’s network position influence executives’ preference for imitation over innovation in new venture development, thus reflecting their preference for uncertainty. Through a scenario-based experimental approach involving 1024 responses from 64 senior executives, we examine how network centrality, structural equivalence, and structural autonomy shape these strategic preferences. The findings reveal that firms with higher network centrality tend to favor innovation over imitation more strongly. At the same time, those in structurally equivalent positions show a greater preference for imitation. Structural autonomy does not significantly affect these preferences. This study contributes to the literature by revealing how different network structures uniquely influence strategic decision-making in uncertain environments, offering valuable insights for scholars and practitioners. The scenario-based experimental method enhances the precision of the findings and provides actionable implications for real-world decision-making in venture development.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/1/4social networkuncertainty preferenceimitationinnovationscenario-based experimentstrategic decision-making |
| spellingShingle | Guojian Zhang Francis Boadu Yu Xie The Influence of Network Position on Executives’ Preference for Imitation over Innovation: A Scenario-Based Experimental Approach Systems social network uncertainty preference imitation innovation scenario-based experiment strategic decision-making |
| title | The Influence of Network Position on Executives’ Preference for Imitation over Innovation: A Scenario-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_full | The Influence of Network Position on Executives’ Preference for Imitation over Innovation: A Scenario-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Network Position on Executives’ Preference for Imitation over Innovation: A Scenario-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Network Position on Executives’ Preference for Imitation over Innovation: A Scenario-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_short | The Influence of Network Position on Executives’ Preference for Imitation over Innovation: A Scenario-Based Experimental Approach |
| title_sort | influence of network position on executives preference for imitation over innovation a scenario based experimental approach |
| topic | social network uncertainty preference imitation innovation scenario-based experiment strategic decision-making |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/1/4 |
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