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Effect of exploitation and exploration on the innovative as outcomes in entrepreneurial firms

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Abstract

The main aim of this study is to establish the effect of the Exploitation and Exploration; and the influence of these learning flows on the Innovative Outcome (IO). The Innovative Outcome refers to new products, services, processes (or improvements) that the organization has obtained as a result of an innovative process. For this purpose, a relationship model is defined, which is empirically contrasted, and can explains and predicts the cyclical dynamization of learning flows on innovative outcome in knowledge intensive firms. The quantitative test for this model use the data from entrepreneurial firms biotechnology sector. The statistical analysis applies a method based on variance using Partial Least Squares (PLS). Research results confirm the hypotheses, that is, they show a positive dynamic effect between the Exploration and the Innovative as outcomes. In the same vein, they results confirm the presence of the cyclic movement of innovative outcome with the Exploitation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Universitat Politècnica de València (Proyectos Internos de Investigación de las Estructuras de I + D).

Funding

In addition, this research is part of the Project ECO2015–71380-R funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and the State Research Agency. Co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

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Correspondence to M. Begoña Lloria.

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Vargas, N., Begoña Lloria, M., Salazar, A. et al. Effect of exploitation and exploration on the innovative as outcomes in entrepreneurial firms. Int Entrep Manag J 14, 1053–1069 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-018-0496-5

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