Innovation increasingly originates from search strategies and processes where knowledge is constantly added, deleted, transformed, recombined or simply reinterpreted in multiple ways.

Although the literature is often focused on the ‘where’ to search in the opportunity landscape, being it real or virtual, as well as in which time period; a second relevant perspective focuses instead on the ‘how’ to search. Topics such as ‘luck vs. foresight’ and ‘emergent vs. deliberate strategies’ have long been of scholarly and managerial interest. For instance, exaptation (process where features acquire functions for which they were not originally adapted or selected) plays an important role in search processes.

This track at the R&D Management Conference will engage in an interdisciplinary discussion of the theoretical and empirical implications of studying search strategies and their implications on innovative performance including:

• use of analogical thinking to identify distant opportunities
• role of serendipity and contextual factors in search processes
• order between problem formulation and solutions in problem-solving
• adoption of open innovation practices to push the boundaries of the organizations further out making them more permeable to knowledge inflows and outflows.

We asked track co-chair Dr Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli. Innovation Management, Polytechnic University of Bari for his views.

1. What do you think are the most disruptive influences impacting developments in your track?

Scholars are studying novel search strategies, which offer new perspectives and directions to conduct R&D strategies, for example temporal boundary spanning.

2. Can you describe some recent findings in this area that are of interest to you personally?

Recently it has been demonstrated that firms may gain benefits from leveraging past resources and knowledge. Indeed, searching over time may allow firms to create value through new products and services and then create superior competitive advantage by capturing value from this innovation.

3. If someone was new to this topic what would you suggest they read to get a quick overview of the issues?

Savino, T., Messeni Petruzzelli, A., Albino, V. (2017). Search and recombination process to innovate: A review of the empirical evidence and a research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, Vol. 19, pp. 54-75.

Proponents of the track: Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli; Francesco Paolo Appio; Pierpaolo Andrian

More information about the R&D Management Conference