A Relational Contingency Perspective of How Future Focus Affects Innovation Performance

Abstract

Extending the theories of temporal attention orientation with a contingency perspective, this study examines if and how different managerial ties and firm context influence the impact of managerial future focus on the market performance of new product innovations. We propose that while managerial future focus can be conducive to the market performance of new products, this effect could be contingent on managers’ network ties. We further argue for the interplay between the moderating effects of managerial network ties and industrial parks where firms have special access to relevant resources through institutional arrangements. Using a set of first- hand survey data of about 470 firms from various industries in China, we demonstrate that managerial future focus does facilitate the success of new product innovation in the market. In fact, this effect is amplified when managers utilize more external network ties. We also reveal that the positive effect of managerial future focus and the moderating effects of ...