Abstract
Are heterogeneous customers always good for iterative innovation? To address this question, building on the knowledge-based view and cognitive load theory, we investigate the impact of customer heterogeneity on software products’ iterative innovation and how such relationship changes with firms’ absorptive capacity. Using a dataset on software product iterative innovation of publicly listed firms in China from 2007 to 2019, the findings support our prediction that software products’ iterative innovation follows an inverted U-shape as customer heterogeneity increases, which indicates that a high level of customer heterogeneity impedes software products’ iterative innovation. Moreover, this nonlinear effect is moderated by a firm’s absorptive capacity such that the inflection point of the inverted U-shaped curve is shifted upward in firms with high levels of absorptive capacity, enhancing the impact of customer heterogeneity on software products’ iterative innovation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
