Business networks along innovation life cycle

Abstract

Purpose– This paper aims to investigate how the relationships among the different actors within the business networks affect the evolution of innovation along the different steps of technology life cycle.Design/methodology/approach– The study is supported by a longitudinal case study referred to a mechanical company operating in the knitting machineries industry. A triangulation method integrating multiple data sources in a multiple method design was used to gather data.Findings– The longitudinal study supports the idea that interactions among the actors within the business networks heavily influence the technology evolution.Research limitations/implications– Although the longitudinal case study reported in this paper refers to a period of time of about 10 years, our findings refer only to a single case study in a specific sector and so they cannot be generalized.Practical implications– This paper provides important guidelines on how to manage the relationships emerging within a business network to influence the new technologies development.Originality/value– The paper contributes to business networks literature, filling the gaps about how the relationships among the actors involved in a network can evolve over time and influence the evolution of technology in itself.