Dynamics in the Origins of Technological Knowledge in Early Firm Years: Implications for New Product Introductions

Abstract

We document how, in the early years of high-technology firms, the origination of technological knowledge starts with firm founders, then shifts to other firm members, and, later on, shifts to external stakeholders. We further show that greater reliance on founder technological knowledge is initially positively but later on negatively associated with new product introductions, whereas the opposite relationship holds for reliance on firm member and external stakeholder technological knowledge. By assessing the dynamics and effects of technological knowledge origins on new product introductions, involving founders, firm members, and external stakeholders, we offer new empirical and theoretical insights pertaining to the role of technological knowledge in the growth of high-technology firms.