Leveraging Reconstruction of Resources in Resource Constrained R&D Settings Through Social Skills

Abstract

Innovative outcomes of R&D employees play a crucial role in sustaining competitive advantage for hi-tech firms. These inventors often deal with financial and resource constraints within emerging economies. In this research, we integrate social exchange theory and bricolage theory to explain how activities and R&D project outcomes of inventors in their R&D pursuits within resource constrained environments are shaped by their social skills. This research extends prior research on linkages between bricolage behaviors and R&D project outcomes in the context of R&D divisions operating in resource constrained environments. This study further contributes theoretically by exploring the role of social skills in shaping R&D inventor’s bricolage activities and their R&D project outcomes. We tested our hypothesized relationships through quantitative data gathered from 211 R&D inventors operating in hi-tech organizations in India. Our results support our hypotheses and indicate that bricolage behaviors of R&D inventors positively influence their R&D outcomes and efficiency, as well as their social skills are significantly related to their bricolage and R&D outcomes. Our findings contribute to the field of R&D management and bricolage in developing theory on how micro-level influences can impact macro R&D outcomes in high technology firms.