Abstract
AbstractResearch Question/IssueWe review the literature on the relationship between strategic leadership and technological innovation.Research Findings/InsightsWe identify the theoretical lenses that researchers apply when studying strategic leadership and innovation, most notably agency theory and upper echelons theory. We review the innovation constructs and measures that scholars employ, and we survey the links among strategic leaders' characteristics and technological innovation. Ultimately, we organize the literature into an integrative framework that provides a concise overview of the extant knowledge, and we outline an agenda for future research.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsFirst, we offer scholars a discipline‐spanning overview of the extant knowledge on the topic. Second, by integrating important aspects of corporate governance, such as the role of the board of directors, incentives for the chief executive officer or the top management team, and firm ownership, into the context of technological innovation, we highlight the vital role it plays in the realm of technological innovation. Third, we provide a useful guide for scholars and direct their work towards fruitful avenues for future research.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsWe offer insights for practitioners interested in better understanding the bidirectional relationship between strategic leadership and technological innovation. In particular, our framework and our detailed analysis of the impact of strategic leaders on technological innovation can guide shareholders and board members in matters related to board composition as well as top executive selection and compensation.
Highlights
Scholars have long sought to understand technological innovation (Ahuja, Lampert, & Tandon, 2008; Dosi, 1982; Schumpeter, 1942; Teece, 1996), which can be broadly defined as changes in the ways value is created and captured in a given field (Damanpour, 1987; Hill & Rothaermel, 2003)
Technological innovation is vital for the survival of companies because, without it, firms are unlikely to generate a sustainable competitive advantage (Hill & Rothaermel, 2003; Tripsas & Gavetti, 2000)
Given the key role of technological innovation, researchers have increasingly focused on the impact of strategic leaders—those executives who, as members of the board of directors or the top management team (TMT), are influential (Finkelstein, Hambrick, & Cannella, 2009)
Summary
Scholars have long sought to understand technological innovation (Ahuja, Lampert, & Tandon, 2008; Dosi, 1982; Schumpeter, 1942; Teece, 1996), which can be broadly defined as changes in the ways value is created and captured in a given field (Damanpour, 1987; Hill & Rothaermel, 2003). Back and Bausch (2019) examined the impact of chief executive officer (CEO) leadership on various firm-level antecedents of product innovation, such as social capital They do not consider a substantial number of studies that directly link CEO characteristics to technological innovation more broadly, and they do not consider strategic leaders other than the CEO. No comprehensive review on strategic leadership and technological innovation is available, making it difficult for scholars to build on previous findings and identify relevant research questions. We aim to answer four interrelated questions: (1) What are the main theoretical lenses that scholars have applied when exploring the relationship between strategic leadership and technological innovation? (2) Which constructs and measures of technological innovation have scholars combined with certain facets of strategic leadership? (3) How are the characteristics of strategic leaders empirically related to different aspects of innovation? and (4) What are potentially fruitful avenues for future research?
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 call
