Theoretical Foundations of Organizational Search and Corporate Foresight

Abstract

As the research objective of this thesis involves to bridge literature from two research streams, the following sections will provide the theoretical background of both organizational search and corporate foresight. In Chapter 2.1, the foundations of organizational search are provided with a particular focus on the notions of external search, forward-looking search, and the balance between exploration and exploitation. Following this, Chapter 2.2 presents the background of corporate foresight, highlights the importance of search activities and external knowledge for foresight activities, and gives an overview of the value contribution of foresight for corporate innovation activities.