Latecomers’ Isomorphic R&D Strategy and the Relationship With Performance: A Study on Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms

Institutional environment plays a key role in shaping latecomers’ strategic choices. Conforming with the institutional environment is believed to alleviate uncertainties and resource deficiency for latecomers. However, does being isomorphic with institutional environment help latecomers in R&D a...

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Main Authors: Ziyi Zhao, Banghao Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2022-05-01
Series:SAGE Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221096115
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author Ziyi Zhao
Banghao Zhou
author_facet Ziyi Zhao
Banghao Zhou
author_sort Ziyi Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Institutional environment plays a key role in shaping latecomers’ strategic choices. Conforming with the institutional environment is believed to alleviate uncertainties and resource deficiency for latecomers. However, does being isomorphic with institutional environment help latecomers in R&D activities that aims at making differences? The purpose of this study is to comprehensively explore how the interplay of institutional and competitive pressures from institutional environment manifests in latecomers’ R&D practices. Based on multiple case studies of four pharmaceutical firms in China, the occurrence of isomorphic R&D strategy and its relationship with performance have been uncovered in this paper. The subjective initiative and efficiency predictability of isomorphic R&D strategies are characterized through investigating its differences with general isomorphic behaviors. With these findings, this study provides a strategic approach to study institutional isomorphism, draws the attention on the dynamic interaction between institutional context and R&D strategies and adds to the literature on latecomer firms’ R&D strategies.
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spelling doaj.art-bd7058447b9d47d5a09988b414ac8f3a2022-12-22T03:35:17ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402022-05-011210.1177/21582440221096115Latecomers’ Isomorphic R&D Strategy and the Relationship With Performance: A Study on Chinese Pharmaceutical FirmsZiyi Zhao0Banghao Zhou1Hangzhou Normal University, ChinaZhejiang University, Hangzhou, ChinaInstitutional environment plays a key role in shaping latecomers’ strategic choices. Conforming with the institutional environment is believed to alleviate uncertainties and resource deficiency for latecomers. However, does being isomorphic with institutional environment help latecomers in R&D activities that aims at making differences? The purpose of this study is to comprehensively explore how the interplay of institutional and competitive pressures from institutional environment manifests in latecomers’ R&D practices. Based on multiple case studies of four pharmaceutical firms in China, the occurrence of isomorphic R&D strategy and its relationship with performance have been uncovered in this paper. The subjective initiative and efficiency predictability of isomorphic R&D strategies are characterized through investigating its differences with general isomorphic behaviors. With these findings, this study provides a strategic approach to study institutional isomorphism, draws the attention on the dynamic interaction between institutional context and R&D strategies and adds to the literature on latecomer firms’ R&D strategies.https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221096115
spellingShingle Ziyi Zhao
Banghao Zhou
Latecomers’ Isomorphic R&D Strategy and the Relationship With Performance: A Study on Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms
SAGE Open
title Latecomers’ Isomorphic R&D Strategy and the Relationship With Performance: A Study on Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms
title_full Latecomers’ Isomorphic R&D Strategy and the Relationship With Performance: A Study on Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms
title_fullStr Latecomers’ Isomorphic R&D Strategy and the Relationship With Performance: A Study on Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms
title_full_unstemmed Latecomers’ Isomorphic R&D Strategy and the Relationship With Performance: A Study on Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms
title_short Latecomers’ Isomorphic R&D Strategy and the Relationship With Performance: A Study on Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms
title_sort latecomers isomorphic r d strategy and the relationship with performance a study on chinese pharmaceutical firms
url https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221096115
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