The follower's dilemma: Innovation and imitation in the professional services industry

Matthew Semadeni; Brian S. Anderson

doi:10.5465/ambpp.2009.44243219

The follower's dilemma: Innovation and imitation in the professional services industry

Matthew Semadeni, Brian S. Anderson

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Firms contemplating imitation of a competitor's innovation face a dilemma imitate a new, unproven offering, or forgo imitation and perhaps miss out on the next big thing. We examine the innovation imitation decision under environmental uncertainty, when theory predicts the greatest tension in the imitation decision. We apply information-based theories of imitation to evaluate both firm- and service-level factors important to the decision to competitor innovation imitation. Analyzing the largest 50 professional services firms over an 11-year period, we find that while firm-level factors increase imitation, service-level factors decrease imitation. Furthermore, firm- and service-level factors interact to affect imitation outcomes.

Original language	English (US)
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2009.44243219
State	Published - 2009
Externally published	Yes
Event	69th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, AOM 2009 - Chicago, IL, United States Duration: Aug 7 2009 → Aug 11 2009

Other

Other	69th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, AOM 2009
Country/Territory	United States
City	Chicago, IL
Period	8/7/09 → 8/11/09

Keywords

Imitation
Innovation
Professional services

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Management Information Systems
Management of Technology and Innovation
Industrial relations

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10.5465/ambpp.2009.44243219

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abstract = "Firms contemplating imitation of a competitor's innovation face a dilemma imitate a new, unproven offering, or forgo imitation and perhaps miss out on the next big thing. We examine the innovation imitation decision under environmental uncertainty, when theory predicts the greatest tension in the imitation decision. We apply information-based theories of imitation to evaluate both firm- and service-level factors important to the decision to competitor innovation imitation. Analyzing the largest 50 professional services firms over an 11-year period, we find that while firm-level factors increase imitation, service-level factors decrease imitation. Furthermore, firm- and service-level factors interact to affect imitation outcomes.",

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AB - Firms contemplating imitation of a competitor's innovation face a dilemma imitate a new, unproven offering, or forgo imitation and perhaps miss out on the next big thing. We examine the innovation imitation decision under environmental uncertainty, when theory predicts the greatest tension in the imitation decision. We apply information-based theories of imitation to evaluate both firm- and service-level factors important to the decision to competitor innovation imitation. Analyzing the largest 50 professional services firms over an 11-year period, we find that while firm-level factors increase imitation, service-level factors decrease imitation. Furthermore, firm- and service-level factors interact to affect imitation outcomes.

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ER -

The follower's dilemma: Innovation and imitation in the professional services industry

Abstract

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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