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Proactive orientation and its influence for technology acquisition

Carmen Haro‐Domínguez (Department of Management, School of Economics and Business, University of Granada, Granada, Spain)
Teresa Ortega‐Egea (Department of Management, School of Economics and Business, University of Granada, Granada, Spain)
Ignacio Tamayo‐Torres (Department of Management, School of Economics and Business, University of Granada, Granada, Spain)

Industrial Management & Data Systems

ISSN: 0263-5577

Article publication date: 24 August 2010

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of the manager's strategic orientation concerning technology acquisition and its repercussions for the firm's performance.

Design/methodology/approach

These relationships are studied using a sample of Spanish engineering consulting firms, most of them small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises.

Findings

The results obtained show that the proactive character adopted by managers will directly influence the decision‐making process concerning technology acquisitions. Managers with a proactive strategic orientation adopt both internal technological development and the external acquisition of technology, but a slight preference is observed for internal development, even though it achieves considerably less satisfactory results than those achieved with external technology acquisition.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is exploratory in character, and its goal is to show whether interrelations exist between the variables. The sample refers only to engineering consultancies. Another limitation is the cross‐sectional character of the analysis performed.

Practical implications

To obtain perfect adaptation of the firm to its environment, it is crucial that the manager be committed on both the tactical and the operating strategic levels. The paper shows the important role of the manager's strategic orientation in his or her decisions on technology acquisition. Success in this kind of decision is of vital importance to the firm. The high costs of internal development prevent immediate profits, and external acquisition brings high risks.

Originality/value

The paper seeks to stimulate new lines of research regarding these two variables (technology acquisition and manager's strategic orientation) and their repercussions for the firm.

Keywords

Citation

Haro‐Domínguez, C., Ortega‐Egea, T. and Tamayo‐Torres, I. (2010), "Proactive orientation and its influence for technology acquisition", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 110 No. 7, pp. 953-970. https://doi.org/10.1108/02635571011069059

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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