Leading the charge: The impact of executives with R&D backgrounds on corporate digital transformation

Weichen Yan, Zhipeng Cai and Aishu Yang

Finance Research Letters, 2023, vol. 56, issue C

Abstract: This study investigates the influence of executives with research and development (R&D) backgrounds on corporate digital transformation. Our findings suggest that they can significantly improve the level of digital transformation, which remains valid after performing a series of rigorous robustness tests. Additional analysis demonstrates that this relationship is more pronounced in firms where executives hold greater authority, receive higher compensation, and operate within the manufacturing sector. We also document that recruiting more R&D personnel and curbing managerial myopia are potential channels. This paper contributes to the literature on digital transformation and the heterogeneity of executives’ backgrounds.

Keywords: Digital transformation; Executives; R&D backgrounds; Human capital; Managerial myopia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:finlet:v:56:y:2023:i:c:s1544612323004907

DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104118

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