Product and Process Innovations in Subcontracting: Empirical Evidence from the French “Sillon Alpin”

Rachel Bocquet

Industry and Innovation, 2011, vol. 18, issue 7, 649-668

Abstract: This paper investigates the role that subcontracting relationships (collaborative outsourcing vs. traditional subcontracting) can have on a subcontractor's ability to innovate in process and product. In order to measure the “full” impact of subcontracting relationships on innovation, we take into account the possible interaction between process and product innovations. The empirical test is based on 93 small firms operating in “pure subcontracting industries”. Using a bivariate probit model, we give evidence that process and product innovations are not independent choices. The test confirms the positive impact of collaborative outsourcing agreement on the subcontractor's probability to innovate whatever the type of innovation. Finally, the results show that process and product innovations are reinforced by different inter-organizational practices and tools as well as distinct absorptive capabilities. This suggests important implications for subcontractors' competitive position.

Date: 2011
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/13662716.2011.604471 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
Working Paper: Product and Process Innovations in Subcontracting: Empirical Evidence from the French "Sillon Alpin" (2011)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:indinn:v:18:y:2011:i:7:p:649-668

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/CIAI20

DOI: 10.1080/13662716.2011.604471

Access Statistics for this article

Industry and Innovation is currently edited by Associate Professor Mark Lorenzen

More articles in Industry and Innovation from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().