The effects of a focal firm´s internal and external boundary conditions on the performance implication of R&D alliance participation

Although the influence of the technological diversity of R&D alliance partners on a focal firm´s performance has been discussed for several years, there are no sufficient consistent evidences to support the notion that technological diversity of partners has specific effect on the focal firm´s performance. This study therefore tests hypotheses with multi-industry data on 1416 R&D alliances formed by US firms between 1990 and 2006. The findings of the present study indicate that (1) technological diversity of R&D partners has negative effect on the focal firm´s performance; (2) the external (environmental dynamism) and internal (the focal firm´s exploratory orientation) boundary conditions positively moderate, respectively, the impact of technological diversity of R&D partners on a focal firm´s performance; (3) the cofigurational effect of external and internal boundary conditions further highlights significance of exploratory learning and inter-organizational learning opportunities in dynamic environment.