Abstract

This study examines the relationships among the social networks formed by the interlocking directorate, technological diversity, and innovation performance. We also investigate whether technology diversity plays a mediating role between interlocking directorate networks and innovation performance. We choose Taiwanese listed electronics companies that filed patent protections with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) over the period of 2010 through 2016.We apply Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and bootstrapping to remedy the inadequacies found in prior literature and certain research methods; and produce main findings as follows: (1) Sizes of the interlocking directorate networks, network structure holes, and network centrality all have positive effects on technological diversity. (2) Related technological diversity and unrelated technological diversity both have positive effects on innovation performance. (3) Sizes of the interlocking directorate network, network structure holes, and network centrality further impact innovation performance via technological diversity.  

Keywords

interlocking directoratesocial networktechnological diversityinnovation performanceStructural Equation Modeling