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The influence of corporate acquisitions on the behaviour of key inventors
Author(s) -
Ernst Holger,
Vitt Jan
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
randd management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.253
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1467-9310
pISSN - 0033-6807
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9310.00162
Subject(s) - key (lock) , business , quality (philosophy) , industrial organization , marketing , process management , computer science , computer security , philosophy , epistemology
The behaviour of key inventors after the acquisition of their company is examined. Key inventors are identified on the basis of their patenting output. They account for a large number of their company’s high‐quality patents. The analysis of 43 acquisitions shows that key inventors leave to a substantial extent their company or they significantly reduce their patenting performance after the acquisition. Factors influencing the behaviour of key inventors after acquisitions are identified. Implications for the effective management of acquisitions as well as suggestions for further research are outlined.