Does Outsourcing Result in the Outsourcing of Technological Competencies? An Empirical Analysis of the Effect of Vertical Specialization on the Technological Competence Base of Firms

Michael Stephan

doi:10.5771/0935-9915-2010-3-308

Inhalt
- Kapitel Ausklappen | EinklappenAutorenSeiten
- 221–224 Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis 221–224
- 225–228 Editorial: Enlarging the Focus on the Role of Competencies, Abilities, and Personality in Management Research Holger Steinmetz, Christian Schwens, Rodrigo Isidor, Rüdiger Kabst Holger Steinmetz, Christian Schwens, Rodrigo Isidor, Rüdiger Kabst 225–228
- 229–243 The Influence of Personality on Students’ Career Decisiveness – A Comparison between Chinese and German Economics and Management Students Marjaana Gunkel, Christopher Schlaegel Marjaana Gunkel, Christopher Schlaegel 229–243
- 244–262 Individual Characteristics of Work Council Members – Empirical Evidence Susi Störmer Susi Störmer 244–262
- 263–291 How to Assess Global Management Competencies: An Investigation of Existing Instruments Joost Bücker, Erik Poutsma Joost Bücker, Erik Poutsma 263–291
- 292–307 Investing in Human Resource Planning: An International Study Erik Døving, Odd Nordhaug Erik Døving, Odd Nordhaug 292–307
- 308–331 Does Outsourcing Result in the Outsourcing of Technological Competencies? An Empirical Analysis of the Effect of Vertical Specialization on the Technological Competence Base of Firms Michael Stephan Michael Stephan 308–331
- 332–352 The Strongest Link: Legitimacy of Top Management Diversity, Sex Stereotypes and the Rise of Women in Human Resource Management 1995 – 2004 Astrid Reichel, Julia Brandl, Wolfgang Mayrhofer Astrid Reichel, Julia Brandl, Wolfgang Mayrhofer 332–352
- 353–371 Managerial Cultural Intelligence and Small Business in Canada María Teresa de la Garza Carranza, Carolyn P. Egri María Teresa de la Garza Carranza, Carolyn P. Egri 353–371
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mrev management revue , Seite 308 - 331

Does Outsourcing Result in the Outsourcing of Technological Competencies? An Empirical Analysis of the Effect of Vertical Specialization on the Technological Competence Base of Firms

Autoren

Michael Stephan

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/0935-9915-2010-3-308
- ISSN print: 0935-9915
- ISSN online: 1861-9908
Abstract

Over the past two decades multinational firms from high-technology industries have increasingly relied on outsourcing of production to external suppliers. We present a theoretical framework that stems from the resource-based view of the firm (RBV) and develop hypotheses claiming that outsourcing of production will not result in the outsourcing of technological competencies. In other words, vertical specialization will not result in the reduction of the breadth and depth of the technological competence level of firms, especially in high-technology industries. We test our hypothesis with a sample of 50 firms which we selected from the population of the world’s top R&D-performing firms, measured by R&D spending. The period of investigation covers 20 years from 1983-2002. Our results indicate that over this 20 years period the technological knowledge base of the sample firms has not been affected by the ongoing outsourcing activities. The empirical observation gives rise to the ‘a priori statement’ that the knowledge-boundaries of the firms have been decoupled from production activities: In our sample of firms from high-technology industries outsourcing has not coincided with the outsourcing of technological competencies.
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