A longitudinal study of MNE innovation: the case of Goodyear. Issue 3 (19th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scalera, Vittoria Giada Giada; Mukherjee, Debmalya; Perri, Alessandra; Mudambi, Ram; Rugman, Alan
• Is Part Of: Multinational business review. Volume 22:Issue 3(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-08-19
• Subjects: International business enterprises -- Periodicals; International business enterprises -- Accounting -- Periodicals; International business enterprises -- Management -- Periodicals; Comparative accounting -- Periodicals; Comparative management -- Periodicals; 338.88
• DOI: 10.1108/MBR-06-2014-0021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1525-383X

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec sec-type="purpose"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>The ability to innovate constantly amidst a turbulent and competitive environment is often the key force behind multinational enterprise (MNE) survival and dominance. In this article, we provide insights into the innovation trajectory, and knowledge pipelines of mature industry MNEs.</p> </sec> <sec sec-type="design|methodology|approach"> <title>Design/methodology/approach</title> <p>We conduct an in-depth longitudinal study of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, a global manufacturing company in the tire and rubber industry. Our findings are based on USPTO patent and trademark data from 1975-2005.</p> </sec> <sec sec-type="findings"> <title>Findings</title> <p>The analysis reveals three crucial trends: (1) the major role of continuous investment in innovation in the firm's survival and turnaround; (2) the evolution of the firm's innovation network from a headquarters-centric model towards more geographical dispersal, and (3) the changing mix of innovation from traditional "hard" science-based research towards a greater emphasis on "softer" competencies in design and trademarks. This third trend in particular opens up important new avenues for research on MNE innovation practices.</p> </sec> <sec sec-type="originality|value"> <title>Originality/value</title> <p>In this study, we integrate historical analysis of a single firm in the context of its changing industry environment. The historical analysis is enriched by a detailed longitudinal, quantitative analysis using a variegated dataset of patents and trademarks to investigate innovation. </p> </sec> </abstract>