Science Research Management ›› 2017, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (10): 31-39.

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The professional heterogeneity and explorative innovation of the TMT of high-tech companies

Yang Zhi, Fu Yifan, Chen Bing   

  1. School of Management,Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430073, Hubei, China
  • Received:2015-07-10 Revised:2016-11-14 Online:2017-10-20 Published:2017-10-11

Abstract: This study empirically examines the effect of TMT profession diversity on firms’ explorative innovation behavior, using data of 198 Chinese listed companies from pharmaceutical and telecommunication industries from 2003 to 2012. The findings suggest that (1) profession diversity of high-tech companies’ TMT can effectively promote explorative innovation behavior;(2) Comparing with internal CEO, the effect of profession diversity on explorative innovation may be weaker in the TMT lead by external CEO; (3) Ownership concentration can strengthen the positive relationship between TMT profession diversity and explorative innovation.

Key words:  top management team (TMT), professional heterogeneity, explorative innovation, upper echelon theory