Strategic orientation of high-technology firms in a transitional economy

• Main Authors: LAU, Chung-Ming, YIU, Daphne W., YEUNG, Ping-Kwong, LU, Yuan
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2008
• Subjects: Strategic orientation; High-technology firms; Transitional economy; China; Strategic Management Policy; Technology and Innovation
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/7338; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/8337/viewcontent/Strategic.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Strategic orientation is a critical factor for a firm's competitiveness in a transitional economy context but it is understudied in the current literature. This article examines the antecedents of strategic orientation from both the socio-cognitive and resource-based view perspectives. The study posits that the strategic orientations of firms in a transitional economy context are influenced by the top managers' cognitions and organizational resources. Based on a national survey of high-technology firms in China, the study finds that a stronger market-focused strategic orientation was facilitated by managerial cognitions about the future of the industry and current operation and performance of the firm, as well as organizational resources including an R&D infrastructure, technological alliance, and top managers' foreign experience. The study confirms that strategic orientations should be examined from multiple theoretical perspectives.