Within the realm of globalization of R&D, offshoring is a relatively recent and still emerging phenomenon. Rooted in the notion of comparative advantage, offshoring of R&D involves disaggregation and global distribution of the firm’s R&D value chain activities to leverage innovation capacity of low-cost countries. Characteristically different from market- and technology-seeking globalization of R&D, offshoring is motivated by the intertwining competitive needs to gain efficiency and access knowledge resources. This study represents a systematic, grounds-up attempt to explore the terrain of the phenomenon of offshoring of R&D and its influence on the competitive advantage of firms. Specifically, going beyond structural cost savings, the research examines the link between offshoring of R&D and the firm’s innovative capability and organizational flexibility—the two most important organizational capabilities of high technology firms. Employing an interpretive approach, the research includes multiple case studies of intra-firm and inter-firm offshoring of software R&D across a range of industries. The study demonstrates that by strategically organizing and managing offshoring of R&D, firms can significantly enhance their innovative capability and organizational flexibility. The findings suggest that offshoring of R&D is a new global organizational form that not only serves as an adaptive device but also allows firms to achieve ambidexterity.

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Prof.dr.ir. J.C.M. van den Ende Prof.dr. S.J. Magala Prof.dr. J. van Hillegersberg
K. Kumar (Kuldeep)
Erasmus University Rotterdam , Erasmus Research Institute of Management
hdl.handle.net/1765/14081
ERIM Ph.D. Series Research in Management
Erasmus Research Institute of Management

Moitra, D. (2008, December 5). Globalization of R&D: Leveraging Offshoring for Innovative Capability and Organizational Flexibility (No. EPS-2008-150-LIS). ERIM Ph.D. Series Research in Management. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/14081