An exploration of factors affecting the integration of in-house R&D with external technology acquisition strategies of a firm

Results of an empirical study of 31 cases of external technology acquisition are reported. A ten-stage framework of the external technology acquisition and implementation process is proposed, and the effect of a number of variables on the extent of research and development (R&D) involvement in each of these stages is explored. The relative importance of these variables in influencing R&D's involvement is also discussed. Having formal procedures to include in-house R&D in the process has an impact in the acquisition phase of the process, while in the implementation phase R&D's involvement seems more influenced by the possession of appropriate capabilities in-house. Maturity of the technology, urgency of its need and its importance to the firm are important variables which are found to be negatively correlated with the extent of R&D's involvement and are influential in a number of staged. This finding is discussed.>