Purpose Based on Upper Echelons Theory, this study is to explore the impact mechanisms of the dimensions and configurations of the sharedness of top management team (TMT) competencies on exploratory innovation. Design/methodology/approach This study employs fixed-effects panel regression analysis using data from 2014 to 2022, with a focus on high-tech firms listed on the main boards of China's Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets. The final dataset comprises 1,828 firms and 17,824 observations. Findings The study finds that the sharedness of entrepreneurial capability, managerial capability, technological capability under the Advanced and Dispersed (AD) and Advanced and Overlapping (AO) combination positively influences exploratory innovation, while the sharedness of technological capability under the Basic and Dispersed (BD) and Basic and Overlapping (BO) combination shows a negative effect. Originality/value This research offers novel theoretical insights into the configuration of TMT. It is the first to systematically examine the impact of TMT competency sharedness on exploratory innovation, revealing the critical role of different sharedness forms and their combinations in the implementation of innovation strategies.
Fang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.