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An Empirical Analysis of the Value Contribution of Different Search Strategies for Corporate Foresight

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In this empirical analysis Sara Polier investigates forward-looking external search strategies and their impact on the value contribution of corporate foresight. Based on a mixed method approach combining a quantitative and qualitative analysis of large, R&D-intensive firms, the findings reveal a general positive influence of different search strategies with respect to the scope (i.e. breadth, depth, and distance) and direction of search (i.e. market, science, and intermediary-driven) on the role of foresight as a driver for innovation. This relationship is found to be mediated by a firm´s exploratory learning capability, which appears to facilitate the effective transfer of external future-related knowledge into valuable outputs.

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Theoretical foundations of organizational search and corporate foresight.- Research field of external search.- Impact of forward-looking external search on the value of corporate foresight.

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Sara Polier does research on external and forward-looking search at the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management at Hamburg University of Technology, where she investigates the impact of search strategies in the context of corporate foresight.

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