Unpacking the link between entrepreneurial proactiveness and exploitative innovation strategy: The role of brokerage position and open innovation

This study investigates inter-firm relationships’ distinct impacts on entrepreneurial proactiveness (EP) and exploitative innovation strategy. Although the existing literature on entrepreneurs’ innovation strategies has consistently found a positive relationship between EP and exploration, the mechanisms underlying the inconsistent relationship between EP and exploitative innovation strategy remain unclear. We anticipate that applying brokerage position in network theory would offer further insights into the relationship between EP and exploitative innovation strategy. Additionally, we introduced depth of openness as a moderating variable and examined its effect on the moderated mediation relationship. To test hypotheses, this study utilized linear and logistic regression, bootstrapping, and the Johnson-Neyman technique. The findings of the 2020 Korean Innovation Survey, conducted by the Science and Technology Policy Institute, indicate that data from 2352 Korean manufacturing companies exhibits that the brokerage position mediates EP and exploitative innovation strategy. Moreover, the depth of openness mitigated the positive relationship between the brokerage position and the exploitative innovation strategy and the indirect effect of EP on exploitative innovation strategy through the brokerage position. These findings contribute theoretically to entrepreneurial orientation and underscore the practical significance of aligning company goals with social relationships.