Linking Top Management Team Characteristics and Innovation Speed : A Study of High Technology Academic Spinoffs

Abstract

This thesis examines how top management team (TMT) characteristics influence innovation speed. By using a theoretical framework of resource-based view and dynamic capabilities, I identify three characteristics of the top management team that may influence innovation speed.

I developed three hypotheses suggesting that polychronicity, industry experience and entrepreneurial orientation of the TMT will accelerate innovation speed. My empirical data indicates that polychronicity and entrepreneurial orientation of the TMT accelerates the innovation speed in high technology academic spinoffs. However, no support was found for industry experience. My sample consists of 42 Norwegian high technology academic spinoffs. My empirical material has some implications and directions for further research.