Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>2021 (Engelska)Ingår i: Technological forecasting & social change, ISSN 0040-1625, E-ISSN 1873-5509, Vol. 167, artikel-id 120695Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]
A number of scholars and industry professionals have claimed that there has been a ‘software-biased shift’ in the nature and direction of innovation, in that software development is a core part of innovation activities in firms across a wide array of industries. Empirical firm-level evidence of such a shift is still scant. In this paper, we employ new and unique firm-level survey data on the frequency and nature of software development among firms in Sweden, matched with the Community Innovation Survey (CIS). We find robust evidence supporting a software bias in innovation, in that software development is associated with a higher likelihood of introducing innovations, as well as higher innovation sales among firms in both manufacturing and service industries. Furthermore, this positive relationship is stronger for firms that employ in-house software developers than for those that only use external developers, suggesting that there is a hierarchy but possibly also a complementarity between in-house and external software development. We also find support for complementarity between software-based technology and human capital; the estimated marginal effect of software development on innovation is particularly strong for firms that combine in-house software development with a highly educated workforce in both STEM and other disciplines. © 2021
Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
Elsevier Inc., 2021
Nyckelord
Absorptive capacity, Digital technology, Digitalization, Human capital, Innovation, Software, Software bias, Software development, Personnel, Surveys, Core part, Digital technologies, Human capitals, Industry professionals, Swedish firm, Software design
Nationell ämneskategori
Företagsekonomi
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:bth-21272 (URN)10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120695 (DOI)000637776500002 ()2-s2.0-85102068153 (Scopus ID)
Anmärkning
open access
2021-03-192021-03-192025-03-04Bibliografiskt granskad