The Impact of Top Management Team Technical Background on Corporate Innovation: Evidence from China
Main Article Content
Keywords
top management team (TMT), technical background, corporate innovation, R&D investment, financing constraints
Abstract
How to stimulate corporate innovation through the optimization of corporate governance structures has become an important issue for both academia and practice. Based on the Upper Echelons Theory, this article takes the Shanghai-Shenzhen A-share listed companies in China from 2012 to 2023 as a research sample, and uses a two-way fixed effect model to explore the impact of the technical background of top management teams on the level of corporate innovation of enterprises. The research results show that the technical background of the top management team of the enterprise can improve the level of corporate innovation of the enterprise; Mechanism analysis indicates that the technical background of the top management team promotes corporate innovation by increasing enterprise R&D investment and easing financing constraints; Heterogeneity analysis shows that the positive effect of the technical background of top management teams on innovation is more significant in large-scale, high-digital and non-state-owned enterprises. This article provides a new theoretical perspective on how enterprises can solve the innovation dilemma through executive characteristics.
References
- [1] Hambrick, D. C., & Mason, P. A. (1984). Upper echelons: The organization as a reflection of its top managers. Academy of Management Review, 9(2), 193–206. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1984.4277628
- [2] Zhong, X., Song, T. B., Chen, W. H., & Weng, Y. M. (2019). CEO tenure, top management team characteristics, and strategic change. Foreign Economics & Management, 41(6), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.16538/j.cnki.fem.2019.06.001
- [3] Han, W., & Gao, Y. (2022). What kinds of top management teams can achieve business model innovation? Foreign Economics & Management, 44(3), 136–152. https://doi.org/10.16538/j.cnki.fem.20211210.401
- [4] Zhang, T., & Hong, M. (2018). Female executives, risk-taking, and capital allocation efficiency: Empirical evidence from Chinese listed firms. Labor Economics Research, 6(2), 53–69.
- [5] Bear, S., Rahman, N., & Post, C. (2010). The impact of board diversity and gender composition on corporate social responsibility and firm reputation. Journal of Business Ethics, 97(2), 207–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0505-2
- [6] Datta, D. K., & Rajagopalan, N. (1998). Industry structure and CEO characteristics: An empirical study of succession events. Strategic Management Journal, 19(9), 833–852.
- [7] Hambrick, D. C., & Fukutomi, G. D. S. (1991). The seasons of a CEO’s tenure. Academy of Management Review, 16(4), 719–742. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1991.4279621
- [8] Carpenter, M. A. (2004). Upper echelons research revisited: Antecedents, elements, and consequences of top management team composition. Journal of Management, 30(6), 749–778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jm.2004.06.001
- [9] Wang, X. Y., Guo, J. L., Zhang, L., & Chang, Q. (2023). Specialization or diversity: How do executive career paths affect corporate innovation? Business Management Journal, 45(1), 144–168. https://doi.org/10.19616/j.cnki.bmj.2023.01.008
- [10] Penrose, E. T. (1959). The theory of the growth of the firm. John Wiley & Sons.
- [11] Peng, H. X., & Mao, X. S. (2017). Government innovation subsidies, executive backgrounds, and R&D investment: Evidence from China’s high-tech industries. Finance & Trade Economics, 38(3), 147–161.
- [12] Liu, S. C., Qin, S. M., & Pan, L. P. (2024). Innovation networks, digital orientation, and enterprise digital transformation. Zhejiang Social Sciences, 9, 14–25, 156. https://doi.org/10.14167/j.zjss.2024.09.013
- [13] Francis, B., Hasan, I., & Wu, Q. (2015). Professors in the boardroom and their impact on corporate governance and firm performance. Financial Management, 44(3), 547–581.
- [14] Audretsch, D. B., & Lehmann, E. (2006). Entrepreneurial access and absorption of knowledge spillovers: Strategic board and managerial composition for competitive advantage. Journal of Small Business Management, 44(2), 155–166. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2006.00161.x
- [15] Zhang, K. X., & Shi, Y. Y. (2026). The impact of CEOs with information technology backgrounds on corporate investment decisions: Evidence from investment scale and inefficient investment. International Business (Journal of the University of International Business and Economics), 2, 97–118. https://doi.org/10.13509/j.cnki.ib.2026.02.008
- [16] Helfat, C. E., & Peteraf, M. A. (2003). The dynamic resource-based view: Capability lifecycles. Strategic Management Journal, 24(10), 997–1010.
- [17] Xu, Y., & Fan, C. (2024). Executive R&D background, managerial myopia, and innovation persistence: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing listed firms. Western Economic Management Forum, 35(1), 61–71, 85.
- [18] Fang, X., & Dong, J. (2022). The impact of managerial ability on ambidextrous innovation strategies in entrepreneurial firms. Foreign Economics & Management, 44(11), 77–92. https://doi.org/10.16538/j.cnki.fem.20220529.101
- [19] Hao, X. C., Liang, Q., & Li, Z. (2018). Margin trading and corporate innovation: Evidence from innovation quantity and quality. Economic Research Journal, 53(6), 127–141.
- [20] Li, W. A., & Yi, M. H. (2024). The impact of non-state shareholder-appointed directors on green technological innovation in state-owned enterprises. Foreign Economics & Management, 46(4), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.16538/j.cnki.fem.20230615.101
- [21] Zhou, L., Yang, P., & Liu, L. Y. (2020). An analysis of factors influencing corporate innovation from the perspective of the innovation value chain: Evidence from the EU 2016 Innobarometer survey. Western Economic Management Forum, 31(4), 47–57.
- [22] Ruan, T. S., Li, X. H., Zhang, J., & Gu, Y. (2023). How can digital technology applications enhance corporate innovation performance? Synergistic spontaneity or synergistic responsiveness. Science & Technology Progress and Policy, 40(2), 100–110.
- [23] Zhang, B., & Zheng, Z. L. (2024). The impact of ESG performance on corporate innovation. Productivity Research, 11, 92–98. https://doi.org/10.19374/j.cnki.14-1145/f.2024.11.026
- [24] He, J. F., & Wu, H. (2025). Marketization process, technological diversification, and corporate innovation performance. Economic Survey, 42(1), 106–119. https://doi.org/10.15931/j.cnki.1006-1096.20250123.001
- [25] Porter, M. E. (1990). The competitive advantage of nations. Free Press.
- [26] Schumpeter, J. A. (1934). The theory of economic development. Harvard University Press.
- [27] Hambrick, D. C. (2007). Upper Echelons Theory: An update. Academy of Management Review, 32(2), 334–343.
