Effects of Search Timing on Product Innovation: The Value of Not Being in Sync

Abstract

Working paper. Comments are most welcome. Several people provided valuable suggestions in various stages of this project. Special thanks to Warren Boeker, Kathy Eisenhardt, Jeho Lee, Dan Levinthal, Steve Mezias, Elaine Romanelli, Lori Rosenkopf, Brian Silverman and the anonymous reviewers for many helpful ideas. We also thank Jim Hirabayashi from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and several executives and engineers from the robotics industry for their time and valuable