董事會連結網絡與數位創新之關係

Abstract

現今許多公司正在追求數位創新，然而，董事會對數位創新的影響卻尚未明瞭，為了解決這個研究缺口，本研究著重於董事會的連結網絡中心性，也就是董事會成員連結到其他公司董事會的程度，對數位創新的影響。根據社會資本理論，本研究主張連結網絡越中心的董事會，越能夠享有資訊利益，創造更 多數位創新的機會。而利用動機-機會-能力模型，我們更進一步主張董事會的兩個領導方面的因素會影響上述關係，董事會內部領導力和董事會資訊科技領導力。 為了檢驗假說，本研究收集2009年至2014年，在資訊與通信產業的公司資料，包括從BoardEx資料庫收集董事會有關的資料，從NBER收集有關專利的資料，以及從Compustat收集公司金融相關的資料。本研究結果顯示董事會連結網絡中心性正向顯著地影響數位創新，且此關係被董事會內部資訊科技領 導力正向調節，但是被董事會內部領導力和董事會外部同產業領導力負向調節。

Many companies are trying to apply digital innovation. However, the impact of boards on digital innovation, a top-down influence of a firm’s leadership, has been overlooked. To address this gap, we focus on the effect of the firm’s board interlock network centrality, the extent to which the board of directors is connected to boards of other firms, on its digital innovation. Based on social capital theory, we propose that board interlock network centrality provides firms with IT information benefits, creating opportunities to develop digital innovation. Applying the motivationopportunity-ability model, we further propose that the two aspects of board leadership moderate this relationship: internal (vs. external) leadership and IT leadership. To examine our hypotheses, we collected board data from BoardEx, patent data from NBER, and financial data from Compustat of firms in the ICT industry from 2009 to 2013. Our results show the significant and positive relationship between board interlock network centrality and digital innovation, and this relationship is positively moderated by IT internal leadership. Yet, the effect is weaker when firms have high internal leadership and external intra-industry leadership.