Business networks along innovation lifecycle

Purpose – The paper aims to investigate how the relationships among the various actors within the business networks affect the evolution of innovation through steps of the technology life cycle. Design/methodology/approach – The study is supported by a longitudinal case study referring to a mechanical company operating in the knitting machinery industry. A triangulation method, integrating multiple data sources in a multiple method design, was used to gather data. Findings – The longitudinal study supports the idea that interactions among the actors within the business networks heavily influence the evolution of technology. Research limitations/implications – Although the longitudinal case study reported in the paper refers to a period of about ten years, our findings refer only to a single case study in a specific sector and cannot be generalized. Practical implications – The paper provides important guidelines on how to manage the relationships emerging within a business network in order to influence the development of new technologies. Originality/value – The paper contributes to business networks literature, filling the gaps in information about how the relationships among the actors involved in a network can evolve over time and influence the evolution of technology itself.