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PhD scientists in the boardroom: the innovation impact

Tim Swift (Department of Management, St Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)

Journal of Strategy and Management

ISSN: 1755-425X

Article publication date: 21 May 2018

358

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact that PhD scientists serving on the board of directors of firms conducting hard science have on the R&D-based innovative performance of the firm.

Design/methodology/approach

The research hypotheses are built upon extant theory, and they are tested using two-stage least squared regression that control for the endogenous nature of board composition. Results are robust to alternative specifications.

Findings

This analysis shows that firms with higher numbers of PhD scientists on the board generate superior innovative output and more efficient monitoring; PhD board members with denser professional networks are more valuable as board members.

Practical implications

This paper provides practical advice to innovative firms on how to create a governance process that simultaneously improves monitoring and boosts the innovative performance.

Originality/value

This study is the first one to suggest that innovative firms can improve R&D monitoring and boost innovative output at the same time, and the first to investigate the role that PhD scientists can serve on the board of firms engaging in hard science.

Keywords

Citation

Swift, T. (2018), "PhD scientists in the boardroom: the innovation impact", Journal of Strategy and Management, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 184-202. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-06-2017-0040

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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