The Appropriation of Value from Knowledge: Three Essays on Technological Discontinuities, Market Entry, and Patent Strategy

Knowledge accumulation and protection are critical considerations of the firm. How does the capability to appropriate value from knowledge affect firm strategies in the industries? To answer this question, I develop a new theory and evidence to argue that appropriate value from knowledge is a central consideration in firms’ capabilities and decisions to deal with technological changes and intellectual property issues. In particular, I examine the relatedness of products and markets, the strategic uses of patents, and how firms can successfully adapt to concerns regarding technological changes and intellectual property leakage. Throughout my three dissertation chapters, I find evidence that the capability to appropriate value from knowledge can affect how firms behave in consistent and essential ways. These findings provide important implications for knowledge-based views of the firm and strategy-based recommendations in terms of the management of knowledge assets.