Accounting backgrounds and technological innovation: Are accountant CEOs inferior innovators?

IF 7.5 1区管理学 Q1 MANAGEMENT

Research Policy Pub Date : 2025-01-16 DOI:10.1016/j.respol.2025.105175

Jian Cao , Feng Chen , Mingxiang Li , Xin Luo

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Studies grounded in the theory of vocational personality suggest that accountants exhibit a conventional personality type in virtue of which they tend to be relatively uncreative. The well-observed phenomenon whereby corporations appoint CEOs with accounting backgrounds raises the question of how effectively accountant CEOs lead technological innovation. Using a large dataset of patents issued to U.S. firms from 2001 through 2018, we find that firms with accountant CEOs are associated with lower innovation output and a weaker propensity to pursue explorative innovations but greater efficiency in generating innovation output per unit of resource input. We also show that industry growth mitigates the negative effects of accountant CEOs on exploration and innovation while enhancing their capacity to promote innovation efficiency. Our findings delineate the trade-offs associated with accountant CEO appointments and highlight a significant yet underexplored aspect of a CEO's personal background—underlying vocational personality traits—as determinants that influence innovation pathways and strategic outcomes.

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来源期刊

Research Policy MANAGEMENT-

CiteScore

12.80

自引率

6.90%

发文量

182

期刊介绍： Research Policy (RP) articles explore the interaction between innovation, technology, or research, and economic, social, political, and organizational processes, both empirically and theoretically. All RP papers are expected to provide insights with implications for policy or management. Research Policy (RP) is a multidisciplinary journal focused on analyzing, understanding, and effectively addressing the challenges posed by innovation, technology, R&D, and science. This includes activities related to knowledge creation, diffusion, acquisition, and exploitation in the form of new or improved products, processes, or services, across economic, policy, management, organizational, and environmental dimensions.