Mutual scrutiny and information exchange: Uncovering R&D Partners’ impact on ESG performance in the biopharmaceutical industry

IF 10.5 1区管理学 Q1 BUSINESS

Journal of Business Research Pub Date : 2025-04-24 DOI:10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115408

Yahan Hu, Qinqin Zheng

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Advocacy for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance is shaping the biopharmaceutical industry. Nevertheless, the impact of certain stakeholder groups within the industry, such as research and development (R&D) partners, remains largely underexplored. As risk and resources are two key dimensions in understanding R&D alliance activities, we propose that R&D partners may influence focal firms’ ESG performance through two forces: mutual scrutiny driven by risk considerations and information exchange reflecting resource access. Our investigation of strategic R&D alliances in the global biopharmaceutical industry from 2001 to 2020 supports the proposed enhancement effect of R&D partnerships on ESG performance. Moreover, this effect is stronger when focal firms perceive R&D partners as a more salient stakeholder group. Our study contributes to ESG research by integrating stakeholder theory with the strategic alliance literature and emphasising the non-financial effects of interorganisational relationships.

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相互审查和信息交换：揭示研发合作伙伴对生物制药行业ESG绩效的影响

倡导环境、社会和治理（ESG）绩效正在塑造生物制药行业。然而，行业内某些利益相关者群体的影响，如研究和开发（R&；D）合作伙伴，在很大程度上仍未得到充分探索。由于风险和资源是理解研发联盟活动的两个关键维度，我们提出研发合作伙伴可能通过两种力量影响焦点公司的ESG绩效：由风险考虑驱动的相互审查和反映资源获取的信息交换。我们对2001年至2020年全球生物制药行业战略研发联盟的调查支持了研发合作伙伴关系对ESG绩效的增强效应。此外，当重点公司将研发合作伙伴视为一个更突出的利益相关者群体时，这种效应会更强。我们的研究通过将利益相关者理论与战略联盟文献相结合，并强调组织间关系的非财务影响，为ESG研究做出了贡献。

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来源期刊

Journal of Business Research BUSINESS-

CiteScore

20.30

自引率

10.60%

发文量

956

期刊介绍： The Journal of Business Research aims to publish research that is rigorous, relevant, and potentially impactful. It examines a wide variety of business decision contexts, processes, and activities, developing insights that are meaningful for theory, practice, and/or society at large. The research is intended to generate meaningful debates in academia and practice, that are thought provoking and have the potential to make a difference to conceptual thinking and/or practice. The Journal is published for a broad range of stakeholders, including scholars, researchers, executives, and policy makers. It aids the application of its research to practical situations and theoretical findings to the reality of the business world as well as to society. The Journal is abstracted and indexed in several databases, including Social Sciences Citation Index, ANBAR, Current Contents, Management Contents, Management Literature in Brief, PsycINFO, Information Service, RePEc, Academic Journal Guide, ABI/Inform, INSPEC, etc.