HSUEH-LIANG WULee, C.-Y.C.-Y.LeeLin, J.-C.J.-C.Lin2020-02-142020-02-142014https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/459162While consistently making forays into new domains is common practice, a follow-up action represents a greater realization of the value of a prior entry. Subsequent to technological entries into new domains, why and when to follow up, in terms of a follow-up patenting action in the newly entered domain, is relatively sidelined in the technology management literature. This paper departs from the knowledge-based view on follow-up patenting action to the moderating roles of competitive intensity and learning speed in order to explore persistent innovation behavior under uncertainty. In a sample of 474 technological entries of fifteen top bearings manufacturers during 1990-2004, the study serves as a multilevel account of the interplay between patent, firm and field. Our results show not only the contrasting influences of a firm's knowledge depth and breadth on its propensity to follow up on prior entries but also the boundary conditions of such causal relationships. As a response to the recent call for more empirical inquiry into the dynamics of R&D investment, our evidence identifies the theoretical sensitivity of the knowledge-based view to contextual factors and sheds new light on the complex nature of follow-up patenting, particularly when firms are subject to external uncertainty caused by competitive rivalry and internal uncertainty due to learning speed. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Asset specificity; Follow-up patenting; Learning speed; Technological deepening[SDGs]SDG9Asset specificity; Causal relationships; External uncertainties; Follow-up patenting; Knowledge-based views; Learning speed; Technological deepening; Technology managements; Industry; Manufacture; Patents and inventionsjournal article10.1016/j.jengtecman.2013.10.0032-s2.0-84887454286https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84887454286&doi=10.1016%2fj.jengtecman.2013.10.003&partnerID=40&md5=557647d1870fd0c79dbb33af186b0e64