类别跨越对企业绩效的影响：来自科技型初创企业专利数据的证据

摘要/Abstract

摘要： 目前关于企业类别跨越与企业绩效关系的研究呈现不一致的结论，且在科技型初创企业情境下的验证研究尚少。本文基于分类理论，利用2000—2019年中国86家科技型初创企业的451条专利数据，探讨科技型初创企业跨越不同专利类别对企业绩效的影响，并基于种群生态学观点，检验企业年龄和种群密度对二者关系的调节作用。研究表明，科技型初创企业跨越专利类别的程度与企业绩效呈U型关系。进一步发现，企业年龄增强了类别跨越与企业绩效之间的U型关系，而种群密度削弱了企业类别跨越与企业绩效之间的U型关系。研究结论为类别跨越不一致的影响效应提供新的解释机制及新的情境验证，对企业类别跨越战略的制定与实施具有一定的管理启示。

关键词: 类别跨越, 分类理论, 企业绩效, 科技型初创企业

Abstract: Existing research on the relationship between category spanning and firm performance has yielded inconsistent conclusions, with limited empirical studies focusing on technology-based start-ups. Drawing on categorization theory, this paper explores the impact of category spanning across different patent categories on the performance of technology-based start-ups, utilizing patent data from 86 Chinese technology start-ups between 2000 and 2019, comprising a total of 451 patent records. Additionally, based on a population ecology perspective, this study examines the moderating effects of firm age and population density on the relationship between category spanning and firm performance. The findings reveal a U-shaped relationship between the extent of category spanning and firm performance. Moreover, the analysis shows that firm age strengthens the U-shaped relationship between category spanning and performance, while population density weakens this relationship. These results offer new explanations for the inconsistent effects of category spanning and provide valuable contextual insights. The study contributes to the strategic formulation and implementation of category spanning in firms, offering rich managerial implications.

Key words: category spanning, category theory, firm performance, technology start-ups

吴小节, 何沅蔓, 陈小梅. 类别跨越对企业绩效的影响：来自科技型初创企业专利数据的证据[J]. 管理评论, 2026, 38(8): 136-149.

Wu Xiaojie, He Yuanman, Chen Xiaomei. The Impact of Category Spanning on Firm Performance: Evidence from Patent Data of Innovative Technology Firms[J]. Management Review, 2026, 38(8): 136-149.

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