The coevolution of corporate capabilities in intellectual property management and technological innovation

Purpose In this study, we investigate how capability in managing intellectual property may be treated as a type of “dynamic capability,” and we seek to understand how, when it is linked to the new technology development capability of a complex technological organization, these two types of dynamic capabilities may coevolve. Design/methodology/approach We conducted a longitudinal empirical case study of Airbus, incorporating an abductive research methodology that required investigating theory and empirical data concurrently and iteratively. The data, ranging over a period of two decades from 2000 to 2021, was collected from four different sources, including interviews, internal company documents, publicly available information and patent data. Findings Our main findings are that the capabilities and roles of the Intellectual Property function in Airbus and their interaction with the company's Technology function have indeed influenced the overall innovation strategy of the organization, and that three coevolutionary phases may be identified in the interactive development of the two functions. Research limitations/implications Our investigation into how new technology development and intellectual property (IP) management capabilities coevolve within complex technological organizations, exemplified by Airbus, provides significant theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, it enhances understanding of capability co-development dynamics in complex organizations, particularly in strategic IP management. Practically, it suggests aligning IP strategy with overall corporate objectives and optimizing organizational structures to promote collaboration and efficiency across IP and technology teams. This alignment may foster innovation, maximize the value of intellectual assets and strengthen collaborations, positioning organizations for long-term success in competitive landscapes. Originality/value This study makes a fresh contribution to the innovation studies literature by showing how if intellectual property management is treated as a core function of a complex technological organization – rather than simply as a vehicle for protecting new inventions and products after the fact or simply as a constituent part of the organization's legal function – it may contribute proactively to the organization's technological innovation performance. We also address the current gap in the academic literature for a clear understanding of the processes by which different function-specific dynamic capabilities may coevolve in a complex organization operating as part of a dynamic and complex adaptive system.