How do risks affect innovation performance in CoPS projects? A configurational perspective based on a technology–organization–environment framework

Purpose Effective risk management is critical to successfully developing complex products and systems (CoPS) but is often hampered by the unclear understanding of risks’ effect on outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate how do diverse project risks jointly affect innovation performance in both adverse and positive ways within the CoPS context. Design/methodology/approach This study performs a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) on 98 CoPS projects encompassing eight industries to investigate how diverse risks based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework jointly affect innovation performance within CoPS projects among integrators and complementors. Findings The results reveal three configurations for high performance. Specifically, technology-oriented and market-driven, technology-oriented and resource-driven for project integrators and technology-oriented, resource and relationship co-driven for project complementors. We also identified four configurations for low performance. Particularly, technology triggered for project integrators, resource and relationship co-triggered, resource triggered and relationship triggered for project complementors. Originality/value Theoretically this study makes a valuable contribution to the existing body of literature on risk and performance management in CoPS projects by investigating the correlation between risks and project performance. From a practical perspective, both project integrators and complementors can utilize these insights to enhance their risk-management techniques in CoPS projects.