Internal Corporate Venture Operations Independence and Performance: A Knowledge-Based Perspective

Internal corporate ventures (ICVs) are entrepreneurial initiatives originated within a company and intended from inception as new businesses for the parent. The literature suggests that parent–ICV structural separation positively affects ICV performance. However, the literature also suggests that ICVs can be nurtured within the parent's existing organizational structure. Our model explores ICV operations independence as a knowledge flow impediment affecting ICV performance. Primary data from 145 ICVs suggest that operations independence is not associated with ICV performance, but that parent–venture market familiarity, venture opportunity identification mode, and venture planning autonomy moderate the relationship between operations independence and ICV performance.