The Heterogeneity of the Executive Team and Enterprise Innovation Performance: An Empirical Study Based on China's Strategic Emerging Industries
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The Heterogeneity of the Executive Team and Enterprise Innovation Performance: An Empirical Study Based on China's Strategic Emerging Industries

Jiaxin Song 1*
1 Hainan University
*Corresponding author: s3062965342@163.com
Published on 14 October 2025
Journal Cover
AEMPS Vol.225
ISSN (Print): 2754-1177
ISSN (Online): 2754-1169
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-385-7
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-386-4
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Abstract

Based on the high-level echelon theory and team diversity theory, this study takes Chinese strategic emerging industry enterprises from 2020 to 2025 as samples and, through empirical research methods, investigates the relationship between the heterogeneity of the executive team and the innovation performance of enterprises. The study quantified innovation performance as the number of invention patent applications, used the Blau index to measure the heterogeneity of educational background and the Herfindahl index to measure the heterogeneity of occupational background, and controlled seven types of variables including enterprise age to construct a multiple regression model. The results show that both educational background heterogeneity (β=0.210, p<0.1) and occupational background heterogeneity (β=1.203, p<0.01) have a significant positive impact on innovation performance, and the impact of occupational background heterogeneity is more prominent. Research has confirmed that in strategic emerging industries, the diversification of the knowledge structure and professional experience of the executive team can provide a theoretical basis for enterprises to optimize their team structure and for the government to formulate supportive policies.

Keywords:

Heterogeneity of the executive team, Enterprise innovation performance, emerging sectors of strategic importance

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Song,J. (2025). The Heterogeneity of the Executive Team and Enterprise Innovation Performance: An Empirical Study Based on China's Strategic Emerging Industries. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,225,52-58.

References

[1]. The State Council of the People's Republic of China (2016) The 13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of National Strategic Emerging Industries. Retrieved from http: //www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2016-12/19/content_5150008.htm

[2]. Xu, C., & Shi, Y. (2020) The Collaborative Innovation Development Level, Regional Differences and Spatial Convergence Characteristics of Strategic Emerging Industries. *Statistics and Decision*, 41(9), 134-138.

[3]. Xie, F., & Yao, X. (2024) Enterprise Innovation Performance Management: From the Perspective of Team Heterogeneity. *People's University of China Periodical Abstracts: Management Research*, (10), 45-52.

[4]. Fan, X. (2016) Executive Motivation and Enterprise Innovation Performance (Doctoral dissertation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University).

[5]. Zhang, Z., Zhang, Y., & Hou, L. (2012) Understanding Team Diversity: Theory, Mechanism and Context. *Nanjing University Business Review*, 9(2), 127-146.

[6]. Zhao, L., Jia, P., & Che, W. (2025) Research on the Impact of Senior Management Team Heterogeneity on the Innovation Performance of Manufacturing Enterprises. *Modern Business*, (6), 119-121.

[7]. Sun, X., Qu, J., & Su, J. (2025) The Role of Senior Management Team's Social Capital in Digital Technology Enabling Enterprise Innovation. *Journal of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics*, 27(2), 3-16.

[8]. Liu, X., Zhong, L., & Liu, Y. (2025) Exploration of the Mechanism by Which Heterogeneity of Enterprise Executive Teams Affects Organizational Resilience: An Empirical Test Based on a Model with Management Autonomy Regulation. *Journal of Central University of Finance and Economics*, (1), 142-160.

Cite this article

Song,J. (2025). The Heterogeneity of the Executive Team and Enterprise Innovation Performance: An Empirical Study Based on China's Strategic Emerging Industries. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,225,52-58.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICEMGD 2025 Symposium: Resilient Business Strategies in Global Markets

ISBN: 978-1-80590-385-7(Print) / 978-1-80590-386-4(Online)
Editor: Florian Marcel Nuţă Nuţă, Li Chai
Conference website: https://2025.icemgd.org/CAU.html
Conference date: 20 September 2025
Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences
Volume number: Vol.225
ISSN: 2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)