understanding of how individual-level knowledge aggregates to firm-level outcomes. We develop a microfoundational theory to examine … despite intuitions that knowledge mobilization should protect firms from rival imitation attempts, knowledge mobilization can …, sustainable advantage may emerge under limited conditions under which knowledge-mobilizing firms outrace rivals' imitation efforts …

incumbents. We examine the role in catch-up of late movers' optimal resource allocation between innovation and imitation … either imitation or innovation deters technological leadership change by late movers in the long run, since the leading firms … are moving targets. Furthermore, when a late mover's technology level is low, the late mover should focus on imitation and …