Staff profile

Professor Karena Yan is Chair in Innovation and Strategic Management and Associate Dean at Durham University Business School. Her research focuses on innovation, strategic management, and technology-driven organisational change, particularly exploring how firms respond to institutional challenges, technological disruption, and sustainability transitions. Her recent studies have addressed issues such as corporate green innovation, institutional dynamics, and organisational resilience, with implications for both academic theory and business practice.

Her work has been published in Research Policy, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Organization Studies, Journal of Business Ethics among others. She currently serves on the editorial boards of International Business Review and International Marketing Review.

Professor Yan also leads the Charles Wilson Research Fund project Grid Smarter Cities, and is a co-investigator on the EPSRC-funded AI Hub for Real Data, and the industr-focused project Who Engages and Why?, reflecting her ongoing commitment to applied, collaborative research with social and technological impact. She also provided academic advice for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project funded by the UK Technology Strategy Board. Her research has received attention in national media outlets including Economics, The Sunday Times, and the BBC, and she has provided expert advice for the UK Government's report on the Metaverse and Web 3.0. 

At Durham, she has previously served as Co-director of the Centre for Innovation and Technology Management, Link Tutor for the International Study Centre, Chair of the Board of Examiners for the MSc Marketing programme, and member of both the Research and Education Committees. Beyond the university, Professor Yan served as President of the Chinese Economic Association (Europe/UK) in 2022–2023, promoting international academic collaboration. She holds a PhD from Cardiff University.

Prospective PhD applicants with aligned research interests are welcome to get in touch with a research proposal.

Mini Biography

Professor Karena Yan is Chair in Innovation and Strategic Management, Associate Dean at Durham University Business School. Her research focuses on innovation, strategic management, and technology-driven organisational change, particularly exploring how firms respond to institutional challenges, technological disruption, and sustainability transitions.

• New Product and Process Innovation
• R&D Management and University-Industry Collaboration
• Technology Management
• Marketing analytics on new product development

Journal Article

• How does blockchain application impact on supply chain alliance?
  
  Yan, J., Gui, Q., Jiang, S., Yu, Z., Fernandes, K., Tian, K., Xia, S., & Gong, Y. (2025). How does blockchain application impact on supply chain alliance?. Technovation, 143, Article 103199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103199
• Finding the sweet spot: effects of exporting on the relationship between R&D investment and NPD performance
  
  Sousa, C. M. P., Tsinopoulos, C., Yan, J., & Benito, G. R. G. (2025). Finding the sweet spot: effects of exporting on the relationship between R&D investment and NPD performance. International Marketing Review, 42(1), 35-63. https://doi.org/10.1108/imr-02-2024-0039
• Unpacking Organizational Agency in Institutional Change: The Role of Executives’ Political Connections and Shareholders’ Investment Horizons
  
  Ren, S., Yan, J., Yao, N., & Du, L. (2025). Unpacking Organizational Agency in Institutional Change: The Role of Executives’ Political Connections and Shareholders’ Investment Horizons. Organization Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/01708406251314588
• How Officials’ Political Incentives Influence Corporate Green Innovation
  
  Ren, S., Liu, D., & Yan, J. (2024). How Officials’ Political Incentives Influence Corporate Green Innovation. Journal of Business Ethics, 194(3), 633-653. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-024-05622-1
• What Changes and Opportunities Does Big Data Analytics Capability Bring to Strategic Alliance Research? A Systematic Literature Review
  
  Xia, S., Song, J., Ameen, N., Vrontis, D., Yan, J., & Chen, F. (2024). What Changes and Opportunities Does Big Data Analytics Capability Bring to Strategic Alliance Research? A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Management Reviews, 26(1), 34-53. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12350
• How does technological opportunism affect firm performance? The mediating role of resource orchestration
  
  Li, L., Chen, L., Yan, J., Xu, C., & Jiang, N. (2023). How does technological opportunism affect firm performance? The mediating role of resource orchestration. Journal of Business Research, 166, Article 114093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114093
• Dual networks: how does knowledge network embeddedness affect firms' supply chain learning?
  
  Yan, J., Yu, Z., Fernandes, K., & Xiong, Y. (2023). Dual networks: how does knowledge network embeddedness affect firms’ supply chain learning?. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 43(8), 1277-1303. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijopm-08-2022-0507
• Understanding the impact of Mandatory CSR Disclosure on Green Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms
  
  Ren, S., Huang, M., Liu, D., & Yan, J. (2023). Understanding the impact of Mandatory CSR Disclosure on Green Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms. British Journal of Management, 34(2), 576-594. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12609
• Abandoning innovation projects, filing patent applications and receiving foreign direct investment in R&D
  
  Li, R., Yan, J., Yao, N., Tian, K., Xia, S., Yang, X., & Xiong, Y. (2022). Abandoning innovation projects, filing patent applications and receiving foreign direct investment in R&D. Technovation, 114, Article 102435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2021.102435
• How can emerging-market SMEs domestically benefit from their performance in developed countries? Empirical evidence from China
  
  Li, W., Liu, Z., Xia, S., Yan, J., Xiong, Y., Sakka, G., & Li, Y. (2022). How can emerging-market SMEs domestically benefit from their performance in developed countries? Empirical evidence from China. Journal of Business Research, 142, 200-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.12.058
• Environmental labeling certification and corporate environmental innovation: The moderating role of corporate ownership and local government intervention
  
  Ren, S., He, D., Yan, J., Zeng, H., & Tan, J. (2022). Environmental labeling certification and corporate environmental innovation: The moderating role of corporate ownership and local government intervention. Journal of Business Research, 140, 556-571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.11.023
• Centralization or Decentralization? The Impact of Different Distributions of Authority on China's Environmental Regulation
  
  Yang, X., Yan, J., Tian, K., Yu, Z., Li, R., & Xia, S. (2021). Centralization or Decentralization? The Impact of Different Distributions of Authority on China’s Environmental Regulation. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 173, Article 121172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121172
• Does R&D intensity promote firm adoption of circular supply chain management? Evidence from the emerging market of China
  
  Yan, J., Chen, X., Chen, L., & Jiang, M. (2021). Does R&D intensity promote firm adoption of circular supply chain management? Evidence from the emerging market of China. Industrial Marketing Management, 99, 153-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2021.10.015
• Optimal and naive diversification in an emerging market: Evidence from China's A‐shares market
  
  Yan, C., & Yan, J. (2021). Optimal and naive diversification in an emerging market: Evidence from China’s A‐shares market. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 26(3), 3740-3758. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.1984
• Do network capabilities improve corporate financial performance? Evidence from financial supply chains
  
  Wang, L., Yan, J., Chen, X., & Xu, Q. (2021). Do network capabilities improve corporate financial performance? Evidence from financial supply chains. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 41(4), 336-358. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijopm-07-2020-0484
• CEO Hometown Identity and Firm Green Innovation
  
  Ren, S., Wang, Y., Hu, Y., & Yan, J. (2021). CEO Hometown Identity and Firm Green Innovation. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(2), 756-774. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2652
• Unpacking the impact of innovation ambidexterity on export performance: Microfoundations and infrastructure investment
  
  Yan, J., Tsinopoulos, C., & Xiong, Y. (2021). Unpacking the impact of innovation ambidexterity on export performance: Microfoundations and infrastructure investment. International Business Review, 30(1), Article 101766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2020.101766
• Export Activity, R&D Investment And Foreign Ownership: Does It Matter For Productivity?
  
  Sousa, C. M., Yan, J., Gomes, E., & Lengler, J. (2021). Export Activity, R&D Investment And Foreign Ownership: Does It Matter For Productivity?. International Marketing Review, 38(3), 613-639. https://doi.org/10.1108/imr-03-2020-0045
• Marketing as an Investment in Shareholder Value
  
  Hughes, M., Hughes, P., Yan, J., & Sousa, C. (2019). Marketing as an Investment in Shareholder Value. British Journal of Management, 30(4), 943-965. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12284
• Abandoning Innovation Activities and Performance: The moderating role of openness
  
  Tsinopoulos, C., Yan, J., & Sousa, C. M. (2019). Abandoning Innovation Activities and Performance: The moderating role of openness. Research Policy, 48(6), 1399-1411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.02.005
• The Measurement of Absorptive Capacity from an Economics Perspective: Definition, Measurement and Importance
  
  Harris, R., & Yan, J. (2019). The Measurement of Absorptive Capacity from an Economics Perspective: Definition, Measurement and Importance. Journal of Economic Surveys, 33(3), 729-756. https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12296
• Process Innovation: Open innovation and the moderating role of the motivation to achieve legitimacy
  
  Tsinopoulos, C., Sousa, C., & Yan, J. (2018). Process Innovation: Open innovation and the moderating role of the motivation to achieve legitimacy. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 35(1), 27-48. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12374
• The vices and virtues of consumption choices: Price promotion and consumer decision making
  
  Yan, J., Tian, K., Heravi, S., & Morgan, P. (2017). The vices and virtues of consumption choices: Price promotion and consumer decision making. Marketing Letters, 28(3), 461-475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-017-9421-x
• Asymmetric Demand Patterns for Products with Added Nutritional Benefits and Products without Nutritional Benefits
  
  Yan, J., Tian, K., Heravi, S., & Morgan, P. (2016). Asymmetric Demand Patterns for Products with Added Nutritional Benefits and Products without Nutritional Benefits. European Journal of Marketing, 50(9/10), 1672-1702. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejm-06-2015-0356