nep-cse New Economics Papers
on Economics of Strategic Management
Issue of 2012‒09‒09
ten papers chosen by
Joao Jose de Matos Ferreira
University of the Beira Interior

  1. Organizational Innovation and its Link with Technological Innovation in SMEs: Empirical Evidence for Lower Normandy – France By Khadidja Benallou; Jean Bonnet; Mohammad Movahedi
  2. How Innovative Are Spin-Offs at Later Stages of Development?: Comparing Innovativeness of Established Research Spin-Offs and Otherwise Created Firms By Anna Lejpras
  3. R&D Subsidies, International Knowledge Dispersion, and Fully Endogenous Productivity Growth By Colin Davis; Ken-ichi Hashimoto
  4. R&D and the Incentives from Merger and Acquisition Activity By Gordon M. Phillips; Alexei Zhdanov
  5. Sustainable Development and Guidance for Entrepreneurship in Unfavoured Regions: The Case of the Alentejo Region By Rui Fragoso
  6. The Impact of Networking on Firm Performance - Evidence from Small and Medium-Sized Firms in Emerging Technology Areas By Matias Kalm
  7. Exports, R&D and Productivity in German Business Services Firms: A test of the Bustos-model By Alexander Vogel; Joachim Wagner
  8. Creativity, analytical skills, personality traits, and innovative capability: A lab experiment By Güth, Werner; Pull, Kerstin; Stadler, Manfred
  9. Strategic interactions in public R&D across EU-15 countries: A spatial econometric analysis By Hakim Hammadou; Sonia Paty; Maria Savona
  10. Strategy Formulation Approach, Industry Factors, Competition and the Notion of Learning Organization: Evidences from KAO Corporation. By Dissanayake, D.M.N.S.W.

  1. By: Khadidja Benallou (Phd student - UFR de sciences économiques et de gestion, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, CREM-CNRS, UMR 6211); Jean Bonnet (UFR de sciences économiques et de gestion, University of Caen Basse-Normandie - CREM-CNRS, France); Mohammad Movahedi (Phd student - UFR de sciences économiques et de gestion, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, CREM-CNRS, UMR 6211)
    Abstract: In the present study, we define synthetic and relevant indicators of organizational innovation and measure the link of these indicators with various types of technological innovations (product innovation, process innovation, and hybrid innovations). They are constructed from sixteen variables reflecting organizational innovation with the aid of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) method. The variables are grouped in five categories corresponding to different aspects of organizational changes, such as training & qualification, knowledge management, production management, quality, and market transaction. We then use a regression to estimate the link between organizational innovation indicators and technological innovations (product, process and their interaction). The original database exploited is part of the IDEIS project and relates to a representative sample of 90 SMEs in Lower Normandy - France. Our estimated indicators interpret the Intensity of the implementation of the Organizational Changes (IOC) and the orientation of the Organizational Innovation Strategies adopted (OIS). We find a positive and significant link between IOC and technological innovation (product innovation, process innovation, and hybrid innovations), particularly so for product innovation. However, we find no clear link between the choice of the OIS and technological innovation.
    Keywords: Indicators of organizational innovation, product and process innovation, innovation strategy, quality of human resources, training.
    JEL: D23 O33 C81 C2
    Date: 2012–07
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tut:cremwp:201229&r=cse
  2. By: Anna Lejpras
    Abstract: The literature argues that research spin-offs (RSOs)-enterprises originating from a university or research institute-appear to have higher innovative potential and capabilities than other start-ups, at least in the early stages of their development. Yet, little is known about the innovative performance of these companies at later development phases. Thus, the main goal of this study is to investigate whether there are any differences in R&D and innovation behavior between established and/or mature RSOs and otherwise created firms and, if so, to what extent they are driven by networking and cooperation activities as suggested by some scholars. To this end, we employ probit regression analysis and a matching approach using survey data on more than 6,000 East German firms, among which are 179 RSOs. Our first findings suggest that established RSOs engage in R&D and innovation activities more frequently than companies whose genesis was of another type. Nevertheless, the results obtained when accounting for collaboration measures show that the precedence of RSOs in further development stages over otherwise created firms in terms of innovativeness is related to their higher intensity of cooperation activity and close, face-to-face interactions with universities, and not to type of firm creation. Moreover, our findings reveal that cooperating in various fields may be of different importance for specific inputs and outputs of the innovation activity. Finally, based on our results, we draw some implications both for practicing managers and public policymakers.
    Keywords: Spin-Offs, R&D, innovation, cooperation
    JEL: O30 M20 L20
    Date: 2012
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp1237&r=cse
  3. By: Colin Davis (The Institute for the Liberal Arts, Doshisha University); Ken-ichi Hashimoto (Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University)
    Abstract: This paper develops a two country model to investigate the effects of national R&D subsidies on aggregate product variety and endogenous productivity growth without scale effects. In particular, monopolistically competitive firms invest in process innovation with the aim of lowering production costs. With imperfect knowledge dispersion, the larger of the two countries has a larger share of firms and a greater level of productivity. The higher concentration of relatively productive firms increases the size of knowledge flows between firms, leading to an increase in firm-level employment in innovation. As a result, an economy with asymmetric countries produces a faster rate of growth than one with countries of similar size. The larger scale of firm-level innovation activity reduces market entry, however, and overall product variety falls. Using this framework, we find that a national R&D subsidy has a positive effect on the industry share, relative productivity, and wage rate of the implementing country. Moreover, if the smaller country introduces an R&D subsidy, overall product variety rises but the rate of productivity growth falls. Alternatively, if the larger country introduces an R&D subsidy, the rate of productivity growth rises, but overall product variety may rise or fall. Finally, we briefly consider the effects of a national R&D subsidy on national and world welfare levels.
    Keywords: R&D Subsidy, Knowledge Dispersion, Productivity Growth, Scale Effect
    JEL: F43 O30 O40
    Date: 2012–08
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:koe:wpaper:1214&r=cse
  4. By: Gordon M. Phillips; Alexei Zhdanov
    Abstract: We provide a model and empirical tests showing how an active acquisition market affects firm incentives to innovate and conduct R&D. Our model shows that small firms optimally may decide to innovate more when they can sell out to larger firms. Large firms may find it disadvantageous to engage in an "R&D race" with small firms, as they can obtain access to innovation through acquisition. Our model and evidence show that the R&D responsiveness of firms increases with demand, competition and industry merger and acquisition activity. All of these effects are stronger for smaller firms than for larger firms.
    JEL: G20 G3 G34 L11 L22 L25 O31 O34
    Date: 2012–08
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:18346&r=cse
  5. By: Rui Fragoso (University of Évora. Management Department. ICAM/CEFAGE)
    Abstract: The unfavoured Portuguese regions have a level of life and economic growth rates lower than favoured regions, and the mean of European Union and hence have less entrepreneurial activities. The adoption of strategies of sustainable development driven by entrepreneurship phenomena could be a viable solution. Thus, the likely relationships between entrepreneurship and regional features were described, and sources of entrepreneurship opportunities for strategies based on the own regional resources and competitive advantages were identified. The paper concludes that for the Alentejo region region, some habitat variables should be reinforced for promoting entrepreneurship and sustainable development, and the main opportunities are related to the economic activities that belong to the regional productive profile of specialization.
    Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Sustainable development; strategic positioning; habitat variables.
    JEL: M1 M13 M2 M20
    Date: 2012
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cfe:wpcefa:2012_21&r=cse
  6. By: Matias Kalm
    Abstract: Recent developments in the field of network research have led to a growing interest in interorganisational relationships among social science scholars. One of the most important research areas is related to entrepreneurship research and how relationship networks affect firm performance. However, the existing literature focuses mostly on qualitative case studies and quantitative studies that analyse mergers and acquisitions or patent types of data. By analysing connection and causality between activity in co-operational relationships and firm growth, this study seeks to empirically address the following research question : ‘How does activity in network relationships influence the growth and internationalisation of technology-based firms in emerging technology areas?’ Furthermore, the connection and causality between activity in co-operational relationships and the internationalisation rates of firms are also analysed. This analysis is based on a data set and interviews with 53 small and medium-sized firms. Both a descriptive analysis and regression methods are used to analyse the connection between activity in co-operational relationships and firm growth or internationalisation. Firm growth is measured with both revenue and the employment growth rate. In addition, the activity in in the co-operational relationships is divided into two components : increasing versus consistently high activity with network actors. To address possible causality issues, this research employs activity measures that are based on the importance of the relationships rather than simply the number of relationships. The results show that increasing activity with network actors is positively connected with firm growth as measured in both revenue and employment growth. Furthermore, the results partially support the hypothesis that consistently high activity is positively connected to firm growth. Finally, the results suggest that growth firms positively benefit from increased relationship activity with both current and prospective actors in diverse relationship networks. Moreover, the single most negative result is the relatively low impact of relationship activities on public-sector actors and networks.
    Keywords: interorganisational relationships, firm growth, internationalisation, networks
    Date: 2012–08–31
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rif:dpaper:1278&r=cse
  7. By: Alexander Vogel (Leuphana University Lueneburg, Germany); Joachim Wagner (Leuphana University Lueneburg, Germany)
    Abstract: This paper uses newly available data for German business services firms to test a hypothesis derived by Bustos (AER 2011) in a model that explains the decision of heterogeneous firms to export and to engage in R&D. Using a non-parametric test for first order stochastic dominance it is shown that, in line with this hypothesis, the productivity distribution of firms with exports and R&D dominates that of exporters without R&D, which in turn dominates that of firms that neither export nor engage in R&D. These results are in line with findings for firms from manufacturing industries. The model, therefore, seems to be useful to guide empirical work on the relation between exports, R&D and productivity for services firms, too.
    Keywords: Exports, R&D, productivity, business services firms, Germany
    JEL: F14
    Date: 2012–08
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lue:wpaper:247&r=cse
  8. By: Güth, Werner; Pull, Kerstin; Stadler, Manfred
    Abstract: Innovation economics is usually neglecting the psychological tradition of creativity research. Our study is an attempt to experimentally collect behavioral data revealing in how far personality characteristics like creativity, analytical skills and personality traits on the one hand and innovative capability, the topic of innovation economics, on the other hand are interrelated. We find that participants' performance in innovation games is related to their creativity, risk tolerance and self-control. Other personality traits such as participants' anxiety, independence, tough-mindedness, analytical skills and extraversion at best play a minor role. --
    Keywords: Creativity,Personality traits,Innovation games,Experiments
    JEL: C91 L13 O31
    Date: 2012
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:tuewef:44&r=cse
  9. By: Hakim Hammadou; Sonia Paty; Maria Savona
    Abstract: The aim of this paper is to test the presence of strategic interactions in government spending on Research and Development (R&D) among EU-15 countries. We add to the literature on public choice strategic interactions in general, and to work on R&D spending in particular. We take account of traditional and some overlooked factors related to countries' public R&D spending, including (i) the international context -- i.e. Lisbon strategy; (ii) country characteristics - the National System of Innovation, and more specifically national similarities in relation to (a) trade and economic size and (b) sectoral specialization. Sectoral specialization is likely to affect government spending, depending on the mechanisms of complementarity or substitution between public and private R&D. Using a spatial dynamic panel model in which spatial matrices are specified both in terms of traditional Euclidean distance, and sectoral specialization proximity, we confirm the existence of strategic interactions on R&D spending among European countries with similar economic size, international trade and sectoral structure. Unlike the results emerging from the literature on strategic interactions in public choice, geographic proximity seems not to affect interactions related to public spending on R&D.
    Keywords: Public spending strategic interactions, Public R&D expenditures, National Systems of Innovation, Complementarity public and private R&D, Spatial interactions, EU countries, spatial dynamic panel data
    Date: 2012–08–27
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ssa:lemwps:2012/14&r=cse
  10. By: Dissanayake, D.M.N.S.W.
    Abstract: Particularly this report defines the strategic aspects of the KAO Corporation in Japan. The KAO Corporation is one of the leading consumer product providers in the Japanese market. Though the company exists in the FMCG industry, it can be stated that the company has attained a competitive advantage over the existing players in the market. At the outset the report defines a clear introduction with regards to the company philosophy. The activities of the business and the market position of the company. Following, a clear understanding has been provided with regards to the company strategic formulation. And the steps of the strategic formulation have also been provided. And predominantly, the report encompasses an industry analysis. Moving along with the report, the learning has been defined with regards to the company perspective, since the company constantly engaging with the notion or learning organization. Last but not the least the report defines how the company has engaged with the idea of learning organization.
    Keywords: Competition; Learning organization; Strategy formulation
    JEL: M00
    Date: 2012–08–29
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:40946&r=cse

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