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on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy |
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Issue of 2012‒06‒05
eleven papers chosen by Laura Stefanescu European Research Centre of Managerial Studies in Business Administration |
| By: | Heli Koski |
| Abstract: | The importance of data and different sources of knowledge in the development of new services and products, and further in the creation of new markets, has dramatically increased during the past few decades. This empirical study uses data from 531 Finnish firms to explore the determinants of generation of new data-based products and services. The empirical findings emphasize the role of a firm’s absorptive capacity and its ICT competence in data-based innovation. It seems that generally a firm’s external information sources play a more prominent role than internal information sources. Particularly customer involvement in innovation process positively relates to the production of new data-based products and services. The reported empirical findings further indicate that data-based product and service innovation tends to be rather strongly demand-driven. |
| Keywords: | firm performance, innovation, data-based products and services, ICT |
| JEL: | D22 L20 O31 |
| Date: | 2012–05–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rif:dpaper:1272&r=knm |
| By: | Michelle Mongo (GATE Lyon Saint-Etienne - Groupe d'analyse et de théorie économique - CNRS : UMR5824 - Université Lumière - Lyon II - École Normale Supérieure - Lyon) |
| Abstract: | This article makes a study of the influence of innovation determinants on their ability to innovate and the different types of innovation (technological and non-technological) developed within service sector. The statistics are provided from the community Innovation Survey. The estimation method is a probit with selection from the framework proposed by Heckman (1979) and refined by Van De Ven and Van Praag (1981). The first equation explains the innovative capacity and the second explicates the implementation of different types of innovation (technological and / or non-technological). The analysis focuses on the comparison of innovation behaviors in service sector and industry. The results demonstrate that the determinants of innovation ability are similar for service sector and industry and the differences are issued from different forms of innovation developed. More precisely, it comes from the orientation of each sector towards more or less technological innovation. The results bring up the question of the appropriateness of current policies of innovation especially in R&D' promotion. The author proposes to take into account the consideration of different types of activities and innovation for this policy and suggests to focus on the lowtechnological but innovative and non-technological activities like intellectual services. |
| Keywords: | Non-technological Innovation; Services; Community Innovation Survey |
| Date: | 2012–05–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-00700457&r=knm |
| By: | Michelle Mongo (Université de Lyon, Lyon, F-69007, France ; CNRS, GATE Lyon St Etienne,Université Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne, F-42000, France); Corinne Autant-Bernard |
| Abstract: | This article makes a study of the influence of innovation determinants on their ability to innovate and the different types of innovation (technological and non-technological) developed within service sector. The statistics are provided from the community Innovation Survey. The estimation method is a probit with selection from the framework proposed by Heckman (1979) and refined by Van De Ven and Van Praag (1981). The first equation explains the innovative capacity and the second explicates the implementation of different types of innovation (technological and / or non-technological). The analysis focuses on the comparison of innovation behaviors in service sector and industry. The results demonstrate that the determinants of innovation ability are similar for service sector and industry and the differences are issued from different forms of innovation developed. More precisely, it comes from the orientation of each sector towards more or less technological innovation. The results bring up the question of the appropriateness of current policies of innovation especially in R&D’ promotion. The author proposes to take into account the consideration of different types of activities and innovation for this policy and suggests to focus on the lowtechnological but innovative and non-technological activities like intellectual services. |
| Keywords: | Non-technological Innovation, Services, Community Innovation Survey |
| JEL: | O31 |
| Date: | 2014 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gat:wpaper:1214&r=knm |
| By: | Harhoff, Dietmar; Mueller, Elisabeth; Van Reenen, John |
| Abstract: | Innovation processes within corporations increasingly tap into international technology sources, yet little is known about the relative contribution of different types of innovation channels. We investigate the effectiveness of different types of international technology sourcing activities using survey information on German companies complemented with information from the European Patent Office. German firms with inventors based in the US disproportionately benefit from R&D knowledge located in the US. The positive influence on total factor productivity is larger if the research of the inventors results in co-applications of patents with US companies. Moreover, research cooperation with American suppliers also enables German firms to better tap into US R&D, but cooperation with customers and competitors does not appear to aid technology sourcing. The results suggest that the brain drain to the US can have upsides for corporations tapping into American know-how. -- |
| Keywords: | technology sourcing,knowledge spillovers,productivity,open innovation |
| JEL: | O32 O33 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:fsfmwp:187&r=knm |
| By: | Piacentino, Davide |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates sources of product or process innovation, such as investments in research and development, machinery, personnel training and management systems, by examining microdata from eight European countries. We pay particular attention to the effect of research and development in favouring the absorption of new technologies, i.e. the absorptive capacity. Significant positive effects of each source on both product and process innovations are found. Significant evidence of positive absorptive capacity emerges only in firms with low predicted probabilities of introducing innovation. |
| Keywords: | Innovation; Absorption; Microdata; European countries |
| JEL: | D21 O32 O31 |
| Date: | 2012–05–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:39110&r=knm |
| By: | D’Ippolito,Beatrice; Miozzo,Marcela; Consoli,Davide |
| Abstract: | Drawing on evidence on the home furnishing sectors in Italy during the XX century, the aim is to understand the instituted processes that facilitated the translation of design know-how from being project-specific to becoming relevant to broader remits. The paper contributes to the debate on industry evolution by incorporating the institutional dimension to the organisational and technological changes taking place at both firm and industry level. |
| Keywords: | Industry emergence, growth of the firm, division of knowledge, division of labour, business function, design, Italian furniture, home furnishing |
| JEL: | O33 L84 D83 |
| Date: | 2012–05–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ing:wpaper:201202&r=knm |
| By: | MOTOHASHI Kazuyuki |
| Abstract: | This paper uses patent filings as an indicator of innovation and investigates the relationship between innovation and firms' survival, based on the linked dataset of the Census of Establishment and Enterprise and the Institute of Intellectual Property (IIP) Patent Database for Japanese firms. We have constructed the indicators on the organization of innovative activities, such as external collaboration in inventions and the type of collaborative partners, and disentangle two competing factors, i.e., technological capability (positive influence on firms' survival) and commercial risk (negative influence on firms' survival). We found that the risk factor surpasses the capability factor, thus the impact of patenting on survival has a negative correlation with firms' survival at the end. |
| Date: | 2012–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:12036&r=knm |
| By: | Goodall, Amanda H. (IZA) |
| Abstract: | How much knowledge should leaders have of their organization's core business? This is an important question but not one that has been addressed in the management literature. In a new 'theory of expert leadership' (TEL), this paper blends conceptual work with recent empirical evidence. It suggests that organizations perform more effectively when led by individuals who have a deep understanding of the core business of their organization. Being a capable general manager is not sufficient. Expert leaders are those with (1) inherent knowledge, acquired through technical expertise combined with high ability in the core-business activity; (2) industry experience, which stems from time and practice within the core-business industry; and (3) leadership capabilities, which include management skills and a leader's innate characteristics. This paper criticizes the rise of the professional manager and generalist CEO. It argues that expert leaders improve organizational performance through knowledge-based strategy, by acting as a standard bearer, by creating the right environment for core workers, and, finally, by adopting the long view. The paper concludes by identifying the potential boundaries of TEL. |
| Keywords: | expert leaders, CEOs, inherent knowledge, core business, organizational performance |
| JEL: | J24 M12 M51 |
| Date: | 2012–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6566&r=knm |
| By: | Alessandro Caiani (Department of Economics and Business, University of Pavia); Antoine Godin (Department of Economics and Business, University of Pavia); Stefano Lucarelli (Department of Economics “Hyman P. Minsky”, University of Bergamo) |
| Abstract: | Schumpeter showed that the boom and bust cycles are intrinsically related to the functioning of the capitalist economy. These boom and bust cycles are inherent to the rise innovation. Our paper analyses innovation cycles in a stock flow consistent framework. It focuses on the essential role of internal and external finance in the emergence of a new technological paradigm. We present two models. The first one, as a tribute to Schumpeter’s work, follows strictly Schumpeter’s description of the business cycles induced by technological change, except for the financial side. The second model presents a multi-sectorial economy composed of consumption and capital goods industries, a banking sector and two households sectors: capitalists and wage earners. The stock flow consistent approach allows us to track the flows of funds resulting from the rise of innovators in the system. The dynamics of prices, employment and wealth distribution among the different sectors is analysed. Above all, the role of financial-innovation nexus is underlined. The paper builds the grounds for a wider analysis of schumpeterian structural changes described in Schumpeter (1934/1912) and Schumpeter (1964/1939) We find this particularly relevant to understand the impact and potential sources of instability of an ever more financialized monetary economy of production. |
| Keywords: | Schumpeter, Innovation, Stock Flow Consistent Models, Monetary Circuit |
| JEL: | O30 O4 E32 |
| Date: | 2012–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pav:wpaper:175&r=knm |
| By: | Glendenning, Claire J.; Ficarelli, Pier Paolo |
| Abstract: | In the past decade, many information and communication technology (ICT) projects in Indian agriculture have emerged, either substituting or supporting extension services by providing farmers with access to agricultural information. ICTs have the potential to reach many farmers with timely and accessible content. But the content that the ICTs deliver has more relevance if it is localized and context specific, as this improves the value and actionability of the information, which can have important impacts on farm management. The localization of content is influenced by how the ICT projects access, assess, apply, and deliver content. This paper examines the content development and management processes occurring in six well-known ICT projects in Indian agriculture. There are important lessons to be learned from a case study of this process. Content management and development through ICTs is important to examine because public extension services may be able to increase their efficiency and effectiveness by using these tools to support their work with farmers. Though there are differences in scale and mechanisms of delivery and feedback, all of the case study projects use a network of experts in relevant fields to provide content, though the extent of localization varies. Despite the best efforts of these and many other e-agriculture initiatives in India, there is no easy way for their collective knowledge to be tapped, tracked, and put to use across the different platforms. In fact, there is a critical missing link to bridge the gaps between local or parochial access and serving public needs. To mainstream such ICT efforts and knowledge management in agriculture for rural livelihoods, it is necessary to put in place a centralized search engine, or harvester, to access the decentralized and dispersed digital agricultural information repositories and network of experts. |
| Keywords: | agricultural extension and advisory services, content management, information and communication technology, |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:1180&r=knm |
| By: | Suedekum, Jens (University of Duisburg-Essen); Nowak, Verena (University of Duisburg-Essen); Schwarz, Christian (University of Duisburg-Essen) |
| Abstract: | Recent studies indicate that firms often outsource standard and simple tasks, while keeping complex and important inputs inside their boundaries. This observation is difficult to reconcile with the property rights approach of the firm, which suggests that important components should be outsourced in order to properly incentivize the respective suppliers. In this paper we introduce economies of scope into a property rights model where a producer contracts with two suppliers. The organizational decision is driven by two countervailing effects: the ownership rights effect favors outsourcing, while the "indirect" effect via the suppliers' costs favors vertical integration of both inputs. If production is highly component intensive, and if one input is much more important than the other, we show that vertical integration of the "more important" and outsourcing of the "less important" supplier is chosen in equilibrium. We also consider an open economy setup where the producer decides whether to offshore inputs. |
| Keywords: | multinational firms, outsourcing, intra-firm trade, property rights approach |
| JEL: | D23 F12 L23 |
| Date: | 2012–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6564&r=knm |