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on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy |
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Issue of 2013‒06‒30
twelve papers chosen by Laura Stefanescu European Research Centre of Managerial Studies in Business Administration |
| By: | Macneill Stewart; Hugues Jeannerat (Group of Research in Territorial Economy GRET, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | At regional level a number of models, such as innovation systems and cluster have been developed which have been influential on this policy support. Policy initiatives based around these models are firmly rooted in a technological model of innovation and a standard market situation which takes little account of the socio-economic environment and the potential for downstream based innovation. Here we present a case study of the automotive industry in the UK West Midlands region where we consider innovation networks and knowledge developments associated with a shift from the standard market, largely prevalent in the sector, towards a status based market. We observe how, in the status market, composite knowledge networking and interaction with consumers is integral to the innovation process. |
| Keywords: | Territorial knowledge dynamics, production market, status market, territorial innovation models, EURODITE |
| JEL: | D71 D81 G1 G23 Q01 R11 R51 |
| Date: | 2013–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nct:wpaper:01-13&r=knm |
| By: | Marina Doroshenko (Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University — Higher School of Economics); Ian Miles (University of Manchester, Research Laboratory for Economics of Innovation, Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University — Higher School of Economics); Dmitri Vinogradov (Essex Business School, University of Essex) |
| Abstract: | Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) are widely argued to be important actors in innovation systems. They are active both innovating themselves, and by providing their clients with important knowledge and learning opportunities. This study uses survey data to investigate the mechanisms of knowledge transfer and innovativeness improvement through the provision of KIBS. The empirical core of the paper is a set of Russian surveys of KIBS and their clients: KIBS are a fairly new phenomenon in Russia, so this provides an opportunity to contrast KIBS supplier-client relationships featuring more and less experienced customers. Many of the KIBS firms’ services are highly tailored to customer specificities, and we consider how far this is minor customisation and how far novel products (and thus potentially product innovations) are involved. These services typically involve KIBS consumers into a coproduction process, where both the formal supplier and the formal user of the service are engaged together in service production. Knowledge transfers through learning-by-doing in such cases affect customers' propensity to innovate and improve their absorptive capacity. The paper concludes that the generation of innovations through KIBS may well be a self-sustaining process. In this process, service providers are incentivised to engage in service innovations by more innovative customers’ demand for highly individualised services. In turn, the process stimulates the innovativeness of customers, as they engage in learning-by-doing through coproduction. |
| Keywords: | service innovations, customised service production, knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS), knowledge spill-over, learning-by-doing. |
| JEL: | D83 L84 O32 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:wpbrp12sti2013&r=knm |
| By: | Peeters, T.J.G. (Tilburg University) |
| Abstract: | Abstract: With rapidly shifting technological frontiers, innovative organizations cannot rely solely on internally generated knowledge and technologies anymore. Therefore, externally developed knowledge and technologies are getting more and more important in the development of new products. Not surprisingly, the search and use of external knowledge by innovating organizations is at the locus of scholarly attention. However, the literature has not yet been able to fully map its antecedents and consequences. To date, we only have a limited understanding of how external knowledge is used in the development of new products, especially in relation to internally generated knowledge. Furthermore, we do not have a clear picture yet of how successful organizations are in searching external knowledge. Drawing on analyses of two distinct datasets, this dissertation presents three interrelated studies that aim to advance our understanding of how external knowledge can be successfully searched and used in new product development. |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ner:tilbur:urn:nbn:nl:ui:12-5906731&r=knm |
| By: | Agustí Segarra (Universitat Rovira i Virgili & CREIP); José García-Quevedo (Universitat de Barcelona & IEB); Mercedes Teruel (Universitat Rovira i Virgili & CREIP) |
| Abstract: | Theoretical and empirical approaches have stressed the existence of financial constraints in innovative activities of firms. This paper analyses the role of financial obstacles on the likelihood of abandoning an innovation project. Although a large number of innovation projects are abandoned before their completion, the empirical evidence has focused on the determinants of innovation while failed projects have received little attention. Our analysis differentiates between internal and external barriers on the probability of abandoning a project and we examine whether the effects are different depending on the stage of the innovation process. In the empirical analysis carried out for a panel data of potential innovative Spanish firms for the period 2004-2010, we use a bivariate probit model to take into account the simultaneity of financial constraints and the decision to abandon an innovation project. Our results show that financial constraints most affect the probability of abandoning an innovation project during the concept stage and that low-technological manufacturing and non-KIS service sectors are more sensitive to financial constraints. |
| Keywords: | Barriers to innovation, failure of innovation projects, financial constraints |
| JEL: | O31 D21 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ieb:wpaper:2013/6/doc2013-11&r=knm |
| By: | Hugues Jeannerat; Leila Kebir (Group of Research in Territorial Economy GRET, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | In their attempt to explain in ever more in-depth manner learning processes at the roots of economic change, territorial innovation models (TIMs) have remained centred on production. Consumption is mainly regarded as the expression of an abstract demand relayed by exogenous market mechanisms. Building on a socio-institutional approach of market, the article conceptualises an ‘economic system’ in which knowledge is analysed as a resource constructed and valued through the market co-evolution of a production and a consumption system. Drawing upon various case studies, four particular economic systems are depicted and contrasted with regard to different territorial knowledge dynamics (TKDs). |
| Keywords: | Territorial knowledge dynamics, resources, production, consumption, market, EURODITE. |
| JEL: | D71 D81 G1 G23 Q01 R11 R51 |
| Date: | 2012–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nct:wpaper:02-12&r=knm |
| By: | Nunes, Sérgio; Lopes, Raul |
| Abstract: | The economic and financial crisis has brought firms, territories and countries before a set of restrictions to a greater or lesser extent, function as the conditioners of economic activity for several agents, also affecting their activities associated with the development of its innovation process. Innovation is a highly complex process, very contingent and onerously demanding. With innovation as a key source of high economic performance, it is important to understand to what extent the current economic crisis is to constrain the innovation of firms and thus, the process of wealth creation. The main objective of this paper is to show that the economic crisis has a different effect on firms, depending on the type of innovation strategies adopted. For this, we identify some relevant relations between the economic crisis and the critical factors of the innovation process, namely knowledge networks and context costs, special dimensions that we associate with the efficiency of institutional and relational capital. These objectives will be achieved using several statistical and econometric techniques, with information found in a database obtained through a business survey. Our main results show some interesting findings: first we find evidence that the most dynamic firms recognize less impact of the economic crisis. Second, we find empirical evidence that the knowledge networks can be taken as a resilient mechanism of firms to manage the negative impacts of the crisis. Finally, firms that recognize more importance to the reduction of context cost seems more resilient to economic crisis. We finish with some recommendations for regional policy. |
| Keywords: | knowledge networks, innovation process, economic crisis, context costs, territorial resilience, regional policy |
| JEL: | L25 O31 O33 O43 O52 R58 |
| Date: | 2013–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47715&r=knm |
| By: | Brancati, Emanuele |
| Abstract: | Financial frictions may represent a severe obstacle for firms' innovative activity. This paper shows the existence and quantifies the effect of binding financial constraints on the innovation propensity of Italian companies. Once provided a rich baseline specification for innovation, I analyze the impact of financial constraints by exploiting a survey-based direct measure, enriched with a credit-score-index estimated ad hoc on a representative sample of confidential local bank ratings. A recursive bivariate probit model is employed to estimate the probability of undertaking innovative projects conditional on the likelihood of facing financial constraints. This econometric strategy accounts for possible correlations between these two features. My results show firms that are more likely to suffer from financial problems to have a probability of innovation that is 34% lower than financially-sound companies. Furthermore, instrumenting innovation with R&D into the financial-status equation, I control for a feedback effect of the innovation propensity on the financial status. As predicted by economic theory, most dynamic firms are shown to suffer from greater financial problems. This in turn is reflected onto a stronger depressive effect of financial constraints on innovation (-42%). This impact is shown to be sizable only for those firms with a higher ex ante probability to innovate, not being driven by a sub-group of most distressed companies. Finally, the last section deepens the role of firm size in alleviating the effects of financial frictions on a breakdown of three definitions of innovation. Relevant differences are found, especially for product and process--innovations. |
| Keywords: | Innovation; firm performance; financial constraints; banks; ratings |
| JEL: | G21 L25 O31 |
| Date: | 2013–01–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47750&r=knm |
| By: | Anna Zaytseva (Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University — Higher School of Economics); Olga Shuvalova (Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University — Higher School of Economics); Dirk Meissner (Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University — Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | Innovations are commonly seen as resulting from the commercialization of new ideas and technological goods by dedicated organizations, especially firms. This conception is reflected in a producer-oriented approach to science, technology and innovation policy-making (STI). However a new understanding of the role of users within innovation processes is gradually taking shape, with profound policy implications. User innovations are often not based on technological improvement or R&D and remain largely under-estimated. Although there are many case studies of user innovators at the industry level, the role of users is not captured by general statistics on innovation. Up to now the only exception is the empirical evidence-based study of user innovation carried out in the UK in 2009. Recently it was complemented by empirical data from the USA and Japan. The present article aims to contribute to closing the gap of empirical data on user engagement into innovation activities at cross-country level. The analysis is based on the results from a national survey carried out in Russia in 2011. The findings contribute to the better understanding of user innovators profile and of the factors which underpin user innovator activities in the context of emerging economies. The article is organized as follows. The first section reviews the relevant literature on the user innovation concept and the main features of user innovations as compared to producer-generated innovations, as well as on the measurement of user innovators. The second section presents the research methodology and the main empirical results. Finally, the paper discusses some of main analytical and policy implications of the empirical findings. |
| Keywords: | User Innovation, Innovation Sources, Open Innovation, Innovation Management, Demand Driven Innovation. |
| JEL: | L21 M10 M14 M31 O21 O32 O33 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:wp-brp-08-sti-2013&r=knm |
| By: | E. Marrocu; S. Usai; R. Paci |
| Abstract: | Building on previous literature providing extensive evidence on flows of knowledge generated by inter-firm agreements, in this paper we aim to analyse how the occurrence of such collaborations is driven by the multi-dimensional proximity among participants and by their position within firms’ network. More specifically, we assess how the likelihood that two firms set up a partnership is influenced by their bilateral geographical, technological, organizational, institutional and social proximity and by their position within networks in terms of centrality and closeness. Our analysis is based on agreements in the form of joint ventures or strategic alliances, announced over the period 2005-2012, in which at least one partner is localised in Italy. We consider the full range of economic activities and this allow us to offer a general scenario and to specifically investigate the role of technological relatedness across different sectors. The econometric analysis, based on the logistic framework for rare events, yielded three noteworthy results. First, all the five dimensions of proximity jointly exert a positive and relevant effect in determining the probability of inter-firm knowledge exchanges, signalling that they are complementary rather than substitute channels. Second, the higher impact on probability is due to the technological proximity, followed by the geographical one, while the other proximities (social, institutional and organizational) have a limited effect. Third, we find evidence on the positive role played by networks, through preferential attachment and transitivity effects, in enhancing the probability of inter-firm agreements. |
| Keywords: | networks, joint ventures, proximities, knowledge flows, strategic alliances |
| JEL: | R12 O33 O31 L14 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cns:cnscwp:201399&r=knm |
| By: | Asongu , Simplice A |
| Abstract: | Abstract Purpose – This paper assesses dynamics of the knowledge economy (KE)-finance nexus using the four variables identified under the World Bank’s knowledge economy index (KEI) and seven financial intermediary dynamics of depth, efficiency, activity and size. Design/methodology/approach – Principal Component Analysis is used to reduce the dimensions of KE components before dynamic panel GMM estimation techniques are employed to examine the nexuses. Findings – Four main findings are established. (1) Education improves financial depth and financial efficiency but mitigates financial size. (2) But for a thin exception (trade’s incidence on money supply), economic incentives (credit facilities and trade) are not consistently favorable to financial development. (3) ICT improves only financial size and has a negative effect on other financial dynamics. (4) Proxies for innovation (journals and FDI) have a positive effect on financial activity; journals (FDI) have (has) a negative (positive) effect on liquid liabilities and; journals and FDI both have negative incidences on money supply and banking system efficiency respectively. Practical Implications – As a policy implication, the KE-finance nexus is a complex and multidimensional relationship. Hence, blind and blanket policy formulation to achieve positive linkages may not be successful unless policy-making strategy is contingent on the prevailing ‘KE specific component’ trends and dynamics of financial development. Policy makers should improve the economic incentive dimension of KE that overwhelmingly and consistently deters financial development, owing to surplus liquidity issues. Originality/value – As far as we have reviewed, this is the first paper to examine the KE-finance nexus with the plethora of KE dimensions defined by the World Bank’s KEI and all the dynamics identified by the Financial Development and Structure Database (FDSD). |
| Keywords: | Financial development; Knowledge Economy |
| JEL: | G21 O10 O34 P00 P48 |
| Date: | 2013–01–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47801&r=knm |
| By: | Christian Le Bas (GATE Lyon Saint-Etienne - Groupe d'analyse et de théorie économique - CNRS : UMR5824 - Université Lumière - Lyon II - École Normale Supérieure - Lyon); Nicolas Poussing (CEPS/INSTEAD - Centre d'Etudes de Populations, de Pauvreté et de Politiques Socio-Economiques / International Networks for Studies in Technology, Environment, Alternatives, Development - Centre d'Etudes de Populations, de Pauvreté et de Politiques Socio-Economiques / International Networks for Studies in Technology, Environment, Alternatives, Development) |
| Abstract: | Despite the increased strategic importance of environmental innovation on the one hand and corporate social responsibility on the other, there are still few studies that show firm voluntary measures create a primary determinant of environmental changes. First, we clarify the meaning of voluntary measures and CSR. Second, we utilize a survey carried out in Luxemburg on firm CSR practices jointly with the Community Innovation Survey 2008 (CIS 2008). We merge them and show through the estimation of a probit model that CSR is an important factor that explains environmental innovation. Thanks to a question from CIS 2008 we can contribute to the literature by developing a new indicator measuring the scale of the positive impacts on the environment coming from the firm technological innovation capacity. A negative binomial regression enables us to estimate a significant and positive effect of CSR and firm value on this scale. |
| Keywords: | environmental innovation; corporate social responsibility; Community Innovation Survey 2008; innovation impacts on the environment |
| Date: | 2013–06–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-00838005&r=knm |
| By: | Jean Paul Simon |
| Abstract: | The Information Society Unit of the JRC-IPTS has been investigating the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector and its R&D in Asia for several years as an extension of the PREDICT research project. The workshop was organised as part of this on-going research to gather the most recent information on the growing role of BRICs Countries in the IT sector. |
| Keywords: | BRIC, Information and Communication Technologies, ICT industry |
| JEL: | O57 |
| Date: | 2013–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc80745&r=knm |