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on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy |
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Issue of 2016‒06‒04
five papers chosen by Laura Ştefănescu Centrul European de Studii Manageriale în Administrarea Afacerilor |
| By: | Simplice Asongu (Yaoundé/Cameroun); Jacinta C. Nwachukwu (Coventry University) |
| Abstract: | The success of inclusive development strategies in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda depends substantially on the adoption of common inclusive development policies among nations. Building on the relevance of a knowledge economy in the post-2015 development agenda, this study models the feasibility of common policies for inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). More specifically, we investigate the complementary role of knowledge diffusion in the inclusive benefits of mobile phone penetration in SSA from 2000 to 2012 by employing the Generalised Method of Moments. Knowledge diffusion variables include educational quality, innovation and internet penetration. The main finding is that inclusive human development is persistently conditional on mobile phones in knowledge diffusion. Moreover, countries with low levels of inclusive human development are catching-up their counterparts with higher development. Policy implications are discussed with particular emphasis on how to leverage common knowledge economy initiatives for inclusive development. |
| Keywords: | Mobile phones; catch-up; inclusive human development; Africa |
| JEL: | G20 I10 I32 O40 O55 |
| Date: | 2016–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:agd:wpaper:16/009&r=knm |
| By: | Wesseling, Joeri H. (CIRCLE, Lund University); van der Vooren , Alexander (Sustainable Development Department, PBL) |
| Abstract: | Energy-intensive processing industries like the concrete industry form the base of the economy and account for a large part of greenhouse gas emissions. Sectoral transformation to cleaner basic materials is therefore crucial, and institutional pressure to do so is increasing. These sectors have nevertheless been largely omitted by socio-technical studies. This paper therefore sets out to analyze the systemic problems that inhibit the transformation of the mature innovation system of the concrete sector toward the development, diffusion and adoption of clean concrete innovations, for the case of the Netherlands. A coupled structural-functional approach has been frequently applied to identify such systemic problems, but has been limited to emerging technological innovation systems. Consequently, the approach tends to overlook the systemic lock-in that arises from interdependent systemic problems and vested interests that characterize mature innovation systems. This paper analyzes these characteristics to extend the application of the structural-functional approach to the transformation of mature innovation systems. Interviews with 28 stakeholders were conducted and triangulated with reports, websites and other documents. A list of systemic problems was identified that originate within actors, institutions, networks, technology and infrastructure and that impaired the performance of all system functions except knowledge development. Systemic problems are indeed found to be strongly interdependent, leading to systemic lock-in. Through strategic, often collective action, established firms with vested interests were able to reinforce these systemic problems to inhibit clean concrete innovation. The study concludes that systemic lock-in inhibits the sustainability transformation of the mature innovation system of concrete in the Netherlands and confirms that the application of the structural-functional approach can be extended from emerging to mature innovation systems. |
| Keywords: | system failures; system functions; vested interest; sectoral innovation system; sectoral system of innovation and production; technological innovation system |
| JEL: | O25 O31 O33 O38 Q01 |
| Date: | 2016–05–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2016_017&r=knm |
| By: | YU-LIANG CHI (Chung Yuan Christian University); Tsang-Yao Chen (Chung Yuan Christian University) |
| Abstract: | Flipped learning inverts the two learning spaces of traditional education: the classroom group learning space and the homework individual learning space. In flipped learning, learners are exposed to direct instruction for basic knowledge acquisition before coming to the classroom for active learning with the teacher and peers. In recent years, flipped learning has received vast attention from educational practitioners and researchers. However, this study argues that existing e-learning systems mainly serve for learning management and content delivery purposes and lack support for flipped learning. As an innovative educational approach, flipped learning needs more pedagogical elements such as integrated instructional design and adaptive content delivery to achieve effective direct instruction. This study aims to create a learning adaptivity design to effectively support learning in the flipped individual learning space where the teacher is absent. Since teaching involves various pedagogical and content knowledge sources, we propose a conceptual model of teaching as the function of the knowledge triad of curriculum guidance (G), teaching activity (A), and learning object (O). To realize such conceptualization, ontological problem-solving approach is used for knowledge-based system (KBS) development to integrate the relevant knowledge sources. The knowledge model is created using the Protégé platform to develop the OWL-based domain ontology, task ontology, and the SWRL-based semantic rules to enable inference among the GAO triad for learning adaptivity. The case experiment results show that the KBS prototype is able to adaptively guide student learning in the flipped individual learning space with the knowledge sources considered. |
| Keywords: | Flipped learning; Individual learning space; Knowledge-based system; Ontological problem-solving |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:3605780&r=knm |
| By: | Jin, Yanhong; Hu, Yahong; Pray, Carl; Hu, Ruifa |
| Abstract: | Employing the count data analysis based on survey data of 1355 firms in China’s 29 provinces collected in 2007, this study analyzes the impact of public and private agricultural R&D investments on research productivity measured by the number of patents granted to agricultural firms. We find that private R&D investments and having an own R&D research center increase the number of patents granted. However, the public R&D investments do not have a statistically significant effects on the number of patents granted. We also find that the number of research staff, especially of doctoral research staff, has a positive and statistically significant effect on the number of patents granted. Multi-national firms and firms located in central China have fewer patents than their counterparts. The main findings suggest that it is more efficient for Chinese government to improve research productivity if it encourages private agricultural R&D investments and helps agricultural firms to build their own R&D centers. Chinese government may also need to strengthen the legal framework and institutional resources for the protection and enforcement of intellectual properties to encourage domestic and international firms patent their new technologies. |
| Keywords: | Research and Development Investment, Agricultural Research Productivity, Public R&D, Private R&D, International Development, Productivity Analysis, |
| Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aaea16:236125&r=knm |
| By: | Edsand, Hans (UNU-MERIT) |
| Abstract: | The Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework is a systems approach for understanding the adoption and impact of technologies. This paper addresses limitations of the TIS functions approach by complementing its list of functions. As a result the breadth of application of the framework in developed countries is augmented, and made more applicable to the developing country context. In order to analyse the context in which the TIS operates, framework conditions are added to the TIS function approach, drawn from Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) literature. |
| Keywords: | Technological transitions, Technological Innovation System, Multi-Level Perspective, Renewable energy technologies, developing countries |
| JEL: | O33 O38 |
| Date: | 2016–04–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:unumer:2016017&r=knm |