|
on Project, Program and Portfolio Management |
| By: | Link, Albert (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics); Scott, John (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates employment growth in small firms funded by the U.S. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Using data collected by the National Research Council for each of five federal agencies, our analysis shows that on average over two-fifths of all projects retained 0 employees after completion and over one-third retained only 1 or 2 employees. Thus, on average, the direct impact of SBIR funded projects on employment is small, especially when compared to the mean number of employees in the firms. However, there are substantial cross-project differences in the number of retained employees that are explained by differences in the firms and their SBIR projects. We find across funding agencies that projects with intellectual property—patents, copyrights, trademarks, or publications—retained more employees after completion of the project. Also, we find that the public funding of research by the SBIR program is more likely to stimulate employment when the government created a market for the products, processes, or services developed by the research projects. |
| Keywords: | small business research; employment growth; entrepreneurship; intellectual property |
| JEL: | J48 L53 O38 |
| Date: | 2010–10–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:uncgec:2010_008&r=ppm |
| By: | Silvia Dominguez Martinez (University of Amsterdam); Randolph Sloof (University of Amsterdam); Ferdinand von Siemens (University of Amsterdam, and CESifo) |
| Abstract: | In this laboratory experiment we study the use of strategic ignorance to delegate real authority within a firm. A worker can gather information on investment projects, while a manager makes the implementation decision. The manager can monitor the worker. This allows her to better exploit the information gathered by the worker, but also reduces the worker's incentives to gather information in the first place. Both effects of monitoring are influenced by the interest alignment between manager and worker. Our data confirms the theoretical predictions that optimal monitoring depends non-monotonically on the level of interest alignment. We also find evidence for hidden costs of control and preferences for control, but these have no substantial effects on organizational outcomes. |
| Keywords: | Delegation; Real Authority; Strategic Ignorance |
| JEL: | D20 D40 D63 D82 J30 |
| Date: | 2010–11–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:uvatin:20100101&r=ppm |
| By: | Hall, Bronwyn (University of California at Berkeley, Department of Economics); Link, Albert (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics); Scott, John (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Economics) |
| Abstract: | Universities are a key institution in the US innovation system and an important aspect of their involvement is the role they play in Private-Public Partnering activities. This study seeks to gain a better understanding of the performance of university-industry research partnerships using a sample survey of pre-commercial research projects funded the U.S. government's Advanced Technology Program. Although results must be interpreted cautiously due to the small size of the sample, the study finds that projects with university involvement tend to be in areas involving "new" science and therefore experience more difficulty and delay but also are more likely not to be aborted prematurely. We interpret this finding to imply that universities are contributing to basic research awareness and insight among the partners in ATP-funded projects. |
| Keywords: | university; research |
| JEL: | O30 |
| Date: | 2010–10–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:uncgec:2010_009&r=ppm |
| By: | Diego Ubfal; Alessandro Maffioli |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we evaluate the impact of research grants on the amount of collaboration, among scientific researchers in Argentina. We find a positive and significant impact of funding on collaboration, which is measured in terms of the number of co-authors for publications in peer-reviewed journals. In particular, we find a significant impact of the grants for funded researchers both on the size of their ego network, and on their 2-step indirect links, measured by the number of direct and 1-step indirect co-authors. We also find evidence that this impact was driven by the results of funded researchers at the upper tail of the distribution of collaboration outcomes. Our identification strategy is based on comparing collaboration indicators for researchers with financially supported projects with those of a control group of researchers who submitted projects that were accepted in terms of quality, but not supported because of shortage of funds. We obtain consistent results by using different non-experimental techniques such as difference-in-differences models combined with propensity score matching methods and a non-parametric difference-in-differences estimator. |
| Keywords: | Scientific Collaboration, Social Networks, Program Evaluation, Nonparametric Difference-in-Differences Estimator, Latin America, Argentina |
| JEL: | O31 D85 |
| Date: | 2010–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:spdwps:1006&r=ppm |
| By: | Lambert, Caroline; Pezet, Eric |
| Abstract: | In this paper, the authors analyse the practices through which the management accountant is constructed as a knowing subject and becomes a producer of truthful knowledge. They draw on a case study of an automobile equipment manufacturer in which management accountants play a central role. The centrality of their role is evidenced, among other aspects, by their participation in online reverse auctions, wherein they commit themselves and their company to long-term projects. This commitment is constitutive of their identity as knowing subjects and organisational truth tellers. However, the “validity” of the truth they produce can only be assessed over time. They argue that, in this firm, monthly performance review meetings constitute “accounting trials of truth” during which peers and senior management crossexamine the accounting truth presented. Preparations for these trials of truth constitute a form of subjectivation whereby management accountants act on their ways of being in the firm and become the producers of truthful knowledge. |
| Keywords: | management accountant; subjectivation; trials of truth; Foucault |
| JEL: | M49 |
| Date: | 2010–10–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ebg:heccah:0932&r=ppm |
| By: | Carlos Serrano-Cinca; Begoña Gutiérrez-Nieto |
| Abstract: | This paper proposes a decision-making model that assesses the different aspects associated to Social Venture Capital (SVC) investment decisions. SVC companies buy shares of investee companies, valued according to financial and social aspects. The proposed model includes three main factors: the previous experience with the company (the past); its financial information and intangible assets (the present); and the proposed project, considering financial and social criteria (the future). The model has 26 criteria and 160 indicators, prioritized by means of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP simplifies a complex problem using hierarchical analysis methodology, which enables subjective judgements among different criteria. The model has been tested in a given SVC company. Its development is explained in the paper. |
| Keywords: | Social Venture Capital; credit scoring; social performance; intangible assets; Expert Systems; Analytic Hierarchy Process |
| Date: | 2010–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sol:wpaper:2013/65702&r=ppm |