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on Project, Program and Portfolio Management |
| By: | Uwe Cantner (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena); Holger Graf (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena); Susanne Hinzmann (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena) |
| Abstract: | The role of geographical proximity in fostering connections and knowledge flows between innovative actors ranks among the most controversial themes in the research of innovation systems, regional networks and new economic geography. While there is ample empirical evidence on the constituent force of co-location for the formation of research alliances, little attention has been paid to the actual consequences of geographical concentration of alliance partners for the subsequent performance of these linkages. In this paper we address this underexplored issue and aim to complement the rare examples of studies on the relevance of geographical proximity for research outputs. We utilize original and unique survey data from collaborative R&D projects that were funded within the "Leading-Edge Cluster Competition" - the main national cluster funding program in Germany in recent years. We find that the perception of the necessity of spatial proximity for project success is rather heterogeneous among the respondents of the funded projects. Moreover, the relationship between geographical distance and project success is by no means univocal and is mediated by various technological, organizational and institutional aspects. Our findings strongly support the assumption that the nature of knowledge involved determines the degree to which collaborators are reliant on being closely located to each other. The relevance of spatial proximity increases in exploration contexts when knowledge is novel and the innovation endeavor is more radical while this effect is less pronounced for projects with a stronger focus on basic research. Moreover, geographical proximity and project satisfaction foster cross- fertilization effects of LECC projects. |
| Keywords: | geographical proximity, collaboration, performance, innovation policy |
| JEL: | O3 O38 L14 R1 |
| Date: | 2015–12–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2015-025&r=ppm |
| By: | Anissa Chaibi (IPAG Business School, Paris - GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Adel Ben Youssef (GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Leila Peltier-Ben Aoun (GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) |
| Abstract: | This paper provides original empirical evidence on the causal links between e-skills, usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and firm's performance using a sample of Luxembourgian manufacturing and services firms. Firm performance is measured in terms of innovation (success of new projects settled). Our main findings are: (i) there's no relationship between the absorptive technology capacity of the firm (measured by ICT staff and Training) and the probability of the implementation of successful ICT projects, (ii) there is a positive effect of e-applications usage (ICT usage) on the probability of the implementation of successful new projects, and (iii) there is an asymmetric effect of usage of e-commerce and e-administration confirming findings of the recent literature |
| Keywords: | Innovative projects,Ordered models,Innovation,Usage of ICT,Depth of ICT adoption |
| Date: | 2015–05–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01068225&r=ppm |
| By: | Bulat Sanditov (TELECOM Ecole de Management, Institut Mines-T´el´ecom, France); Saurabh Arora (Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex, UK) |
| Abstract: | Using a simple model with interdependent utilities, we study how social networks influence individual voluntary contributions to the provision of a public good. Departing from the stan- dard model of public good provision, we assume that an agent’s utility has two terms: (a) ‘ego’-utility derived from the agent’s consumption of public and private goods, and (b) a so- cial utility which is the sum of utility spillovers from other agents with whom the agent has social relationships. We establish conditions for the existence of a unique interior Nash equi- librium and describe the equilibrium in terms of network characteristics. We show that social network always has a positive effect on the provision of the public good. We also find that, in networks with “small world”-like modular structures, ‘bridging’ ties connecting distant parts of social network play an important role inducing the agent’s contribution to public good. Assumptions and results of the model are discussed in relation to the role of social capital in community-level development projects and to the effect of innovation networks on firms’ R&D investments. |
| Keywords: | public goods, interrelated utilities, social capital, R&D networks |
| JEL: | H41 D85 O31 |
| Date: | 2015–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sru:ssewps:2015-35&r=ppm |
| By: | Aldy, Joseph Edgar |
| Abstract: | The emerging pledge and review approach to international climate policy provides countries with substantial discretion in how they craft their intended emission mitigation contributions. The resulting heterogeneity in mitigation pledges places significant demands for a well-functioning transparency and review mechanism. In particular, the specific forms of intended contributions necessitate economic analysis in order to estimate the aggregate effects of these contributions as well as to permit "apples-to-apples" comparisons of mitigation efforts. This paper discusses the tools that can inform such analyses as well as the institutional needs of climate transparency. In light of the negotiating challenges with respect to transparency, the paper describes the potential for countries to implement Living Mitigation Plans that include regular updating of domestic mitigation programs with data and analyses on their outcomes. Such Living Mitigation Plans can serve as the foundation for independent, expert review of domestic mitigation programs. Moreover, they can include the inputs necessary to assess the mitigation value of domestic mitigation. Such assessments could inform the linkage of domestic mitigation policies, especially among disparately designed mitigation policies. This paper builds in part on the proceedings of a research workshop conducted May 7–8, 2015 at the Harvard Kennedy School, "Comparison and Linkage of Mitigation Efforts in a New Paris Regime." For more information on the workshop and links to most presentations, see here. The author and the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements acknowledge the support and collaboration of the International Emissions Trading Association and the World Bank Group's Networked Carbon Markets Initiative, with regard to the workshop, the paper, and a related side-event panel to be conducted at the Twenty-First Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris in December 2015. |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hrv:hksfac:23936083&r=ppm |
| By: | Uwe Cantner (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, and University of Southern Denmark, Odense); Holger Graf (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena); Stefan Töpfer (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena) |
| Abstract: | We study the effects of a German national cluster policy on the structure of collaboration networks. The empirical analysis is based on original data that was collected in fall 2011 and late summer 2013 with cluster actors (firms and public research organizations) who received government funding. Our results show that over time the program was effective in initiating new cooperation between cluster actors and in intensifying existing linkages. Newly formed linkages are to a substantial amount among actors who did not receive direct funding for a joint R&D project, which indicates an additional, mobilisation effect of the policy. Furthermore, we observe differential developments regarding clusters' spatial embeddedness. Some clusters tend to increase their localisation, whereas others increase their connectivity to international partners. The centrality of large firms increased over time, indicating their prominent role as preferred partners for R&D cooperation within the clusters while it is the opposite case for public actors. |
| Keywords: | Cluster, Innovation Policy, Evaluation, Social Network Analysis |
| JEL: | O38 L14 R10 |
| Date: | 2015–12–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2015-026&r=ppm |
| By: | Uwe Cantner (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, and University of Southern Denmark, Odense); Holger Graf (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena); Michael Rothgang (Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Essen); Tina Wolf (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena) |
| Abstract: | Cluster studies have shown that innovation can be understood as the result of an inter-organizational process, where a division of labor with regard to exploration and exploitation exists among the actors inside the cluster. A cluster is ambidextrous if it manages to balance innovative activities that exploit existing competencies and is open to novel technological approaches by means of exploration. In this context we are interested in the supportive role of cluster management, assuming that a cluster organization can only persist sustainably if exploitation and exploration are pursued in an appropriate balance. Our analysis is based on surveys that have been conducted between 2011 and 2012 with 10 cluster managements and their respective cluster firms of the first two rounds of the German Leading Edge Cluster Competition. Our results indicate that the demand for services offered by the cluster management depends on companies' strategies with respect to exploration, exploitation and ambidexterity. In turn, the priorities set by the cluster management can be explained by the firm' needs. Accordingly, we argue that the cluster management acts as a service provider helping the cluster companies to become ambidextrous which in turn makes the cluster as a whole ambidextrous. |
| Keywords: | Cluster, Ambidexterity, Cluster Management, Exploration, Exploitation |
| JEL: | O30 O32 O38 R11 |
| Date: | 2015–12–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2015-024&r=ppm |
| By: | Arturas Juodis; Sarafidis, V. |
| Abstract: | There is a substantial theoretical literature on the estimation of short panel data models with common factors nowadays. Nevertheless, such advances appear to have remained largely unnoticed by empirical practitioners. A major reason for this casual observation might be that existing approaches are computationally burdensome and difficult to program. This paper puts forward a simple methodology for estimating panels with multiple factors based on the method of moments approach. The underlying idea involves substituting the unobserved factors with time-specific weighted averages of the variables included in the model. The estimation procedure is easy to implement because unobserved variables are superseded with observed data. Furthermore, since the model is effectively parameterized in a more parsimonious way, the resulting estimator can be asymptotically more efficient than existing ones. Notably, our methodology can easily accommodate observed common factors and unbalanced panels, both of which are important empirical scenarios. We apply our approach to a data set involving a large panel of 4,500 households in New South Wales (Australia), and estimate the price elasticity of urban water demand. |
| Date: | 2015–10–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ame:wpaper:1503&r=ppm |