nep-cse New Economics Papers
on Economics of Strategic Management
Issue of 2011‒01‒23
twenty-six papers chosen by
Joao Jose de Matos Ferreira
University of the Beira Interior

  1. Paradigm Innovation through the Strategic Collaboration between TORAY & UNIQLO : Evolution of A New Fast Fashion Business Model By Choi, Eugene K.
  2. International co-operation between firms on innovation and R&D: empirical evidence from Argentine and Spain By Edwards, Mónica; Castro- Martinez, Elena; Fernández-de-Lucio, Ignacio
  3. The innovative performance of German multinationals abroad By Kampik, Franziska; Dachs, Bernhard
  4. The influence of international dispersed vs. home-based R&D on innovation performance By Peters, Bettina; Schmiele, Anja
  5. The organisational decomposition of innovation and territorial knowledge dynamics – insights from the German software industry By Simone Strambach; Benjamin Klement
  6. Organizational Innovation and Knowledge Use Practice: Cross-Country Comparison By Makó, Csaba; Csizmadia, Péter; Illéssy, Miklós; Iwasaki, Ichiro; Szanyi, Miklós
  7. Technology Transfer to Vietnam for Process Innovation through Engineer Exchanges under China plus One Strategy, Firm-level Evidence By Tomohiro Machikita; Chi Binh Truong Thi; Yasushi Ueki
  8. Social networks and innovation (handicraft industry in Bantul, Yogyakarta) By Aloysius Gunadi, Brata
  9. Making sense of TTO production function: University technology transfer offices as process catalysts, knowledge converters and impact amplifiers By Antti-Jussi Tahvanainen; Raine Hermans
  10. Enterprise software and service innovation: Standardization versus customization By Engelstätter, Benjamin; Sarbu, Miruna
  11. Culture and diversity in knowledge creation By Berliant, Marcus; Fujita, Masahisa
  12. Intellectual property infringements due to R&D abroad? A comparative analysis between firms with international and domestic R&D activities By Schmiele, Anja
  13. Understanding Knowledge Sharing In Organizations: Further Questions Of Research Through A Social Cognitive Perspective By Llopis-Corcoles, Oscar
  14. Technology, Business Models and Network Structure in the Airline Industry By Xavier Fageda; Ricardo Flores-Fillol
  15. The R&D‐Patent relationship: An Industry Perspective By Jérôme Danguy; Gaétan de Rassenfosse; Bruno Van Pottelsberghe
  16. Commercialization at Finnish Universities - Researchers’ Perspectives on the Motives and Challenges of Turning Science into Business By Antti-Jussi Tahvanainen; Tuomo Nikulainen
  17. Strategic or status quo-preserving business exit: (how) do CEO turnover and succession matter? By Decker, Carolin; Bresser, Rudi K. F.; Mellewigt, Thomas
  18. Regulatory Barriers to Entry in Industrial Sectors By Kotsios, Panayotis
  19. Performance forecasts in uncertain environments: Examining the predictive power of the VRIO-framework By Powalla, Christian; Bresser, Rudi K. F.
  20. Knowledge Creation Process in Science : Basic findings from a large‐scale survey of researchers in Japan By NAGAOKA, SADAO; IGAMI, MASATSURA; ETO, MANABU; IJICHI, TOMOHIRO
  21. Heterogeneity and the Structure of Exports and FDI: A cross-industry analysis of Japanese manufacturing By TANAKA Ayumu
  22. Exports dynamics and information spillovers: evidence from Spanish firms By Juana Castillo-Giménez; Guadalupe Serrano; Francisco Requena-Silvente
  23. Cooperación en I+D e innovación entre empresas argentinas y españolas: una aproximación empírica By Edwards Schachter, Mónica; Anlló, Guillermo; Castro-Martínez, Elena; Fernández-de-Lucio, Ignacio
  24. Understanding the Drivers of an 'Entrepreneurial' Economy: Lessons from Japan and the Netherlands By André van Stel; Ingrid Verheul; Hiroyuki Okamuro
  25. Material flow dynamics in the automotive industry in Germany – an agent based approach By Frank Beckenbach; Norman Voss
  26. Can SME Policies Improve Firm Performance? Evidence from an Impact Evaluation in Argentina By Victoria Castillo; Alessandro Maffioli; Ana P. Monsalvo; Sofía Rojo; Rodolfo Stucchi

  1. By: Choi, Eugene K.
    Abstract: The key purpose of this study is to examine the remarkable context within the evolution of the paradigm innovation in fashion product development, in the case of Japanese fashion apparel, UNIQLO, created by Fast Retailing Corp in 1998. The key theme hereby concerns innovation, and this perspective surely necessitates Fast Retailing窶冱 strategic collaboration with a Japanese new material and artificial textile powerhouse, TORAY: as TORAY窶冱 technological provision was an essential source for the dynamic product and process innovation behind the extraordinary growth of UNIQLO. Furthermore, the technological superiority also entailed its innovative positioning in market competition. It is crucial to examine how and why the two brought about their core competences together through new combinations of concepts. This should impart a few promising research perspectives regarding their innovative model of unchallenged value creation, strong market competitiveness, and sustainable corporate growth.
    Keywords: Paradigm Innovation, Product Development, Business Model, Japanese Apparel Industry, Fashion Apparel, Fast Fashion, Fast Retailing, UNIQLO, TORAY, Alliance, Virtual Vertical Integration
    Date: 2011–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hit:iirwps:11-01&r=cse
  2. By: Edwards, Mónica; Castro- Martinez, Elena; Fernández-de-Lucio, Ignacio
    Abstract: This paper examines co-operative innovation and research and development (R&D) behaviour between Argentine and Spanish firms. Based on theoretical perspectives from the literature, we surveyed a sample of 540 Argentine and Spanish firms believed to have cooperated for technological innovation. We present empirical evidence based on 104 firms of patterns of cooperation in several processes and out-puts, highlighting firm characteristics, the motives of the collaborating parties, types of partners and R&D and innovation activities, leadership, and obstacles to cooperation. Our results reveal that the determinants of success differ considerably among countries depending on the sector, the firm specific characteristics and funding. These differences have important implications for public policy and instruments to support R&D and innovation activities.
    Keywords: innovation, R&D; international cooperation; cooperation types; barriers; government funding programmes
    Date: 2010–12–13
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ing:wpaper:201013&r=cse
  3. By: Kampik, Franziska; Dachs, Bernhard
    Abstract: This paper analyzes cross-country differences in innovation behavior of subsidiaries of German multinational enterprises. The analysis is based on data from Community Innovation Survey (CIS4) and covers 16 European countries. We find considerable differences in innovation input intensity and innovation output intensity between German subsidiaries located in different European countries. Multivariate analysis reveals that these differences are largely related to firm characteristics. A significant relationship between firm-level innovation and host country characteristics can only be found for innovation output.
    Keywords: Internationalization of innovation; German multinational firms; innovation performance; Community Innovation Survey
    JEL: F23 O32 O31
    Date: 2010–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:28102&r=cse
  4. By: Peters, Bettina; Schmiele, Anja
    Abstract: Recent years have shown a surge of firms globalising their innovation activities in order to gain from international knowledge. This paper evaluates this strategy by investigating whether firms with international R&D are more innovative than firms doing R&D only in their home country. One main novelty is that we shed light on two competing hypotheses whether stronger dispersed international R&D activities hamper or stimulate innovation. Second, we employ two well-established market-based indicators for innovation (introduction of and sales growth rates due to new products) instead of looking at inventions (patents). Using German CIS data for about 2100 firms, the econometric results show that firms with international R&D are more likely to launch new products (firm and market novelties) than firms with home-based R&D only. They are also more successful in terms of higher sales growth with firm novelties. However, given the introduction of a market novelty, the location of R&D doesn't matter for the sales growth with market novelties. The results concerning the degree of R&D internationalisation are mixed: The likelihood of introducing firm novelties increases with a stronger dispersion of foreign R&D activities (for market novelties only up to a specific point). The relationship between degree of R&D internationalisation and innovation success turns out to be inverse u-shaped. --
    Keywords: R&D,Internationalisation,Innovation performance,Decentralisation
    JEL: O32 F23
    Date: 2010
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:10102&r=cse
  5. By: Simone Strambach (Department of Geography, Philipps University Marburg); Benjamin Klement (Department of Geography, Philipps University Marburg)
    Abstract: In recent years, innovation processes involve more heterogenous actors inside and outside the firm. Little is known however about the spatial impact of this organisational decomposition of innovation processes (ODIP): Does it lead to a geographical dispersion of innovation activities as well? Furthermore, which parts of the innovation process are carried out spatially or organisationally separated? To what extent are knowledge-creating activities subject to organisational decomposition? We propose the analytical ODIP framework which integrates research on innovation systems, global value chains and knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). Thereby we provide a conceptual contribution to the debate on the globalisation of innovation in the identification of different modes of decomposed innovation processes by capturing the participating actors and their contribution in specific innovation events. The exploration of the spatial dimension of innovation processes in the software industry shows that the global-local dichotomy in the innovation debate does not suffice to describe their complex, multi-scalar nature. In analysing ODIP in a knowledge-intensive industry, we contribute to the debate about the ‘new geography of innovation’ by providing insights into the upgrading of subsidiary capabilities.
    Keywords: ODIP, innovation, software, territorial knowledge dynamics
    JEL: D83 F23 L14 L86 O32
    Date: 2010–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pum:wpaper:2010-06&r=cse
  6. By: Makó, Csaba; Csizmadia, Péter; Illéssy, Miklós; Iwasaki, Ichiro; Szanyi, Miklós
    Date: 2011–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hit:hituec:b38&r=cse
  7. By: Tomohiro Machikita (Institute of Developing Economies (IDE/JETRO), Japan); Chi Binh Truong Thi (Institute for Industry Policy and Strategy, Vietnam); Yasushi Ueki (Bangkok Research Center, IDE/JETRO, Thailand)
    Abstract: Increasing wages in coastal areas and the risk of Yuan appreciation in China will encourage firms in China to adopt China plus One strategy. More firms establish plants in Vietnam to take advantage of supporting industries in China and hedge China risk. Hanoi and its surrounding region will be one of the main destinations for FDIs into manufacturing sectors. Although Vietnam can provide cheap labor forces, firms in Vietnam do not have sufficient technological and managerial capabilities to participate in international production networks. International technology transfer is needed for Vietnam to achieve international business standards. This paper presents firm-level evidence on process innovation through technology transfer to firms in Hanoi. We emphasize engineer exchanges as a channel of technology transfer. A case study of Japanese firm invested from China to establish a plant in Hanoi is also introduced to complement the empirical result.
    Date: 2011
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dpc:wpaper:1711&r=cse
  8. By: Aloysius Gunadi, Brata
    Abstract: This research found most of the handicraft producers have conducted various innovations during last five years. The newest innovations are managerial innovation, marketing innovation and product innovation. Meanwhile, product innovation and managerial innovation are the most important innovations in enhancing the business performance. Based on the actors, innovation in this case could be classified as producer driven innovation. The main information source of product innovation, process innovation, and service innovation is the producer’s experiences itself. The study found that the role of social networks in the process of innovation activities is rather limited. This finding is also supported by a fact that the strongest social network of the producers is only the relation with family and close friend in term of their closeness, trust, and willingness to share information. Regression analysis also indicates the aggregate of social network elements does not influence the number of innovations. Components of social network that still show positive impact on the innovation are only the closeness with business partners and with members of other association. The study also suggest that research on the role of social network or social capital on innovations is need to consider more appropriate indicators of social networks. At the empirical level, differences in location or industry may require different indicators of social networks.
    Keywords: social network; innovation; handicraft industry
    JEL: O17 Z13
    Date: 2011–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:28032&r=cse
  9. By: Antti-Jussi Tahvanainen; Raine Hermans
    Abstract: This inductive case study of 7 US university technology transfer offices (TTOs) examines the value added that TTOs contribute to university-industry technology transfer (UITT ). We therefore (i) characterize a set of central organizational TTO practices, (ii) describe how TTOs systemically manage intangible resources to generate these practices, and (iii) describe the conceptual mechanisms through which the practices add value to UITT. The results form an inductive framework that establishes the TTO as (i) a process catalyst that lowers the threshold of UITT stakeholders to engage in technology transfer and to maintain its sustainability, (ii) a knowledge converter that enables congruence between university technology and market needs, and (iii) an impact amplifier that alleviates problems related to the opportunistic incentive structures of UITT stakeholders and maximizes societal impact. The study thus provides new insights into the internal logic of the TTO production function by qualitatively expanding and refining our understanding of the value added generated by TTOs and by helping to comprehend the relationship between inputs and outputs that underlie it.
    Keywords: university-industry technology transfer, technology transfer office, organizational practices, intellectual capital, knowledge management
    JEL: O31 O32 O33
    Date: 2011–01–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rif:dpaper:1236&r=cse
  10. By: Engelstätter, Benjamin; Sarbu, Miruna
    Abstract: This paper analyzes the relationship between service innovation and different types of enterprise software systems, i.e. standardized enterprise software designed to fit one certain business sector and enterprise software specifically customized for a single firm. Using firm-level data of a survey among ICT service providers and knowledge-intensive service providers in Germany, this is the first paper empirically analyzing whether both types of enterprise software foster innovation in the service sector. The analysis is based on a knowledge production function. The results reveal that there is no relationship between sector specific enterprise software and innovation activity while customized enterprise software is possibly related to the probability of service innovation. The results stay robust if former innovation activity and general openness to new technologies are controlled for. --
    Keywords: enterprise systems,service innovation,customized enterprise software,sector specific enterprise software
    JEL: L10 M20 O31
    Date: 2010
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:10100&r=cse
  11. By: Berliant, Marcus; Fujita, Masahisa
    Abstract: Is the paradise of effortless communication the ideal environment for knowledge creation? Or, can the development of local culture in regions raise knowledge productivity compared to a single region with a unitary culture? In other words, can a real technological increase in the cost of collaboration and the cost of public knowledge flow between regions, resulting in cultural differentiation between regions, increase welfare? In our framework, a culture is a set of ideas held exclusively by residents of a location. In general in our model, the equilibrium path generates separate cultures in different regions. When we compare this to the situation where all workers are resident in one region, R & D workers become too homogeneous and there is only one culture. As a result, equilibrium productivity in the creation of new knowledge is lower relative to the situation when there are multiple cultures and workers are more diverse.
    Keywords: knowledge creation; knowledge diversity; ideas and culture
    JEL: Z1 D83 O31
    Date: 2011–01–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:27997&r=cse
  12. By: Schmiele, Anja
    Abstract: This paper aims at analysing the risk of intellectual property (IP) infringements by competitors from abroad and in particular whether this risk is higher for international innovating firms. We distinguish three different types of IP infringements from abroad: the usage of firms' technical inventions, product piracy and copying of corporate names and designs. Our analysis rests on the German data from the Europe-wide Community Innovation Survey (CIS). We use a unique data set of about 900 observations which are retrieved from two survey waves. While the earlier wave contains information about international and domestic innovation activities the later wave reports IP infringements. In a second analysis, the likelihood of infringements from innovation host countries and no innovation host countries abroad is examined. Before the empirical analysis, an explorative study has been carried out in China with interviews of German firms with innovation activities in China and with a legal advisor for small and medium sized German enterprises. The results show that firms with international R&D activities are increasing their chances to lose technological knowledge to their local competitors abroad. R&D activities in countries with weak intellectual property rights increase the risk for all types of infringement. Infringements by competitors from the host country are driven by the production of innovations in this country. Export intensity is the major driver of infringements from no innovation host countries. R&D activities in China and North America also increase the risk of an infringement. However, firms that innovate only in their home country experience significantly more product piracy cases than internationally innovating firms. --
    Keywords: R&D,innovation,internationalisation,intellectual property,infringement
    JEL: O32 O34 F23
    Date: 2010
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:10099&r=cse
  13. By: Llopis-Corcoles, Oscar
    Abstract: Enabling knowledge sharing among individuals in organizations is fundamental to innovation and organizational success. Nevertheless, despite receiving great attention among both academics and practitioners, knowledge sharing research is still searching for integrated framework. Recent literature reviews shows that most of the existing research has centered on a macro perspective, attaching less emphasis on the integration of the individual in the process. Being aware of this, an increasing group of scholars have proposed a multi-level integration of the individual and the organizational perspectives. This paper argues that this new approach that is grounded on sociology provides appropriate research questions, but might not be enough to successfully answer them, since is rooted in a sociological vision of the individual. Knowledge sharing literature might pay more attention to the reciprocal interaction of personal factors, individual behavior and organizational environment. A possible way to fill this gap can be by viewing the topic through the lens of the social cognitive theory. This theory permits a better integration of existing research of some psychosocial topics such as vicarious learning, self-efficacy, cognitive biases and schemas.
    Keywords: Knowledge management; knowledge sharing; multilevel model; social cognitive theory
    JEL: M12 O31
    Date: 2011–01–11
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ing:wpaper:201101&r=cse
  14. By: Xavier Fageda (Department of Economic Policy, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 690, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.); Ricardo Flores-Fillol (Department of Economics, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avinguda de la Universitat 1, 43204 Reus, Spain.)
    Abstract: Network airlines have been increasingly focusing their operations on hub airports through the exploitation of connecting traffic, allowing them to take advantage of economies of traffic density, which are unequivocal in the airline industry. Less attention has been devoted to airlines? decisions on point-to-point thin routes, which could be served using different aircraft technologies and different business models. This paper examines, both theoretically and empirically, the impact on airlines ?networks of the two major innovations in the airline industry in the last two decades: the regional jet technology and the low-cost business model. We show that, under certain circumstances, direct services on point-to-point thin routes can be viable and thus airlines may be interested in deviating passengers out of the hub.
    Keywords: regional jet technology, low-cost business model, point-to-point network, hub-and-spoke network
    JEL: L13 L2 L93
    Date: 2010–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:xrp:wpaper:xreap2010-14&r=cse
  15. By: Jérôme Danguy; Gaétan de Rassenfosse; Bruno Van Pottelsberghe
    Abstract: This paper aims at contributing to the literature on the relationship between research efforts and patent counts. It is claimed that the “propensity-to-patent” should be split into an “appropriability propensity” and a “strategic propensity”. The empirical contribution is based on a unique panel dataset composed of 18 industries in 19 countries over 19 years, and relies on five alternative patent indicators. The results confirm that the distinction between the two types of propensity matter. The sharp increase in patenting observed in most patent offices seems to be due to greater internationalization of patents rather than to a burst in innovations.
    Keywords: propensity to patent, strategic propensity, appropriability,; research productivity
    Date: 2011–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eca:wpaper:2013/73257&r=cse
  16. By: Antti-Jussi Tahvanainen; Tuomo Nikulainen
    Abstract: For developed countries, continuous innovation has been a prerequisite for economic growth for some time. Because radical innovations often require considerable slack and freedom in researching the relevant underlying phenomena, universities are considered the primary loci for generating knowledge leading to radical leaps in the development of platforms on which future technologies build. Thus, to facilitate the improvement of premises for university research and its application in industry, much effort has been spent on understanding university innovation processes and the transfer of technology between universities and companies. Much of the research and the related discussions have been conducted on either the national, regional or organizational levels. The focus on institutional actors has largely orphaned another fundamentally important actor : the individual researcher. This report examines individual university researchers and their role in the commercialization of research in Finland. Based on a survey of roughly 2800 researchers active in different fields of science at 11 Finnish research universities, this report covers a variety of topics ranging from university-industry collaboration to ownership of intellectual property and the commercialization services provided to researchers. The primary theme uniting these topics, however, is the subjective motivation for researchers to engage in the commercialization of their research. Why do researchers cooperate with companies, and how do they expect to benefit from collaboration? What are the reasons why some researchers to commercialize their results, while others distance themselves from such endeavors? Do certain dedicated university services support researchers in their commercial ambitions or actually inhibit them? These are the specific questions this report seeks to descriptively answer. The results establish that commercial motives play only a minor role in the various activities in which researchers engage. For instance, potential commercial aspects have almost no impact on the choice of a researcher’s research orientation. Furthermore, direct industrial collaboration is relatively uncommon among researchers. Even those researchers that have experience with industry collaboration reported that collaboration mostly serves academic ends such as securing research funding and searching for new research ideas. In addition, only 10% of all researchers have received complementary business education. Given that approximately 40% of researchers are believed to have produced inventions with commercial potential, 10% seems a fairly small share. This is also reflected in the researchers’ clear lack of familiarity with the principles that govern the allocation of ownership rights to inventions that arise from academic research, a prerequisite to any commercial endeavors. In parallel with these findings, the propensity of researchers to commercialize their results is much less affected by economic factors such as potential economic returns than it is by altruistic, socio-cultural, or personal motives. This makes designing proper incentive mechanisms difficult. The three most important factors mentioned by inventors who have made the decision to facilitate the commercialization of their inventions include (i) the inventions’ potential to have a beneficial impact on society, (ii) the researchers’ ambition of self-fulfillment and (iii) securing funding for academic research. Societal goals and reasons related to pure intrinsic ambition seem to dominate other motives. It seems that commercialization and related economic aspects bear little value to researchers. Regarding support in commercialization, Finnish researchers are quite satisfied with the services provided to them by their respective research and innovation service units. Only a closer look at the possible needs of researchers and the degree that the service units match these needs through services reveals the true challenges regarding the operation of the units. In fact, the match between needs and provided services seems to be rather weak, and many researchers indicate that they do not need most of the services in the first place. This leads to only one conclusion : the service units are not an integral part of the university culture as yet. Being satisfied with services that do not match needs tells us that researchers have not yet embraced such services as a relevant part of their work or of the technology transfer process. To remedy this situation, much emphasis needs to be put on communicating the range of available services to the research community. This is a first step. The second step would be to design a set of services that address the true needs and ambitions of researchers and provide proper incentives for researchers to participate in the transfer of their research results.
    Keywords: commercialization of research, university-industry collaboration, motives for commercialization, challenges of commercialization, innovation support services
    JEL: O30 O38 O33 O34
    Date: 2011–01–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rif:dpaper:1234&r=cse
  17. By: Decker, Carolin; Bresser, Rudi K. F.; Mellewigt, Thomas
    Abstract: Business exit has implications for a firm's corporate strategy. Two types of exit events are distinguished: those that involve strategic change and those that are status quo-preserving. This study investigates the impact of CEO turnover and succession on strategic versus status quo-preserving business exits. Based on a sample of CEO turnover and succession events and subsequent business exits of German corporations from different industries, our results suggest that neither voluntary nor involuntary CEO turnover is relevant to business exit. In contrast, outsider succession significantly affects the likelihood of strategic business exit, while a corporation's performance does not moderate this relationship. --
    Date: 2010
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:fubsbe:201025&r=cse
  18. By: Kotsios, Panayotis
    Abstract: The entry of new competitors operates as a balancing force against high levels of industrial concentration and the abuse of dominant position by firms with large market shares. Entry increases supply, lowers prices, intensifies innovation and brings equilibrium to the markets that don’t operate in a socially desirable manner. This paper examines the impact of regulatory restrictions to the entry of new competitors in industrial sectors. It provides a short description of the 13 most important sources of regulatory barriers and assesses their role and importance as entry barriers. The conclusion is that regulatory restrictions can be a very important, almost insurmountable barrier to the entry of new competitors, but their role is not always socially harmful. The use of certain sources of regulatory barriers is effective in protecting social welfare instead of harming it. Barriers that promote new competition or are applied in order to protect consumer welfare are socially useful, while barriers that restrict competition and limit new competitor entry, in cases other than natural monopolies, are socially harmful.
    Keywords: entry; competition; industry; barriers
    JEL: L0
    Date: 2010–03
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:27976&r=cse
  19. By: Powalla, Christian; Bresser, Rudi K. F.
    Abstract: Strategy tools are widely used in the practice of strategic management to yield a good solution with an acceptable problem-solving effort. This paper presents results of an experimental research project that assesses the practical effectiveness of a theory-based decision-making tool, the VRIO-Framework, in predicting the stock-market performance of different companies. The VRIO's predictive power is compared to the predictions derived from Analyst Ratings that are a widespread and commonly used tool in the decision-making context of this study. Our results suggest that the VRIO-Framework is a particularly effective forecasting tool whereas the power of Analyst Ratings is disputable. The results also provide support for the practical usefulness of resource-based theory. --
    Date: 2010
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:fubsbe:201022&r=cse
  20. By: NAGAOKA, SADAO; IGAMI, MASATSURA; ETO, MANABU; IJICHI, TOMOHIRO
    Date: 2010–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hit:iirwps:10-08&r=cse
  21. By: TANAKA Ayumu
    Abstract: The fraction of exporters and multinational enterprises (MNEs) varies substantially across industries. We extend the firm heterogeneity model presented by Helpman et al. (2004) to derive testable predictions about the prevalence of these internationalized modes. The model indicates that intra-industry firm heterogeneity and R&D intensity play large roles in inter-industry variation of the fraction of internationalized firms. We investigate whether these factors as well as import tariffs affect the structure of exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) using Japanese industry-level data. We obtain results that are consistent with the model. First, industries with larger productivity dispersion have a larger fraction of MNEs and a larger fraction of the sum of exporters and MNEs. Second, MNEs are heavily concentrated in R&D-intensive industries. In addition, we reveal that industries with lower import tariffs have a larger fraction of exporters and MNEs.
    Date: 2011–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:11001&r=cse
  22. By: Juana Castillo-Giménez; Guadalupe Serrano; Francisco Requena-Silvente
    Abstract: This paper investigates the determinants of a firm’s export decision and focuses on the identification of spillovers from neighbouring firms. We use a panel of Spanish firms that started to export to at least one of 95 countries over the 2000-2006 period. Detailed data on the location of firms as well as on the destinations of their exports allows us to analyze the presence of spillovers across firms exporting to different countries. Results show evidence of information spillovers, i.e. new exporters acquire valuable information from other local firms on foreign consumer tastes, product standards or customs administration in a particular market. However the selection of the most productive firms to the most difficult markets decreases the impact of spillovers on firms exporting to these countries.
    Keywords: export decision, export market, agglomeration, spillovers
    JEL: F1 R12 L25
    Date: 2011–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eec:wpaper:1103&r=cse
  23. By: Edwards Schachter, Mónica; Anlló, Guillermo; Castro-Martínez, Elena; Fernández-de-Lucio, Ignacio
    Abstract: La cooperación inter-empresas está experimentando una fuerte expansión a nivel internacional. El presente trabajo pretende profundizar en este fenómeno, considerando las relaciones de cooperación en I+D e innovación entre empresas argentinas y españolas. A partir de la revisión de la bibliografía, se implementó una encuesta a una muestra de 540 empresas susceptibles de haber participado en proyectos de cooperación, obteniendo 104 respuestas. Se analizaron diversos aspectos relativos al proceso y los resultados de la cooperación (perfil de las empresas, motivos, tipos de socios, liderazgo, tipos de acuerdo, frecuencia, actividades llevadas a cabo y obstáculos a la cooperación). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la cooperación no es fácil, aunque contrariamente a lo que sostiene gran parte de la literatura, puede ser llevada a cabo por PYMEs de sectores de alta o media intensidad tecnológica cuyos motivos son principalmente la oportunidad de acceso a nuevos mercados y la mejora de la comercialización, más que la realización de actividades de innovación. Esto tiene importantes implicaciones para las políticas de apoyo a la I+D y la innovación, que habrían de tener en cuenta las diferencias que afectan a la cooperación en ambos países de acuerdo al tamaño de las empresas, el sector específico de actividad y las condiciones de financiación.
    Keywords: Cooperación internacional, Empresas, I+D, Innovación
    Date: 2010–12–13
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ing:wpaper:201014&r=cse
  24. By: André van Stel; Ingrid Verheul; Hiroyuki Okamuro
    Abstract: Globalization and an increasing importance of knowledge in the production process cause many developed countries to move from a more 'managed' to a more 'entrepreneurial' economy in recent decades. In the former type of economy, large and incumbent firms play a dominant role, exploiting economies of scale in a relatively certain economic environment. In the latter type, small and new firms play an increasingly important role, introducing new products and services in highly uncertain economic environments while quickly adapting to rapidly changing consumer preferences. The speed of adjustment in this transition process from a managed to an entrepreneurial economy varies by country. In this paper we investigate the differences between a more 'managed' economy, Japan, characterized by relatively low levels of entrepreneurial activity, and a more 'entrepreneurial' economy, the Netherlands. Building on earlier work by Hartog et al. (2010), who explain cross-country differences in three measures of entrepreneurial activity using five broad groups of explanatory variables, we apply a decomposition analysis to better understand the differences in entrepreneurial activity between Japan and the Netherlands. We find that, in spite of higher levels of entrepreneurial activity in the Netherlands, the institutional framework in the Netherlands is considerably less favourable to entrepreneurship, compared to Japan. On the other hand, cultural differences between the Netherlands and Japan explain a substantial part of the difference in entrepreneurship rates between the two countries.  
    Date: 2011–01–11
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eim:papers:h201102&r=cse
  25. By: Frank Beckenbach (Department of Economics, University of Kassel); Norman Voss (Department of Economics, University of Kassel)
    Abstract: In this paper we present a methodology for assessing material flow dynamics and their regulation by including the level of suppliers, producers, consumers and waste treatment in the automotive industry and by combining economic and technological features of their activities. Given the complexity of these processes in terms of time and agency we use a multi-agent approach for such an analysis.
    Keywords: mulit-agent modelling, automotive industry, automotive, Germany, region, dynamic, waste, analysis, complexity
    Date: 2010–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kas:poabec:2010-10&r=cse
  26. By: Victoria Castillo (Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security, Buenos Aires, Argentina); Alessandro Maffioli (Interamerican Development Bank, Washington, DC); Ana P. Monsalvo (Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, Argentina); Sofía Rojo (Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security, Buenos Aires, Argentina); Rodolfo Stucchi (ECONFOCUS, Córdoba, Argentina)
    Abstract: This paper evaluates the impact of the Argentine SME support program PRE on employment, real wages, and exports. The program aimed at increasing the competitiveness of SMEs by co-financing up to fifty percent of expenditures in professional services and technical assistance. We use a unique panel dataset constructed with administrative records. We combine Propensity Score Matching and Difference in Differences methods to control for selection biases in the estimations. We find a positive and quantitatively important impact of the program on employment and a positive although smaller impact on real wages and the probability of exporting. We also find that the effect of the program on wages and the probability of exporting take place one year after beneficiaries receive the program. The effect of the program on employment takes place one, two, and even, three years after beneficiaries receive the program.
    Keywords: Public Policy Evaluation, SMEs, Employment, Wages, Exports, Argentina, Difference in Differences, Propensity Score Matching
    JEL: C23 H43 L25 O12 O54
    Date: 2010–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:ovewps:0610&r=cse

This nep-cse issue is ©2011 by Joao Jose de Matos Ferreira. It is provided as is without any express or implied warranty. It may be freely redistributed in whole or in part for any purpose. If distributed in part, please include this notice.
General information on the NEP project can be found at http://nep.repec.org. For comments please write to the director of NEP, Marco Novarese at <director@nep.repec.org>. Put “NEP” in the subject, otherwise your mail may be rejected.
NEP’s infrastructure is sponsored by the School of Economics and Finance of Massey University in New Zealand.