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on Economics of Strategic Management |
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Issue of 2011‒12‒19
seventeen papers chosen by Joao Jose de Matos Ferreira University of the Beira Interior |
| By: | Isaksen, Arne (Dept of working life and innovation); Nilsson, Magnus (CIRCLE, Lund University) |
| Abstract: | New research indicates that firms combining the science-based STI (Science, Technology, Innovation) and the experience-based DUI (Doing, Using, Interacting) modes of innovation are more efficient when it comes to improving innovation capacity and competitiveness. With regard to innovation policy, the STI mode calls for a supply driven policy, typically aimed to commercialise research results. The DUI mode suggests a demand driven policy approach, such as supporting the development of new products or services to specific markets. This paper analyses how the two types of innovation policy and the two innovation modes can be combined in regional innovation systems. The analysis builds on studies of the food industry and related knowledge organisations in two counties, Rogaland County (Norway) and Skåne County (Sweden), and two policy initiatives (NCE Culinology and Skåne Food Innovation Network) aimed at strengthening the innovative capability of the regional innovation systems. The analysis indicates that policies aimed to link science and user driven innovation activity should focus on building absorptive capacity of DUI firms (e.g. through increased scientific competence) and implementation capacity of STI firms (e.g. through increased market and process competence). |
| Keywords: | innovation policy; scientific knowledge; practical knowledge; regional innovation systems; food industry; Norway; Sweden |
| JEL: | O33 O38 |
| Date: | 2011–12–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2011_012&r=cse |
| By: | Christian Le Bas (GATE Lyon Saint-Etienne - Groupe d'analyse et de théorie économique - CNRS : UMR5824 - Université Lumière - Lyon II - École Normale Supérieure de Lyon); Caroline Mothe (IREGE - Institut de Recherche en Gestion et en Economie - Université de Savoie); Thuc Uyen Nguyen-Thi (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: | In this paper, we will review the literature on technological innovation persistence and provide a general theoretical framework to analyze the main determinants of this innovative behavior. Moreover, no previous empirical study has taken into account organizational innovation practices as possible determinants of innovation persistence. We will therefore include them, as previous studies have shown the interaction effects between the two types of innovation, and produce empirical results on technical innovation persistence. A multinomial probit model was used to estimate the likelihood of belonging to each of the three longitudinal innovation profiles. Results confirm the differentiated impact of determinants on process and technological innovation persistence, and the effect of R&D intensity, R&D cooperation and competition intensity. As hypothesized, we also found that organizational innovation is a determinant factor for innovation persistence and, more generally speaking, for technological innovation, in particular organizational practices such as knowledge management and external partnerships. |
| Keywords: | Persistence; Innovation; Technological innovation; Organizational innovation; R&D |
| Date: | 2011–12–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-00649095&r=cse |
| By: | De Fuentes, Claudia (CIRCLE, Lund University); Dutrénit, Gabriela (Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco) |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between large firms´ knowledge spillovers and small and medium enterprises absorptive capacities. We build ad-hoc indicators for these two concepts following a factor analysis methodology, and we carry out a structural equations analysis to determine the relationship between them. Based on firm level original data from a survey that focuses on SMEs in a Mexican locality, this paper argues that in a low-tech and mature sector, such as the machine shop sector, that operates in a loosely articulated local system, two knowledge spillover mechanisms are relevant: the backward linkages and the employees´ mobility. Regarding SMEs’ absorptive capacities they are strongly influenced by organizational capabilities and innovation and learning activities. We also argue that large firms’ knowledge spillovers are strongly correlated to SMEs absorptive capacities within the sector and locality analyzed.<p> |
| Keywords: | Absorptive capacities; Knowledge spillovers; SME-large firms interaction; Mexico |
| JEL: | O30 |
| Date: | 2011–01–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2011_001&r=cse |
| By: | Federico Barbiellini Amidei (Bank of Italy); John Cantwell (Rutgers University); Anna Spadavecchia (University of Reading) |
| Abstract: | The paper explores the long run evolution of Italy’s performance in technological innovation as a function of international technology transfer, reconstructing the different phases and dimensions of Italian innovative activity, tracking the transfer of foreign technological knowledge through a number of channels, analysing the impact of imported technology. The study is based on a newly constructed dataset, over the 1861-2009 period, composed of variables related to: innovation activity performance; foreign technology transfer; domestic absorptive and innovative capability. The analysis highlights, also by econometric assessment, the significant contribution of foreign technology both to innovation activity results and to productivity growth. Differences across channels of technology transfer and historical phases emerge, also in connection with the evolution of human capital endowment and domestic innovative capacity. Machinery imports contributed positively both to innovation activity and to productivity growth; inward FDI contributed positively to productivity growth, but not to indigenous innovation activity; the accumulation of technical human capital fuelled both. In the long Italian Golden Age, for the first time the association of foreign technological knowledge with indigenous innovation processes strengthened productivity significantly. More recently instead the dismal productivity growth is negatively associated with formalised innovation activity under-performance and reduced imports of disembodied technology |
| Keywords: | Italy,Technology Transfer,Innovation,Absorptive Capability,Patenting |
| JEL: | N10 O31 O33 F23 O19 |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdi:workqs:qse_7&r=cse |
| By: | Diego Aboal; Paula Garda; Bibiana Lanzilotta; Marcelo Perera |
| Abstract: | The employment impact of innovation in the heterogeneous universe of services was studied using data from the 2004-2009 Uruguayan service innovation surveys. The empirical evidence shows that the impact of product innovation on employment is positive, while process innovation appears to have no effect. The effect varies according to the skill level of the labor force, across sectors, and the type of innovation strategy pursued by firms. Process innovation activities tend to substitute low-skilled jobs with higher-skilled jobs, while product innovation allows for more gains in efficiency in the production of new products with unskilled labor and no gains with the skilled labor force. Producing technology in-house has in most cases no impact on employment, while the combined strategy of acquiring technology outside the firm and producing it in-house has strong positive effects. The results found for knowledge-intensive business services and small firms, with some exceptions, are similar to the ones found for whole sample. |
| Keywords: | Science & Technology :: Research & Development, Science & Technology :: New Technologies, Labor :: Workforce & Employment, Economics :: Economic Development & Growth, service sector, innovation, innovation strategies, firm size, knowledge intensity, employment quantity and quality, innovation surveys, Uruguay |
| JEL: | D2 J23 L8 O31 O33 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:60318&r=cse |
| By: | A. Lasagni |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the role of external relationships as key drivers of small business innovation. An empirical analysis is based on data for approximately 500 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in six European countries. The results indicate that innovation performance is higher in SMEs that are proactive in strengthening their relationships with innovative suppliers, users and customers. Furthermore, the findings of this paper support the view that SMEs will have better new product development results if they improve their relationships with laboratories and research institutes. |
| Keywords: | : SMEs, open innovation, networks, external relationships |
| JEL: | L60 O31 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:par:dipeco:2011-ep04&r=cse |
| By: | Oxelheim, Lars (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)); Randoy, Trond (University of Agder); Stonehill, Arthur (Oregon State University) |
| Abstract: | This chapter focuses on the role of corporate financial strategies to improve firms’ market valuations, and thus lower their cost of capital. The identification of successful strategies is accomplished within an overall strategic framework and related to how the firm perceives the degree of international financial integration. Five strategies for how to break out of a segmented, thin domestic capital market are highlighted together with historical success cases. The chapter illustrates the linkages between business strategy, firm motivation, and various financial strategies. |
| Keywords: | Financial strategy; Corporate strategy; Global competitiveness; Cost of capital |
| JEL: | F21 F23 F36 G32 G34 |
| Date: | 2011–11–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:0888&r=cse |
| By: | Fagerberg, Jan (CIRCLE, Lund University); Feldman, Maryann (University North Carolina); Srholec, Martin (CIRCLE, Lund University) |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes factors that shape the technological capabilities of individual U.S. states and European countries, which are arguably comparable policy units. The analysis demonstrates convergence in technological capabilities from 2000 to 2007. The results indicate that social capabilities, such as a highly educated labor force, an egalitarian distribution of income, a participatory democracy and prevalence of public safety, condition the growth of technological capability. The analysis also considers other aspects of territorial dynamics, such as the possible effects of spatial agglomeration, urbanization economies, and differences in industrial specialization and knowledge spillovers from neighboring regions. |
| Keywords: | innovation; technological capabilities; European Union; United States Disclaimer: All |
| JEL: | O33 |
| Date: | 2011–12–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2011_011&r=cse |
| By: | Juan Gallego; Luis H. Gutiérrez; Sang H. Lee |
| Abstract: | This study examines ICT adoption among 3,759 Colombian manufacturing firms, and attempts to identify the factors that are conducive to the adoption and usage of ICT at the firm level. Our major findings are (i) that the adoption of a given information and communication technology is better facilitated when a firm is relatively large, has large human capital, engages in more innovative activities, and when a firm’s organizational structure is better aligned with the given technology; (ii) that positive associations between the key determinants and ICT adoptions are more pronounced for small and medium-sized firms than for large ones, and (iii) that information spillovers within industries is also a determinant of ICT adoptions by the firms. |
| Date: | 2011–12–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000092:009155&r=cse |
| By: | Cai, Yuezhou |
| Abstract: | Efficiency scores of the National Innovation System (NIS) for 22 countries, including the BRICS, G7, are calculated with the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Relevant factors that may affect the innovation system efficiency are summarized based on the NIS Approach and the New Growth Theory. Empirical study is further made with the Panel Data Analysis (PDA) and the Principal Component Analysis. The results of efficiency calculation and empirical test show that: (1) The BRICS differ greatly in the efficiency of NIS, with China, India and Russia ranking fairly high, and Brazil, South Africa among the few bottom; (2) The influencing factors involve a lot of elements, including the ICT infrastructure, enterprise R&D, market environment, government governance, education system, economic scale, natural endowments, external dependence, which is conformed to the NIS approach and New Growth Theory; (3) Enterprises innovation activities are of key importance to the NIS. To improve the efficiency of the innovation system, efforts should be made to improve the market circumstance, governance, and financial structure, and create a sound environment for innovation. (4) ICT infrastructure, economic scale and openness affect the diffusion of knowledge and technology, and in turn the NIS efficiency. (5) The BRICS have characters of low governance level and high natural resources dependency in common, which is determined by their developing stage and extensive growth pattern. To avoid the so called middle-income trap in the coming future, the BRICS should dedicate to transform the factor-driven pattern to an innovation-driven one. As for China, there is still much to be improved in the fields of ICT infrastructure, government governance, education system. During the 12th Planning, more efforts should be put into these fields and make better external conditions for innovation activities. -- |
| Keywords: | The BRICS,National Innovation System (NIS),NIS efficiency,Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA),Panel Data Analysis (PDA) |
| JEL: | O30 O57 P52 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ifwedp:201152&r=cse |
| By: | Villanueva-Felez, Africa; Molas-Gallart, Jordi; Escribá Esteve, Alejandro |
| Abstract: | The analysis of social networks has remained a crucial and yet understudied aspect of the efforts to measure Triple Helix linkages. The Triple Helix model aims to explain, among other aspects of knowledge-based societies, ?the current research system in its social context? (Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff, 2000:109). This paper develops a novel approach to study the research system from the perspective of the individual, through the analysis of the relationships among researchers, and between them and other social factors. We develop a new set of techniques and show how they can be applied to the study of a specific case (a group of academics within a university department). We analyse their informal social networks and show how a relationship exists between the characteristics of an individual?s network of social links and his or her research output. |
| Keywords: | embeddedness; academic network; research output |
| JEL: | L14 O17 O31 O32 |
| Date: | 2011–12–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ing:wpaper:201111&r=cse |
| By: | Van Reenen, John |
| Abstract: | Competition and labour market flexibility are key for spurring productivity growth, but there are other ways in which policymakers can influence innovation more directly. John Van Reenen argues that tax credits for business spending on research and development can increase UK firms’ market value, productivity and innovation. |
| Date: | 2011–12–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ner:lselon:http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/40257/&r=cse |
| By: | Evangelos Mitrokostas (University of Portsmouth); Emmanuel Petrakis (University of Crete; Economics, Universitat Jaume I (Castellón, Spain)) |
| Abstract: | We endogenize firms’ organizational structures in a homogenous goods duopoly where firms invest in cost reducing R&D and compete in quantities, and examine their impact on R&D efforts, market performance and social welfare. Each firm’s owner can either delegate to a manager both market competition and R&D investment decisions (Full Delegation strategy) or delegate the market competition decision alone (Partial Delegation strategy). We show that when the initial marginal cost is relatively high, Universal Full Delegation emerges in equilibrium. Otherwise, an asymmetric equilibrium with one owner choosing a Full Delegation strategy and the other a Partial Delegation strategy arises. Welfare is always higher in the asymmetric equilibrium configuration, thus, market and societal incentives are not always aligned. Finally, Universal Partial Delegation can arise in equilibrium only if goods are poor substitutes or if competition is in prices. |
| Keywords: | Organizational Structure, Strategic Delegation, Innovation, Oligopolistic Industries |
| JEL: | L1 L22 O33 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jau:wpaper:2011/9&r=cse |
| By: | Franco Amatori (Università Commerciale "Luigi Bocconi", Milan); Matteo Bugamelli (Bank of Italy); Andrea Colli (Università Commerciale "Luigi Bocconi", Milan) |
| Abstract: | The economic performance of a country depends, among other things, on the strategies and structures of its firms. In the framework that is designed by institutions and policies and determined by technology and macroeconomic cycles, entrepreneurs decide how to allocate available resources in order to face off competitors and to hook up with demand cycles. This paper looks at the evolution of the Italian economy across the last 150 years from a business history perspective. Analyzing Italian firms over the long-term cycles of the global economy and with respect to the different paradigms of the three industrial revolutions, we identify some structural features that explain successes and failures of the Italian economy. In doing this we explicitly connect the micro level of the business enterprise to the macro one of the national business system and explain the comparatively good performance of the Italian economy from the end of the 19th century to the 1970s. Over the last three decades this performance has turned negative, highlighting the role played by the small average size of firms and the failure of institutions to provide incentives for growth. |
| Keywords: | firm size, technological paradigms, innovation, entrepreneurship |
| JEL: | N83 N84 P12 O33 O38 |
| Date: | 2011–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdi:workqs:qse_13&r=cse |
| By: | Prejmerean (Dan), Mihaela Cornelia |
| Abstract: | Nations and regions find themselves in a constant competition for attracting direct foreign investments, the most important producers, specialized work force, the best researchers etc. From this point of view the former communist countries could be in an unfavorably situation because they just recently managed to adopt the system of the market economy. Clusters are seen as a solution for the economical success in the global competition. The western European countries have in this way a one century tradition, and continue to sustain and finance programs for the development and expansion of clusters. Taking in account the western experience, the question arises if also in the former communist countries clusters can give the key for development and rapid fulfillment of objectives regarding cohesion, regional development, competitiveness at international and global level. The paper investigates the potential of forming clusters in Romania and gives an orientation in the decisional process for founding, localization, development of clusters. |
| Keywords: | cluster; Romania; competitive advantage; SWOT analysis |
| JEL: | R10 R11 |
| Date: | 2011–07–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:35349&r=cse |
| By: | Hayakawa, Kazunobu; Tanaka, Kiyoyasu; Ueki, Yasushi |
| Abstract: | We examine transport modal decision by multinational firms to shed light on the role of freight logistics in multinational activity. Using a firm-level survey in Southeast Asia, we show that foreign ownership has a significantly positive and quantitatively large impact on the likelihood that air/sea transportation is chosen relative to truck shipping. This result is robust to the shipping distance, cross-border freight, and transport infrastructure. Both foreign-owned exporters and importers also tend to use air/sea transportation. Thus, our analysis presents a new distinction between multinational and domestic firms in their decision over transport modes. |
| Keywords: | International business enterprises, Industrial management, Transportation, Costs, Southeast Asia, Transport mode, Logistics, Multinational firms, Multinomial logit |
| JEL: | F15 F23 R41 |
| Date: | 2011–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper318&r=cse |
| By: | Holger Breinlich; Stefan Niemann; Edna Solomon |
| Abstract: | We use unique business register data for the United Kingdom to investigate the effects of different forms of firm expansion and contraction on firm-level performance indicators such as wages and productivity. We distinguish between adjustment of employment and turnover at existing establishments, expansions and contractions taking place via greenfield investment and disinvestment, and via acquisitions and sell-offs. We show that the choice of adjustment channel has important implications for the evolution of firm-level performance indicators. In terms of aggregate importance, we demonstrate that the two external adjustment forms (greenfield and M&A) account for at least 50% of the changes in aggregate wages, profits and productivity associated with firm expansions and contractions. |
| Date: | 2011–12–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:esx:essedp:703&r=cse |