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on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy |
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Issue of 2009‒08‒30
three papers chosen by Laura Stefanescu European Research Centre of Managerial Studies in Business Administration |
| By: | Verkerk, M.; Pijl, G. van der; Asperen, E. van (Erasmus Econometric Institute) |
| Abstract: | In this paper we investigate how two online services (a portal and a digital library) may influence the adoption of an innovation. It is known from prior surveys that the installation services branch of the Dutch building industry has a relatively slow adoption rate for innovations. We examine if these two online services can influence the attitude towards the adoption of innovations. From the academic literature we have derived a list of factors that influence the attitude towards adoption by individuals. We limited this project to a number of factors that are commonly referred to as technological factors. Using an online digital library and a custom-built portal, we conducted a field experiment with a post-test only control group design for one particular innovative product (a gas-analysis device); the test was performed using a survey. Our main finding is that the portal has a significant and positive effect towards the adoption of the innovation by an individual. We did not find a significant impact for the use of the digital library. On the basis of this experiment, we propose that online services that offer a high degree of interaction amongst their users are more likely to induce an increase in the willingness of an individual to adopt an innovation. |
| Keywords: | innovation;adoption;portal;digital library;field experiment. |
| Date: | 2009–07–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:eureir:1765016331&r=knm |
| By: | Karlsson, Charlie (CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, Royal Institute of Technology); Johansson, Börje (CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, Royal Institute of Technology); Stough, Roger R. (School of Public Policy, George Mason University) |
| Abstract: | This paper is an introductory overview highlighting some of the current knowledge as regards three critical questions related to the emerging knowledge economy: i) Why does human capital and talent tend to agglomerate in large urban regions?, ii) How does this agglomeration affect the location of different types of economic activities?, and iii) How does this agglomeration affect regional growth? There are different underlying agglomerative forces creating spatially concentrated increasing returns to scale. Also, cities become centres of various amenities due to general increases in real incomes offering people spare time activities. One major reason for the agglomeration of production in urban regions and metro¬politan areas today is the existence of various positive externalities, providing good settings for industries and firms with knowledge-intensive and knowledge-creation activities, specialised business service firms and headquarters of multinational firms. There are strong tentative empirical evidences that the agglomeration of human capital contributes to regional development and growth. However, there is uncertainty concerning the size of the human capital externalities. |
| Keywords: | Human Capital Externalities; Talent; Knowledge Creation; Knowledge Spillover; Agglomeration; Urban Region; Regional Growth |
| JEL: | D62 D83 J24 R12 R23 |
| Date: | 2009–08–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:cesisp:0191&r=knm |
| By: | Georgiadis, Andreas; Pitelis, Christos |
| Abstract: | We analyse the link between human resource (HR) practices and the ability of firms to capture value from investments in knowledge-innovation and present evidence that supports a positive relationship between the two, employing an empirical design that utilises a unique data set that is based on a quasi-experiment. Our findings suggest that an additional pound invested in R&D, increases the rate of return of businesses that receive support in the form of employees and management/entrepreneur training, as well as improved workforce retention and recruitment, by significantly more than businesses that didn't receive such support. This has important implications for managerial practice and public policy. |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:esr:wpaper:dynreg41&r=knm |