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on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy |
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Issue of 2010‒02‒20
four papers chosen by Laura Stefanescu European Research Centre of Managerial Studies in Business Administration |
| By: | Ewa Balcerowicz; Marek Peczkowski; Anna Wziatek-Kubiak |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the differences in innovation behaviour, i.e. differences in innovation sources and innovation effects, among manufacturing firms in three NMS: the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. It is based on a survey of firms operating in four manufacturing industries: food and beverages, automotive, pharmaceuticals and electronics. The paper takes into account: innovation inputs in enterprises, cooperation among firms in R&D activities, the benefits of cooperation with business partners and innovation effects (innovation outputs and international competitiveness of firms' products and technology) in the three countries. After employing cluster analysis, five types of innovation patterns were detected. The paper characterises and compares these innovation patterns, highlighting differences and similarities. The paper shows that external knowledge plays an important role in innovation activities in NMS firms. The ability to explore cooperation with business partners and the benefits of using external knowledge are determined by in-house innovation activities, notably R&D intensity. |
| Keywords: | Innovation patterns of firms, strategy of innovation, innovation behaviour, innovation sources, taxonomies of innovative firms, EU new member states |
| JEL: | L25 O31 O32 O33 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sec:cnstan:0394&r=knm |
| By: | Escribano Sáez, Álvaro; Fosfuri, Andrea; Tribó, Josep A. |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we argue that those firms with higher levels of absorptive capacity can manage external knowledge flows more efficiently, and stimulate innovative outcomes. We test this contention with a sample of 2265 Spanish firms, drawn from the Community Innovation Surveys (CIS) for 2000 and 2002, produced by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE). We find that absorptive capacity is indeed an important source of competitive advantage, especially in sectors characterized by turbulent knowledge and strong intellectual property rights protection. The implications for management practice and policy are also discussed. |
| Keywords: | Absorptive capacity; Innovation; External knowledge flows; |
| JEL: | O32 O33 |
| Date: | 2009–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ner:carlos:info:hdl:10016/6666&r=knm |
| By: | Jarle Hildrum (Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines conditions under which organizations can acquire and profitably utilise knowledge generated in joint product development ventures. Past research states that such learning depends on relationships between knowledge accumulation at the level of joint venture and the evolution of knowledge structures in the wider organizational environment. An important argument of this paper is that such relationships might drift abruptly due to unforeseen events taking place during project operation, creating new challenges and opportunities for learning. Drawing upon previous research on project-based learning, the paper proposes a model of interorganizational learning aimed to help managers and researchers visualising links between drift and learning in distributed project contexts. The paper illustrates and assesses the empirical relevance of the analytical framework through a case study of a multi-firm product development project in the European software industry. |
| Date: | 2010–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tik:inowpp:20100122&r=knm |
| By: | O.A. Carboni |
| Abstract: | <p>This paper is a contribution to the empirical literature on R&D cooperation. It explores the variables that determine a firm's R&D collaborative expenditure by means of a sample of Italian firms. A tobit model, adjusted for heteroscedasticity and non-normality (Inverse Hyperbolic Sin transformation to the dependent variable), is used to deal with the large number of zero responses. Size, public grants and innovation are found to be effective in determining the level of cooperative R&D expenditure. Absorptive capacity, expressed by the in-house stable R&D effort, also plays an important role. This is in line with the idea that internal R&D is required if a firm is to take advantage of the outcomes of external R&D investment.</p> |
| Keywords: | Truncated and censored models; R&D cooperation; firm behaviour |
| JEL: | O32 O31 D21 C24 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cns:cnscwp:200909&r=knm |