Technology-based firms continue to compete primarily on innovation, and are continuously required to present new solutions to an exacting market. As technological complexity and specialization intensifies, firms increasingly need to integrate and co-ordinate knowledge by means of project groups, diversified organizations, inter-organizational partnerships, and strategic alliances. Innovation processes have progressively become interdisciplinary, collaborative, inter-organizational, and international, and a firm's ability to synthesize knowledge across disciplines, organizations, and geographical locations has a major influence on its viability and success.
This book demonstrates how knowledge integration is crucial in facilitating innovation within modern firms. It provides original, detailed empirical studies of prerequisites, mechanisms, and outcomes of knowledge integration processes on several organizational levels, from key individuals, projects, and internal organizations, to collaboration between firms. It stresses the need to understand knowledge integration as a multi-level phenomenon, which requires a broad repertoire of organizational and technical means. It further clarifies the need for strong internal capabilities for exploiting external knowledge, reveals how costs of knowledge integration affect outcomes and strategic decisions, and discusses the managerial implications of fostering knowledge integration, providing practical guidance and support for managers of knowledge integration in high-technology enterprises.

Cultural proximity consists in shared language, codes ,and norms of communication and exchange between actors. It is generally considered important for organizations, enhancing communication and facilitation interaction between actors. In such situation, diversity is often seen as a source of richness and originality. However, high levels of proximity might create some risk, leading to lock-in and inertia, with a negative impact on the innovativeness of the organization. While the role of cultural proximity is subject to much debate within organizations studies, a comprehensive understanding of cultural proximity remains elusive. This book explores the organizational implications of the concept of cultural proximity, delving into the managerial challenges posed by diversities and similarities in culture within a business environment using different levels of analysis. The key messages of the present book, grounded on original empirical evidence, can be summarized as follows: cultural proximity is a key factor for managing innovation in present times; innovation requires a deliberate orchestration of the dichotomy between cultural proximity/cultural diversity; there are specific circumstances where proximity can be beneficial for managers and entrepreneurs. The book will be of value to researchers, academics, managers, and students in the fields of management science, human resource management, innovation studies, and organizational studies.

Although in recent years some emerging economies have improved their performance in terms of research and development (R&D) investment, outputs and innovative capacity, these countries are still blighted by extreme poverty, inequality and social exclusion. Hence, emerging countries are exposed to conditions which differ quite substantially from the dominant OECD model of innovation policy for development and welfare. This Research Handbook contributes to the debate by looking at how innovation theory, policy and practice interact, and explains different types of configurations in countries that are characterized by two contrasting but mutually reinforcing features: systemic failure and resourcefulness. Focusing on innovation governance and public policies, it aims to understand related governance failures and to explore options for alternative, more efficient approaches. This book brings to the fore new concepts, theories and questions about the Global South, across multiple disciplines. It discusses specific country cases, exploring overarching patterns and lessons that address development bottlenecks and policy designs aimed at improving quality of life and economic progress in emerging economies. Defining more adequate development strategies by balancing economic well-being with social inclusion, this book will be of great interest to scholars, students and policy makers of innovation, growth and development studies. Contributors include: B.A. Adebowale, R. Arocena, L. Becerra, P. Catalan, C. Chaminade, P. Delvenne, A. Djeflat, G. Dutrenit, M. Fressoli, S. Garrido, P. Juarez, S. Kuhlmann, A.M. Loconto, S. Mani, G.M. Marcelle, G. Ordonez-Matamoros, J. Orozco, A.A. Oyewale, R.P. Perez, M. Puchet Anyul, B. Rennkamp, E. Robles-Belmont, M. Salazar, M. Scerri, E.F. Simbua, W.O. Siyanbola, J. Sutz, H. Thomas, F. Thoreau, D. Vinck, J. Voeten

Innovation is critically important for countries seeking to maintain or improve their competitive advantage in the global economy. This book addresses the major current policy debates in science, technology and innovation focusing mainly on Europe but also including comparisons with other countries around the world.The R&D policies of five European countries - the UK, The Netherlands, France, Finland and Germany - are examined to understand national innovation systems and public policies, the determination of R&D spending priorities, research responsibilities and the allocation of funds. The authors combine interviews with senior civil servants, analyses of government publications and various government statistics on R&D performance. They consider national debates on science, technology and innovation policies within the wider context of the overarching political and administrative culture, and relate actual innovation and research policies to structural and institutional features of national economies. This book will be warmly welcomed by scholars and all those in decision making positions in government and non-governmental institutions on research, innovation and technology.

This path-breaking book addresses the economics of knowledge in universities and, in particular, asks how the changing structure of university research funding influences research behaviour. The author considers the relationship between the allocation of funds and university scientific research productivity and examines different aspects of European Union funding of university research. In particular, the impact of possible unintended consequences of university policies and priorities are studied. The author introduces an economic and historical approach to university research behaviour that allows one to evaluate the indirect consequences of the new 'competitive approach' to university behaviour and funding. Moreover, the book presents empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis that tighter linkages between university and industry, which aim to increase the transfer of knowledge, may produce unintended negative effects. This book will be of use to scholars of the economics of innovation and the economics of knowledge.

Many companies today are unable to respond fast enough to market shifts because they have concentrated too much on making technology more specialized to their own needs, hoping that this will preserve their competitive edge. Unfortunately, this has actually left many R&D staff short of the cross-functional skills they need to enable large projects to work. This innovative and original book, written by a leading management consultant, addresses these concerns and provides new insights into the theories and practices of innovation management. Ultimately, this book argues, the innovation process is no longer limited to 'know-how' but depends instead on 'know-who'. For companies to remain competitive and respond to market shifts, they must change their focus from internal specialization to learning through relationships. Three in-depth case studies from Canon, Sony and Toyota demonstrate the intracorporate benefits of external collaboration. This book provides concrete examples on how these companies use the principles of open sharing ideas, technologies and human resources; and performance measurement systems that reward cooperation and collective achievements. More importantly, it links the Japanese 'learning through know-who principle' with these practices in order to explain the high R&D performance, reduced development lead-times and improved overall competitiveness of these three firms. This book will be of great interest to business managers, international scholars of R&D and innovation and postgraduate students taking courses in technology and innovation.

"Differentiating yourself from your peers is the challenge that every professional faces. This book gives you the clarity, process and confidence to make yourself stand out in a crowded market place."

Toni Hunter, Partner, George Hay Chartered Accountants

"This easy-to-read book shows you how to build a firm foundation to win business regularly from your network. Highly recommended for any corporate professional or small business owner."

Charlie Lawson, National Director, BNI UK & Ireland

"The Go-To Expert" provides no-nonsense advice on managing your transition into a well-known and trusted name within your industry.

Discover: Simple steps to build your profile How to market and sell yourself with ease and confidence Techniques to make your clients come to you

"If you want to move your career on, shifting from being just another professional advisor to being truly recognised as a go-to expert, this book will show you the way."

Richard Newton, award-winning author of "The Management Book"

With the importance of knowledge as the basis for economic development, the issue of Research & Development (R&D) as a source of knowledge and of innovation is under discussion. One of the major activities in support of economic development includes setting a network of national support R&D programs. Supporting Innovation Through National R&D Programs: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a critical scholarly resource that examines the basic rational for national support programs and the financial, legal, and strategic aspects that are involved. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as origins of conflict, translational research, and competing trends, this book is geared towards professors, students, researchers, developers, and other industry experts.

Since the early 2000s, state-led and innovation-focused strategies have characterized the approach to development pursued in countries around the world, such as China, India, and South Korea. Brazil, the largest and most industrialized economy in Latin America, demonstrates both the opportunities and challenges of this approach. Over the course of nearly 20 years, the Brazilian government enacted various policies and programs designed to strengthen the country's capacity to innovate. It increased spending on science and technology, encouraged greater collaboration between industry and universities, and fostered the creation of new institutions whose primary aim was to facilitate greater private research and development (R&D) spending. In this book, the editors unite a diverse array of empirical contributions around a few key themes, including public policies, institutions and innovation ecosystems, and firms and industries, that collectively make the case for a new, forward-looking innovation agenda aimed at addressing persistent challenges and exploiting emerging opportunities in Brazil. Its conclusions offer valuable lessons for other developing and emerging economies seeking to accelerate innovation and growth in the modern age. With its interdisciplinary and wide-ranging contribution to the study of innovation, as well as attention to broader policy implications, this book will appeal to scholars and professionals alike.

This Research Handbook includes carefully chosen contributions to provide a well-rounded perspective on design thinking. Encouraging debate and development for future research in design conceptualisation, this forward-thinking Handbook raises crucial questions about what design thinking is and what it could be. With thirty-six expert contributors representing a wide range of disciplines, this Research Handbook contains seventeen chapters structured into three thematic parts to explore the people, processes, and practices of design thinking. Method case studies demonstrate how design thinking has been implemented across different disciplines and contexts. Challenging current design methodologies, chapters move beyond outcome-focused perspectives to examine the diverse range of processes employed for design research. While each chapter provides a novel perspective on design practice, read as an entire work, it continuously challenges the reader to reposition their perspectives. The Handbook unpacks the creative process by isolating each stage and examining them in detail, tracing success through empirical evidence back to design origins. The Research Handbook on Design Thinking provides an overview of the field's history, theoretical approaches, key concepts, perspectives, and methods. It is well-suited to academics and practitioners interested in the development of design thinking theory and the different perspectives traversing theory through to practice globally.

Vital tools for implementing Lean Six Sigma--what they are, how they work, and which to use--The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook is today's most complete and results-based reference to the tools and concepts needed to understand, implement, and leverage Lean Six Sigma.

The only guide that groups tools by purpose and use, this hands-on reference provides:

• Analyses of nearly 100 tools and methodologies--from DMAIC and Pull Systems to Control Charts and Pareto Charts
• Detailed explanations of each tool to help you know how, when, and why to use it for maximum efficacy
• Sections for each tool explaining how to create it, how to interpret what you find, and expert tips
• Lean Six Sigma is today's leading technique to maximize production efficiency and maintain control over each step in the managerial process

With The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook, you'll discover how to propel your organization to new levels of competitive success--one tool at a time.

Alfred D. Chandler, Jr. was, by general consensus, the pre-eminent business historian of the twentieth century. Through a prodigious body of work, Chandler made the study of the evolution of business enterprise integral to the study of the evolution of economy and society. His work combined detailed historical investigations with grand sociological syntheses. As a result, Chandler's study of the modern business enterprise invited social scientists and business academics as well as historians to contribute to our understanding of a central institution of our time.
Chandler revealed how managerial activity was central to the functioning of successful industrial corporations, and hence to the performance of the economy as a whole. This book gathers together contributions from management scholars fundamentally influenced by the work of Chandler to discuss management innovation, the ways in which people who exercise strategic control over the allocation of resources put in place organizational structures that can enable an enterprise to prosper and grow. The volume offers a range of perspectives to examine the challenges that corporate management encounters.

* The ELS model of enterprise security is endorsed by the Secretary of the Air Force for Air Force computing systems and is a candidate for DoD systems under the Joint Information Environment Program. * The book is intended for enterprise IT architecture developers, application developers, and IT security professionals. * This is a unique approach to end-to-end security and fills a niche in the market.

Shows how using quantitative measurements techniques to gauge financial and non-financial company goals can help guide R&D management performance and improve company success. The text aims to enable readers to choose financial R&D projects, create a customer satisfaction and effectiveness index, measure every component of "idea-to-customer" time, and create a "balanced scorecard" that is focused on innovation rather than implementation. Each chapter concludes with a "lessons learned" section that highlights how to put the information provided to use in R&D management practice.

This accessible and expansive, yet remarkably concise textbook is designed to help readers with their research project. As well as guiding them through the key methods of collecting and analysing qualitative data, this book provides invaluable information on writing up their research and how to get published. Now in its third edition, Qualitative Research in Business and Management has been fully updated to include a range of recent examples of aspects of qualitative research in action, and a new look at the methods and ethics of using social media data.

The world-class National Palace Museum (NPM) in Taiwan possesses a repository of the largest collection of Chinese cultural treasures of outstanding quality. Through implementing a two-organizational restructuring, and shifting its operational focus from being object-oriented to public-centered, it aims to capture the attention of people and promote awareness of the culture and traditions of China. In this vein, the NPM combines its expertise in museum service with the possibilities afforded by Information Technology (IT). This book analyses the research results of a team sponsored by the National Science Council in Taiwan to observe the development processes and accomplishments, and to conduct scientific researches covering not only the technology and management disciplines, but also the humanities and social science disciplines. The development process of new digital content and IT-enabled services of NPM would be a useful benchmark for museums, cultural and creative organizations and traditional organizations in Taiwan and around the world.

Governance Networks in the Public Sector presents a comprehensive study of governance networks and the management of complexities in network settings. Public, private and non-profit organizations are increasingly faced with complex, wicked problems when making decisions, developing policies or delivering services in the public sector. These activities take place in networks of interdependent actors guided by diverging and sometimes conflicting perceptions and strategies. As a result these networks are dominated by cognitive, strategic and institutional complexities. Dealing with these complexities requires sophisticated forms of coordination: network governance. This book presents the most recent theoretical and empirical insights into governance networks. It provides a conceptual framework and analytical tools to study the complexities involved in handling wicked problems in governance networks in the public sector. The book also discusses strategies and management recommendations for governments, business and third sector organisations operating in and governing networks. Governance Networks in the Public Sector is an essential text for advanced students of public management, public administration, public policy and political science, and for public managers and policymakers.