Contributions to conference proceedings

Abstract

Contemporary organizations develop porous structures and permeable boundaries to employ external knowledge and resources. On the one hand, permeability in organizations engenders fluidity which increases organizational capabilities through adaptability, diversity, and speed. On the other hand, organizations continuously redefine and reinvent their boundaries to remain stable and to exhibit self-identity. These two competing demands of organizations to simultaneously become fluid as well as stable are evident in modern shared workplaces where organizations share offices with other organizations and professionals. The purpose of this research is to analyze how permeability in shared office spaces influence the internal work structures and processes of members’ organizations who have relatively fixed memberships, stable structures, and steep hierarchies. We collected qualitative data based on an inductive research methodology from the providers and users of a coworking-space. Our study concludes that participational autonomy, spatial and virtual connectivity and interrelational heterogeneity determine the level of permeability in a coworking-space. The space level permeability influences the work structures and task processes of members’ organizations. Changeability in organizational processes engenders structural differentiation, decentralization, and ad-hoc work processes, which provide autonomy to the organizational employees or independent users to define their work structures, task processes, and work routines. Organizations though maintain their rudimentary structures and permeable boundaries through self-regulatory resources. In this way, permeability enables organizations to leverage the differentiated capabilities of members within and outside of the space and facilitates knowledge exchange across boundaries and hierarchical levels that lead to innovative outcomes.

Abstract

Digitalization is transforming the industrial landscape. Smarter products, data services, and new business models promise to reshape all types of manufacturing industries. However, the excitement on the potential outcomes of industrial players’ digitalization is proportionate to the number of unexpected tensions and uncertainty that it generates. Much has been written on the potential benefits, but much less on the navigation strategies that could guide the transition for such types of firms. In our research, we draw from a multiple-case study with Danish industrial firms (Danfoss, Linak and Grundfos). The result is a nuanced description of the dimensions that associate industrial digitalization approaches with organizational characteristics and technological trajectories

Abstract

University Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) have become a well-established tool for universities to manage the commercialization of scientific knowledge. An important task for many TTOs is to facilitate the creation and development of academic spin-off firms. Nevertheless, while university support mechanisms in general are positively related to the creation of new ventures (Fini et al. 2009), TTOs' contributions to commercialization and spin-off foundation seem to be marginal and indirect (Muscio 2010, Clarysse et al. 2011). This paper adds to the debate on TTOs' raison d'être by looking at the long term performance of spin-offs reported by Norwegian TTOs and considering the ‘additionality effect' and specific contribution of the TTO to each spin-off. Prior studies addressing this phenomenon have attempted to examine TTOs' influence with quantitative measures of technology-transfer success. For example, in the U.S. researchers have observed that TTOs could be positively associated with the number of disclosures, patents, licenses, royalties, and start-ups (Siegel et al. 2002, Carlsson and Fridh 2002, Friedman and Silberman 2003). Similarly, in Italy it has been observed that TTO's staff can have a positive effect on the valorization of research results (Piccaluga et al. 2007, Algieri et al. 2011). At the same time, another research stream, suggests that TTOs are just another administrative barrier (Hülsbeck et al. 2011), and negatively effect on technology commercialization efforts (Kenney and Patton 2009). Having limited capabilities to support entrepreneurship and business development activities (Link et al. 2014, Lockett and Wright 2005, Markman et al. 2004). This paper explores the expected additionality effect of Norwegian TTOs in technology commercialization, in terms of the quality of the spin-off firms they nurture. We propose that since Norwegian TTOs are still relatively young and inexperienced, they might not have a limited direct additionality on academic entrepreneurship. However, we expect that additionality effects would come from other specific competencies, such as entrepreneurial experience and active industry partners. Another contribution of our paper is to depict how the TTO has been contributing on key activities(e.g. business development, incubation, networking, funding, IP protection, etc.) related to the birth and development of firms. We suggest that both the degree and type of contribution differ depending on spin-offs characteristics. We answer the research questions by combining cross-sectional and panel data on a sample of 155 spin-off firms that have been established with support from TTOs connected to universities and research institutes in Norway. We analyze spin-off founders' perceptions about the degree and type of contribution of the TTO to firm creation in relation to the growth and market performance of the venture. Associations between TTOs' productivity (number of spinouts) and the performance of the firms they nurture are also tested. Our paper contributes to the stream of literature related to the role of TTOs in technology commercialization and economic development, with important implications to innovation and entrepreneurship policies as well.

Abstract

Understanding the influence of resources on the new firm's growth remains a difficult challenge for scholars. Prior research has suggested that the impact of human capital or technological resources is limited and does not provide an explanation on why some new firms grow faster than others. In this research we propose to explore the complementary and substitution effects between these resources using Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS) Dataset. We also introduce market resources to further understand the influence dynamics of resources in early stage growth. We follow the evolution of a sample of firms in a high tech industry to test our hypotheses. The results show that besides the direct effects of human, technological and market resources, it is the complementary and substitution effects across them that provides additional valuable information to understand their impact on new firm's growth

Abstract

Based on the prosodic features of charisma that have been identified in previous prosodic studies, we provide the first-ever acoustic profiles of Steve Jobs' and Mark Zuckerberg's business speeches, . We analyzed a sample of about 45 minutes from iPhone/iPad or "F8" presentations. Our results show that Jobs and Zuckerberg both stand out against a reference sample of ordinary speakers from the prosodic literature. However, Jobs stands out even more and thus significantly differs from Zuckerberg in almost all prosodic parameters that are known from previous studies to be associated with charisma. In addition, both CEOs produced significant differences differed between the customer-oriented and investor-oriented sections of their speeches, albeit mostly in opposite directions. In summary, we show that the prosodic features of charisma in political speeches also apply to business speeches. Consistent with the public opinion, our findings are indicative of Steve Jobs being a more charismatic speaker than Mark Zuckerberg. Beyond previous studies, our data suggest that rhythm and emphatic accentuation are also involved in conveying charisma. Furthermore, the differences between Jobs and Zuckerberg and the investor- and customer-related sections of their speeches support the modern understanding of charisma as a gradual, multiparametric, and context-sensitive concept.

Abstract

This paper builds upon the widely-used resource- based approach to explaining survival of new technology-based firms (NTBFs). However, instead of looking at the NTBF's initial resource configuration, a process-oriented perspective is taken by focusing on the entrepreneur's ability to transform resources in response to triggers resulting from market interactions. Transaction relations reflect these interactions and are thus operationalized with a suggested method for measuring the status of venture emergence (VE) applicable to early-stage NTBFs. NTBFs' value network maturity is reflected in the number and strength of their transaction relations in the four market dimensions customer, investor, partner, and human resource. Business plans of NTBFs represent the artifact that contains this data in the form of transaction relation descriptions. Using content analysis, a multi-step combined human and computer coding process has been developed to annotate and classify transaction relations from business plans in order to empirically determine NTBFs' status of VE. Results of the business plan analysis suggest that the level of transaction relations allows to draw conclusions on the VE status. Moreover, applying the developed process, first analysis of a business plan coding test shows that the transaction relation based VE status significantly relates to NTBF survival capability

Abstract

We use international diffusion, deinstitutionalization, and power theory to explain the diffusion and ban of the third-party ownership (TPO) practice in the soccer industry. We use an inductive case study combining archival and interview data to identify the mechanisms that lead to the diffusion, but also to the contestation and deinstitutionalization of TPO. The results suggest that the practice evolution can be explained as a process of layered escalation. Regardless of the economic benefits for the stakeholders that supported the diffusion of the practice, their nested position restricts their access and influence to the dominant stakeholders on the later stages, explaining the deinstitutionalization of an internationally diffused practice.

Abstract

This paper broadens the resource-based approach to explaining survival of new technology-based firms (NTBFs) by focusing on the entrepreneur's ability to transform resources in response to triggers resulting from market interactions. Network theory is used to define a construct that allows determining the status of venture emergence (VE).The operationalization of the VE construct is built on the firm's value network maturity in the four market dimensions customer, investor, partner, and human resource. Business plans of NTBFs represent the artifact that contains this data in the form of transaction relation descriptions. Using content analysis, a multi-step combined human and computer coding process has been developed to empirically determine NTBFs' status of VE.Results of the business plan analysis suggests that the level of transaction relations allows to draw conclusions on the status of VE. Moreover, applying the developed process, a business plan coding test shows that the transaction relation based VE status significantly relates to NTBFs' survival capabilities.

Abstract

Academic Spin-Offs (ASOs) are given the mission to bring to society science and technology innovations. Nevertheless, the relative weak market performance of ASOs has recently been a focus of discussion, questioning the economic and social pay-off of the overall innovation policies and institutional support mechanisms to promote ASOs activities. For example, while studies from the U.S. show that these firms can create new jobs, generate tax income, develop radical and breakthrough technologies and contribute to regional development (e.g. Shane, 2003). Other studies from Europe indicate that most ASOs do not grow or grow slowly (Mustar, Wright and Clarysse, 2008). Most prior research suggests that the ability of ASOs to successfully deliver their mission could be related to individual (e.g. human capital), organizational (e.g. team characteristics, board composition, network of partners) and institutional factors (e.g. university, Technology Transfer Office and support mechanisms). These factors would influence the organizational processes and strategies differently to successfully commercialize the technology products or services of the ASO. However, this stream of research is mostly concerned about the entrepreneurial process while not paying attention to the technology development process. At the same time, research on technology development, that is present in the innovation literature, suggests that a high degree of technological novelty would actually increase development uncertainty, and influence on the commercialization strategy. In this sense, radical technological breakthroughs that challenge existing technologies in an industry would require a different commercialization strategy than incremental innovations that help to improve an already existing product or process. Taken together, there is a need to integrate factors within entrepreneurship literature with characteristics of the technology to develop our knowledge on the different development paths of ASOs. We posit that better understanding of what drives the commercialization strategy of ASOs could provide further insights on the observed heterogeneous performance of ASOs. We propose to study whether ASO's technology novelty influences their commercialization strategy, taking into account how the origin of the technology and its IP protectability mediate this relationship. We ask the following research question: how does the novelty of the technology influence the performance of ASOs? We use a sample of 155 ASOs from Norway to study this relationship and establish profiles of ASOs taking into account the different technology novelty dimensions and different commercialization strategies. We control for individual, organizational and institutional factors. We combine a survey study with longitudinal archival data from of the ASOs to test the hypotheses and illustrate our results.

Abstract

Understanding the criteria used by investors to evaluate new ventures' proposals remains an active area of research in entrepreneurship (Nunes et al. 2014). Prior research identifies that there are differences in the types and importance of criteria used to evaluate venture proposals (Streletzki & Schulte 2013), and suggests that in some cases just a few element define the criteria used to make investment decisions (Maxwell et al. 2011). Despite scholars' interest in understanding the evaluation criteria it is still remains unclear the criteria and order of importance (Franke et al. 2008; Nunes et al. 2014). We propose a method based on Fuzzy Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (Fuzzy TOPSIS) to help entrepreneurs to analyze the evaluation, in terms of fuzzy opinions, of new ventures proposals. To this end a set of fuzzy linguistic terms based on triangular fuzzy numbers are considered. A group of investment experts has been considered to assess different factors and variables by means of linguistic terms with different levels of precision. Results provide not only a ranked list of variables obtained from the group of experts' opinion buy also a measure of the consensus reaches. A real example is presented to show the real applicability and efficiency

Abstract

The importance of clean-tech ventures lies in their mission to protect the environment by facilitating the increased use of clean energy and environmentally friendly solutions. At the same time, the entrepreneurial nature of many of these firms enables introduction of radical innovations necessary for making breakthroughs in the industries of renewable energy and environmental technologies. This study's purpose is threefold. First, we review the existing research on clean-tech ventures published in major business, management and entrepreneurship journals. Second, we revise the literature on the performance determinants of new technology-based firms (NTBFs) and reflect on its applicability to the context of clean technology. Third, we identify future research directions to further develop this emerging research stream. Thus, our work contributes to multidisciplinary and highly relevant topic by collating different bodies of literature that could shed light on the important determinants of clean-tech venture performance and providing future research agenda.

Abstract

Technology commercialization is described as the most dreadful challenge for technology-based entrepreneurs. The scarcity of resources and limited managerial experience make it a daunting task, putting in danger the whole firm emergence. Prior research has often build upon the resource-based view to propose that the new firms' performance is dependent on their initial resource endowments and configurations. Nevertheless, little is known on how the early-stage decisions of the entrepreneur might influence on the growth of the firm. Scholars have suggested that both technology and market orientation actions could influence the performance and growth of firms in this context; nevertheless, there is limited empirical evidence of the influence of these different orientations in the context of new technology-based firms (NTBFs). In this study we propose to explore the influence of technology and demand creation actions adopting a demand-side view. We use a longitudinal study on a panel dataset (2004-2007) with 249 U.S. new high-technology firms to test our hypothesis. The results point towards a rather limited influence of initial resource configurations, as well as an unexpected influence of market and technology orientation in the growth dimensions of an NTBF. The research holds implications for the management of new technology-based firms and for those interested in supporting the development of technology entrepreneurship.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide the systematic procedures of case study research. A robust case study protocol in the context of societal and ethical issues with a relevant guidelines will set to show how data should collect, present, and analyze. This paper takes in particular the context of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as the phenomenon and investigates on how to apply the methodologies, which could assist us to identify the boundaries between societal and ethical issues and the emerging ICTs. As such, to interpret the collected data and build theory inductively, to have an excellent basis for further qualitative research within RRI context, systematic procedures are needed to conduct. This paper uses a holistic view to the literature for providing guidelines for conducting and reporting case study research for RRI context. It defines the information that needs to be gathered from the cases, the way this data is to be analyzed and the processes of reflections to be undertaken. Checklists for conducting the case study protocol are linked to each step of systematic procedures and applicable for researchers, ICT managers, reviewers, and readers to allow them taking account of societal and ethical aspects, in particular RRI principles in emerging ICTs in a proper way.

Abstract

This article studies whether resource positions have an influence in the early value creation efforts of technology-based ventures. We complement the resource-based view expectation on the positive effects of holding unique resources, with demand-side views such as adopting a pull or push technology-market strategy. We use a sample from a longitudinal dataset (Kauffman Firm Survey) to test our hypotheses. The results show that technological resources alone do not positively influence on value creation, and that marketing resources could potentially have a stronger impact on value creation for new technology-based ventures in dynamic technology markets

Abstract

New technology-based firms have to deal with the technology development and market search challenges at the same time. The venture emergence in technology entrepreneurship symbolizes that the new venture has been able to find the right fit for its technology and becomes an operating business. The complex nature and dynamism of technology markets suggest the need to look beyond the venture resources in order to explain how new ventures overcomes the market uncertainty towards their technological products, and become operational businesses. We use a multiple case study of three new technology-based firms to explore the use of signals as market creation strategies in the context of venture emergence. The results suggest that entrepreneurs rely on market, technology and social capital signaling to reduce the uncertainty and advance towards venture emergence. This research holds implications for researchers interested in further exploring the integration of marketing, signaling and entrepreneurship theories and for entrepreneurs interested in overcoming the market uncertainty towards their technology, products and venture performance.

Abstract

Based on the influence of personal, cultural and gender differences, this article deals with the perception of creative images in light of their increasing importance for successful advertising campaigns. The authors conduct a literature review of relevant material on advertising creativity with an international perspective. The study will present results of a survey given to international students and young professionals with a cultural background from more than 35 countries. Results indicate that culture has an influence on the perception of advertising creativity, while cultures with a high level of power distance are found to be negatively correlated. A methodological contribution is made by applying multiple regression analysis combining research about creativity, personality and international culture. Limitations as well as further research suggestions are discussed.

Abstract

Internationalization of R&D is an upcoming research topic. However, as far as group-internal resource exchanges between affiliates are concerned, research is scarce. Therefore, the present study shed light on the discussion in literature by detecting obstacles and accelerators regarding the opening of R&D to affiliated companies in the same business group. The challenges are analysed for affiliates in order to engage themselves in group-internal markets, for instance to avoid bottlenecks in the product development or to improve their technological knowledge. To research this phenomenon, a case study is accomplished by investigating a Multinational company whose affiliates are self-reliant and horizontally diversified. Mixed methods are applied by having structured depth interviews with the responsible R&D managers as well as by sending a survey out to associated project managers. The study indicates that the organizational complexity, infrastructures within the business group and the impact of external market structures play an essential role for the usage and effectiveness of group-internal markets. Hence, the insights offer valuable clues why internal markets have advantages and disadvantages for affiliates under certai circumstances, i.e. in matters of communication, or why collaboration efforts introduced by the business group management do not yield result

Abstract

Considering growing public awareness of social, ethical and ecological responsibility, companies have constantly been increasing their efforts in CSR communications. Social Media as tools of brand communication receive increasing attention and it is expected that the marketing sector will experience changes through this phenomenon in the future. This empirical study investigates the types of content that is communicated for different brands and industries in leading Social Media portals on the German market in 2011. It turns out that this kind of CSR communication differs in terms of portals used, as well as in contents. Also, remarkable differences between industries can be observed.

Abstract

While global intellectual property trends show a stable rate of worldwide patent applications during the last five years, patent applications in emerging economies strongly increased within the same period. Unless the increasing number of applications in emerging economies, the indigenous legal systems in those countries are mostly not able to effectively protect intellectual property rights of multinational companies. Still, we observe the phenomenon of a strongly increasing rate of technology patenting in countries with weak appropriability regimes. This article studies patenting strategy archetypes of the world’s largest patent applicants using the case of China as an empirical context. Using Questel’s professional patent search application Orbit, we build a unique data set of the world’s top patent applicants combining data from the World Intellectual Property Organization and the State Intellectual Property Office of China comprising data of about 620.000 patents. Referring to the study of Keupp et al. (2012), we extend previous qualitative studies on patenting strategy archetypes by adding quantitative evidence from a data set of the world’s largest intellectual property owners. Model based clustering reveals the existence of five patent strategy archetypes of companies patenting in economies with weak appropriability regime

Abstract

Considering growing public awareness of social, ethical and ecological responsibility, companies have constantly been increasing their efforts in CSR communications. Social Media as tools of brand communication receive increasing attention and it is expected that the marketing sector will experience changes through this phenomenon in the future. This empirical study investigates the types of content that is communicated for different brands and industries in leading Social Media portals on the German market in 2011. It turns out that this kind of CSR communication differs in terms of portals used, as well as in contents. Also, remarkable differences between industries can be observe

Abstract

Previous research shows a plethora of overlapping and interrelated innovation approaches to understand the bottom of the pyramid customer needs and markets specifications. This research attempts to (1) identify the key factors that make a product relevant to be considered as an innovation for emerging markets (2) and establish relative importance of key factors for product managers while conceptualizing a new product for emerging markets. In the first part, the study assembles the list of characteristics from the selected innovation theories revolving around emerging markets. Subsequently the identified characteristics are clustered into eight key factors using semantic similarities scores and Ward’s clustering method. An analytical hierarchy process method is employed to obtain the priorities of these eight key factors. The study concludes with a Unified Innovation Framework which presents the overarching innovation approach for emerging markets and provides a common definition for a product considered relevant for emerging market. The results show high prioritization given to cost effective, easy to use and problem centric as compared to the sustainability, no-frills, resourceful, breakthrough and fast-to-market factors by product managers. However, the paper acknowledges that the prioritization results are subject to change given different motivation behind the various theories. Finally the paper proposes that, the eight key factors required factors to “play in” emerging markets would not change, but factors to “win in” can change based on other aspects such as sector, motivation, innovation flows and government policies.

Abstract

From research on Western new product development (NPD) practices a rich body of literature has emerged. However, the impact of country specific and cultural influences has not been examined yet. This study is a first attempt to identify differences in NPD practices between R&D subsidiaries in Germany, China and India within multinational companies. Data has been generated by qualitative interviews with Research and Development (R&D) executives in those countries across multiple cases. The study samples strategic, organizational and operational aspects indicates definite differences in process coordination, rewarding systems, the use of creativity techniques in NPD, market orientation and the average age of NPD teams. Other aspects like strategic targets, the management involvement, etc. show rather slight differences across the countries. Hence, findings suggest that while some aspects are universally applicable across cultural frontiers, Western companies have to understand different expectations regarding NPD in India and China by adjusting practices accordingl

Abstract

How do technology-based entrepreneurs transform technological ideas into business opportunities? We explore how individual's self-regulatory focus and institutional forces influence in the opportunity construction process. This research addresses the apparent paradox between the exploration efforts of the entrepreneur to find a use for the technological idea, with the institutional pressure advance to opportunity exploitation. We use an inductive multiple- case study with a sample of three technology-based entrepreneurs to shed some light on the phenomena. The results suggest that there is a two-stage process in the transformation of an idea into an opportunity; entrepreneur's ability to moderate their self-regulatory focus is seen to play an important role in this process. These findings hold several implications for entrepreneurs and stakeholders interested in promoting technology-based entrepreneurship

Abstract

From research on Western new product development (NPD) practices a rich body of literature has emerged. However, the impact of country specific and cultural influences has not been examined yet. This study is a first attempt to identify differences in NPD practices between R&D subsidiaries in Germany, China and India within multinational companies. Data has been generated by qualitative interviews with Research and Development (R&D) executives in those countries across multiple cases. The study samples strategic, organizational and operational aspects indicates definite differences in process coordination, rewarding systems, the use of creativity techniques in NPD, market orientation and the average age of NPD teams. Other aspects like strategic targets, the management involvement, etc. show rather slight differences across the countries. Hence, findings suggest that while some aspects are universally applicable across cultural frontiers, Western companies have to understand different expectations regarding NPD in India and China by adjusting practices accordingl

Abstract

As the world is shifting its attention towards emerging giants like India and China, the big Western multinational companies MNCs are trying to get their foothold in this market. Instead of customizing the western world products to local markets, these companies are increasingly developing products from scratch for the local consumers. They are engaging in frugal & reverse innovations, by developing affordable products and solutions with "good enough" functionalities and minimum frills, and later on, introducing them to the developed countries. This paper focuses on how multinational corporations MNCs are establishing themselves in the emerging markets and their innovation strategies. The paper initially differentiates between frugal & reverse innovation and goes on to analyze the practices of a German MNC. The paper concludes that end to end localization, core value identification & a healthy portfolio mix of both kinds of innovations is necessary for success in emerging markets. © 2012 IEEE.

Abstract

Many businesses use the instrument of the "idea management" in order to generate innovations within the corporation. Nevertheless, there are different ways of how to use idea management in businesses. In general, it makes sense not only to gather ideas from within the business but also to acquire ideas from external sources in a structured way. Through well-directed integration of customers, suppliers, competitors and others, it is possible to consider ideas from different directions and, if applicable, implement those ideas within the framework of an innovation management. These thoughts have been pursued within a model of an integrated idea management and examined by means of an explorative analysis. The results indicate that there is a clear tendency towards the integration of external groups. Basically, this integration occurs directly through the individual functional divisions such as the purchasing, development or sales department. However, from a strategic point of view, a comprehensive anchorage regarding the functions of an integrated idea management would be necessary. © 2006 IEEE.