The gender dimension in knowledge and technology transfer – the German case

Purpose – Knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) and particularly academic entrepreneurship (Klofsten and Jones-Evans, 2000) are indispensable for economic growth and wealth creation. In many European countries including Germany, substantially fewer women than men participate in KTT. Recently, decision makers from scientific, political, and commercial organisations have increased their attention to the gender dimension (e.g. Moser, 2007; Schiebinger, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate in what ways and to what degree gender is currently integrated in German KTT. Design/methodology/approach – By following an abductive approach (Suddaby, 2006) and building upon existing models (Klofsten and Jones-Evans, 2000; Carlsson et al., 2002; Lundvall, 2010), the authors developed an analytical framework for evaluating the position of the gender dimension in KTT, conducted a comprehensive literature review, and 22 key informant interviews. Findings – The findings indicate that the gender dimension is barely integrated in German KTT, which particularly manifests itself through the fact that there are fewer than 10 per cent women among academic entrepreneurs. Current organisational practices and attitudes of decision makers continue to reinforce traditional gender roles and “typically male” approaches and behaviours (Connell, 2005; Redien-Collot, 2009). Originality/value – The authors were the first to synthesise a variety of sources into one unified framework and to rigorously analyse the gender dimension in German KTT – both quantitatively and qualitatively and on different levels. This framework can help decisions makers, both in- and outside of Germany, re-envision KTT practices, and create new opportunities for its diverse participants.

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Value generation from industry-science linkages in light of targeted open innovation

Journal of Knowledge Management ◽

10.1108/jkm-11-2016-0510 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 295-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Dirk Meissner ◽

Elias George Carayannis

Keyword(s):

Technology Transfer ◽

Knowledge Transfer ◽

Holistic View ◽

Content Type ◽

Knowledge And Technology Transfer ◽

Science And Research ◽

Desk Research ◽

Transfer Channels ◽

Science Technology And Innovation

Purpose This paper aims to provide a substantial overview of features and channels of knowledge and technology transfer in light of achieving impact from science and research. Design/methodology/approach The paper is conceptual with substantial desk research undertaken. A taxonomy of transfer channels is proved and levels of impact from STI proposed. Findings It is found that there are different levels of value generated from science, technology and innovation, each featuring different stakeholders with different agendas and expectations. It is argued that to make knowledge and technology transfer impactful and sustainable, a long-term and holistic view and approach is required. Originality/value Against most papers about technology and knowledge transfer, this work presents an overarching overview of objects, channels and features of partners involved in transfer. It is features technology and knowledge transfer from a holistic perspective and provides useful background for future empiric studies and impact assessments.

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Technology transfer and its impact on innovation and firm performance: empirical evidence from Turkish export companies

Kybernetes ◽

10.1108/k-12-2019-0828 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Omer Cinar ◽

Serkan Altuntas ◽

Mehmet Asif Alan

Keyword(s):

Technology Transfer ◽

Firm Performance ◽

Structural Equation ◽

National Level ◽

Theoretical Framework ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Content Type ◽

Positive Effects ◽

The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the relationships between technology transfer, innovation and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach The relationship between technology transfer, innovation and firm performance is examined by using data obtained from 252 Turkish export firms, which are among the top 1,000 firms in terms of export volume in Turkey. To examine these relationships, a theoretical framework is empirically tested using structural equation modeling and tested via an empirical study of Turkish export companies. Findings The results of this study can benefit policymakers in government at the national level and company decision-makers at the firm level. Furthermore, an understanding of the relationship between technology transfer, innovation and firm performance may help firms to make correct technology transfer decisions and focus on the correct type of innovation to increase firm performance in practice. The findings indicate the positive effects of technology transfer on innovation and firm performance. In addition, innovation mediates the relationship between technology transfer and firm performance in Turkish export companies. This study suggests that decision-makers should transfer the right technology because well-realized technology transfers lead to the improvement of corporate innovation capacities and improvement of firm performances for export companies. Originality/value There is no study that fully examined the relationship between technology transfer, innovation and firm performance. The proposed literature-based theoretical framework in this study is novel for Turkish export companies.

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A unified framework for incorporating decision making into explanations of business failure

Industrial Management & Data Systems ◽

10.1108/imds-03-2015-0085 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 115 (7) ◽

pp. 1341-1357 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Joseph Amankwah-Amoah

Keyword(s):

Human Capital ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Business Failure ◽

Unified Framework ◽

Firm Level ◽

Content Type ◽

Fine Grained ◽

Institutional Linkages ◽

Learning From Others

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how decision-maker attributes unfold to precipitate organisational failure. The analysis brings to light how key attributes such as information-processing capabilities and human capital decay interact to bring about business decline and exit. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on an integrated review and conceptualisation of the literature. Findings – The study articulates how a set of attributes of decision makers, i.e. human capital obsolescence, powerlessness, meaninglessness and institutional linkages, contributes to organisational failure. Research limitations/implications – The paper concludes by setting out an array of strategies of learning from others’ failures. Originality/value – In spite of a growing body of research on organisational failure, scholars have placed overwhelming emphasis on ecological explanations and business failure prediction models. The study moves beyond the ecological explanations to offer a more fine-grained analysis of firm-level factors that precipitate business failure.

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Understanding corruption through the analysis of court case content: research note

Qualitative Research Journal ◽

10.1108/qrj-04-2020-0029 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Luís de Sousa ◽

Patrícia Calca

Keyword(s):

Analytical Framework ◽

Research Note ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Court Case ◽

Court Cases ◽

Content Type ◽

Construction Companies ◽

Goods And Services ◽

Judicial Proceedings ◽

Audio Video

PurposeThe two main objectives of this project were to advance knowledge about the way corruption and related offences are structured and operate in society and to draw inferences on the efficiency and efficacy of the judicial authorities in handling reported offences with the ultimate goal of improving and effecting control policies.Design/methodology/approachIn this research note the authors attempt to explore the relevance of judicial materials. The authors developed an analytical framework to extract information from court case decisions and analysed 838 court cases on corruption and related offences in Portuguese first instance courts for the period 2004–2008 to map the distribution of corruption and related offences, understand the anatomy of corruption as a criminal offence and learn from the judicial system's capacity to investigate, prosecute and trial reported occurrences.FindingsMost corruption cases took place in the major metropolitan areas, involved municipalities as passive agents and construction companies as active agents and had to do with urban sprawl and land management policies. Court data also allowed the authors to gauge the areas or sectors of activity more exposed to corruption risks. Generally speaking, these tend to be those areas or sectors characterized by high levels of informality and clientelism, high profitability ratios deriving from political decisions, unbalanced supply-demand of decisional goods and services, disorganised and fragmented regulation, low levels of transparency and insufficient or misguided supervision.Research limitations/implicationsThe framework for analysis is replicable in other contexts with minor adjustments. The major limitation is access to court decisions/narratives. This project was developed in partnership with the Portuguese Public Prosecutor's Office. This has facilitated access to those materials. For those wishing to use the database, the major limitation is that it covers only the period 2004–2008.Practical implicationsThe court narratives confirm that in cases where the complaint is complemented by documentary, audio, video and photographic evidences collected by special investigative means the subsequent production of proof in court is more effective. The data also suggests that cases reported from inside the organisation where the offence takes place are likelier to reach the trial phase, thus reinforcing the need for diversifying and strengthening reporting mechanisms and procedures and the guarantees to those who are willing to collaborate with the auditing and investigative authorities.Social implicationsThe authors contend that court cases of corruption and related offences yield important and useful policy-oriented information that should not be overlooked by decision-makers when upgrading their efforts to fight corruption.Originality/valueThis research note introduces a novel dataset on corruption court cases in Portugal. The policy significance of this dataset is threefold: (1) it provides decision-makers a more detailed mapping of the volume and distribution of corruption and related offences across the country than that provided by standard judicial statistics; (2) it fosters knowledge on key sociological aspects of the corrupt fact, thus helping decision-makers to understand better the type of actors, objectives, contexts, resources and exchanges involved and (3) it helps to understand the dynamics of judicial proceedings and how certain procedural and institutional features impact on outcomes.

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How to develop ASOs of China? Answers from the academic entrepreneurs

Kybernetes ◽

10.1108/k-03-2021-0190 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Xingteng Li ◽

Cong Zhu ◽

Feng Feng

Keyword(s):

Human Capital ◽

Triple Helix ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Content Type ◽

Enterprise Growth ◽

Triple Helix Model ◽

Academic Entrepreneurs ◽

Chinese Academy Of Sciences ◽

Academy Of Sciences

PurposeWhy do academic spin-offs (ASOs) have different growth performance? What makes ASOs grow better? Based on the perspective of academic entrepreneurs, this study systematically studies the influence mechanism of the growth of Chinese ASOs and establishes an analytical framework for the influence of academic entrepreneurs on the growth of ASOs.Design/methodology/approachThis study takes ASOs of Chinese Academy of Sciences as a sample. On the basis of literature analysis, the questionnaire is designed to collect the measurement items of variables and amended after interviewing the well-known scholars and experienced enterprise managers. The entrepreneur capital theory and the triple helix (TH) model are used to formulate the research model. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between academic entrepreneurs' social capital, human capital and enterprise growth. Data processing, reliability and validity analysis, hypothesis testing and so on are all carried out by Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS), which is a common method of first-hand data processing.FindingsAccording to findings, capital of academic entrepreneurs exerted a positive impact on ASOs growth. First of all, ASOs growth is positively affected by external connections and human capital of academic entrepreneurs. Second, the institutional environment and location environment play a regulation role. However, regulation role of the industrial environment is not proved. Third, the research has shown academic entrepreneurs' capital and ASOs growth is regulated by both path guidance and resources support ways. Finally, according to further test, ASOs growth is positively affected by both business contacts and political contacts of academic entrepreneurs, and the role of political contacts is greater.Research limitations/implicationsInevitably, this research has limitations, to some extent, which need to be further improved and supplemented in future studies. First, samples are special. Due to the difficulty of data acquisition, this research only obtains data from ASOs of the Chinese Academy of Sciences system. Second, there should be diverse methods to measure the growth of ASOs.Originality/valueBased on composition-based view and triple helix model, this study constructs an analytical framework of the influence of academic entrepreneur capital on ASOs growth and verifies the influence and mechanism of academic entrepreneur social capital and human capital on enterprise growth. The conclusion of this study provides empirical support for the development of composition-based view and also proves the effectiveness of this theory in studying ASOs related issues in China. In addition, the research conclusion is also the practical application of triple helix model, which proves the effectiveness of triple helix model in analyzing the growth mechanism of ASOs.

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The distributive knot: negotiators’ responsibility to untie complex demands

Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing ◽

10.1108/jbim-11-2015-0229 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 535-540 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alain Lempereur ◽

Michele Pekar

Keyword(s):

Demand Response ◽

Automotive Industry ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Content Type ◽

Business System ◽

Response Dynamic ◽

Managerial System ◽

Deal Making ◽

Different Levels

Purpose This article aims to explore the fundamental negotiation structure as a demand/response dynamic. It tests it in a complex business system, where a manager as a negotiator is confronted with multiple demands or pressures at different levels from a variety of stakeholders, both external and internal. Design/methodology/approach Based on concrete examples from the automotive industry, it presents an analytical framework to tackle all negotiation interactions. Findings This article suggests that it is possible to describe all negotiation interactions, whether they are simple or complex, through a demand/response framework. Originality/value This contribution examines a fundamental structure for negotiation responsibility – the demand/response dynamic – defining the mission of any negotiator in deal-making or dispute resolution as to try to supply a response to the expressed crossed demands. Second, the proposed theoretical model of demand/response is transposed and tested in a managerial system where a sales negotiator is confronted with demands from more sources, both external and internal, with the responsibility to satisfy as best as possible the various stakeholders and the capacity to address each of them with different moves.

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Medical treatment and best interests: judicial interpretation of values, wishes and beliefs under the Mental Capacity Act 2005

The Journal of Adult Protection ◽

10.1108/jap-11-2019-0037 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 165-173

Author(s):

Owen P. O'Sullivan

Keyword(s):

Medical Treatment ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Case Law ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Best Interests ◽

Content Type ◽

The Supreme Court ◽

Mental Capacity Act 2005 ◽

Mental Capacity Act ◽

The Uk

Purpose The prominence of the best interests principle in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 represented an important transition to a more resolutely patient-centred model regarding decision-making for incapable adults (“P”). This paper aims to examine the courts’ consideration of P’s values, wishes and beliefs in the context of medical treatment, reflect on whether this has resulted in a wide interpretation of the best interests standard and consider how this impacts clinical decision makers. Design/methodology/approach A particular focus will be on case law from the Court of Protection of England and Wales and the Supreme Court of the UK. Cases have been selected for discussion on the basis of the significance of their judgements for the field, the range of issues they illustrate and the extent of commentary and attention they have received in the literature. They are presented as a narrative review and are non-exhaustive. Findings With respect to values, wishes and beliefs, the best interests standard’s interpretation in the courts has been widely varied. Opposing tensions and thematic conflicts have emerged from this case law and were analysed from the perspective of the clinical decision maker. Originality/value This review illustrates the complexity and gravity of decisions of the clinical decision makers and the courts have considered in the context of best interests determinations for incapacitated adults undergoing medical treatment. Subsequent to the first such case before the Supreme Court of the UK, emerging case law trends relating to capacity legislation are considered.

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The hidden power of language

Sustainability Accounting Management and Policy Journal ◽

10.1108/sampj-04-2018-0111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 187-206

Author(s):

Philipp Hummel ◽

Jacob Hörisch

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Value Creation ◽

Cost Reduction ◽

Social Consequences ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Social Aspects ◽

Social Aspect ◽

Content Type ◽

Current Accounting ◽

Cost Reductions

Purpose Stakeholder theory research identifies changes in language as one possible mechanism to overcome the deficiencies of current accounting practices with regard to social aspects. This study aims to examine the effects of the terms used for specific accounts on company internal decision-making, drawing on the example of “value creation accounting”. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a survey based-experiment to analyze the effects of terms used for specific accounts on decision-making, with a focus on social aspects (in particular expenditures for staff) in cost reduction and expenditure decisions. Findings The findings indicate that wordings, which more closely relate to value creation than to costs, decrease cost reductions and increase the priority ascribed to the social aspect of reducing staff costs in times of financial shortage. The effects of terms used on cost reductions are stronger among female decision makers. Practical implications The analysis suggests that conventional accounting language best suits organizations that aim at incentivizing decision makers to primarily cut costs. By contrast, if an organization follows an approach that puts importance on social aspects in times of financial shortage and on not doing too sharp cost reductions, value creation-oriented language is the more effective approach. Social implications The study suggests that the specific terminology used for accounts should be chosen more carefully and with awareness for the possible effects on cost reduction decisions as well as on social consequences. Originality/value This study contributes to a better understanding of the relevance of language in accounting. It suggests that the terms used for accounts should be chosen purposefully because of their far-reaching potential consequences for stakeholders as well as for the organization.

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