scholarly journals Network orchestration: new role of business incubators?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Guilherme Rodrigues Antunes ◽  
Cleber Carvalho de Castro ◽  
Andrea Ap da Costa Mineiro
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Network Models ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Business Incubators ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Network Orchestration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the performance of incubators in the stages of formation and development of incubated business networks, especially in bottom-up and top-down network models. Design/methodology/approach The research is defined as qualitative and descriptive, with the application of multiple case studies, in which two networks of incubated businesses were investigated, one being top-down and the other bottom-up, which emerged within the incubation process of two business incubators (CIETEC and INCIT). To make the study operational, 11 semi-structured interviews were carried out and the thematic analysis of content was developed. Findings The results pointed out that in the top-down network the incubator performs a new assignment, the network orchestration, which corresponds to the actions of formation, coordination and governance of the group. In the bottom-up network, it was found that the role of the incubator was to expand the value offers usually practiced. Research limitations/implications As a limitation of the research, the very limitation of case studies is pointed out that is they do not allow for generalizations. Practical implications The research contributes to reflections on the effectiveness of the incubator and sheds light on the complementarity of networks in incubation processes, providing gains for incubators, incubated businesses and society. Originality/value The originality of this document is the new role of the incubator, which is orchestration, and its categorization. The results allow us to understand the effects of providing networks and relationships for incubated businesses. In addition, this study broadens the focus of traditional analyses of the incubator–incubated duo to consider the incubator–network–incubated trio.

Exploring destination brand disengagement in a top-down policy context

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narcís Bassols ◽  
Thomas Leicht
Keyword(s):  
Place Branding ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Brand Strategy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Depth Study

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the case of Cartagena, Colombia, as a case of a failed destination branding. It also broadens the findings by connecting them to the extant literature about place branding, thus making this paper more explanatory. It tries to fit the fieldwork’s findings into the two main streams of branding research (bottom-up vs top-down). This paper also gives practical insights into the destination’s network of stakeholders and discusses ways to improve the destination’s management and branding. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a mixed methodology approach. Field work consisted of online questionnaire to hospitality employees in the city plus semi-structured interviews conducted with 18 “expert” stakeholders in the destination. This paper is of empirical nature. Findings The main cause of the destination’s brand failure is found to be the top-down approach to the place brand strategy. The literature shows that cases such as this one are more common than assumed, and a possible way out of the problem is the application of bottom-up or “mixed” approaches, as these may circumvent the problems found. Research limitations/implications Cases like this one illustrate very well a local context but might be difficult to transfer to other contexts, so the generalization power of this paper is limited to similar places in the sociopolitical sense of the term. Practical implications For place branding practitioners and destination management organizations , this paper is a call for participative approaches which include all of the stakeholders of a place. Originality/value This paper offers an in-depth study of a branding case in Latin America, a part of the world relatively unexplored in the branding literature. On the basis of the presented case, this paper pitches top-down versus bottom-up approaches. Finally, it explains the findings by connecting the place to its broad geographical context.

scholarly journals Forging a collective entrepreneurial identity within existing organizations through corporate venturing

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Marina G. Biniari
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Data ◽  
Corporate Entrepreneurship ◽  
Role Identity ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Context ◽  
Management Literature ◽  
Parent Companies

PurposeThis study unpacks how organizational members construct a collective entrepreneurial identity within an organization and attempt to instill entrepreneurial features in the organization's existing identity.Design/methodology/approachThe study draws on the cases of two venturing units, perceived as entrepreneurial groups within their respective parent companies. Semi-structured interviews and secondary data were collected and analyzed inductively and abductively.FindingsThe data revealed that organizational members co-constructed a “corporate entrepreneur” role identity to form a collective shared belief and communities of practice around what it meant to act as an entrepreneurial group within their local corporate context and how it differentiated them from others. Members also clustered around the emergent collective entrepreneurial identity through sensegiving efforts to instill entrepreneurial features in the organization's identity, despite the tensions this caused.Originality/valuePrevious studies in corporate entrepreneurship have theorized on the top-down dynamics instilling entrepreneurial features in an organization's identity, but have neglected the role of bottom-up dynamics. This study reveals two bottom-up dynamics that involve organizational members' agentic role in co-constructing and clustering around a collective entrepreneurial identity. This study contributes to the middle-management literature, uncovering champions' identity work in constructing a “corporate entrepreneur” role identity, with implications for followers' engagement in constructing a collective entrepreneurial identity. This study also contributes to the organizational identity literature, showing how tensions around the entrepreneurial group's distinctiveness may hinder the process of instilling entrepreneurial features in an organization's identity.

Annual hours, workplace partnership and mutual gains: exploring the links

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine Ryan ◽  
Joseph Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Trade Union ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Material ◽  
The Creation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the capacity of annual hours (AH) to deliver gains to both workers and management and assesses the role of workplace partnership in three Irish companies that have adopted AH. Design/methodology/approach – Three case studies are compared and contrasted. The case studies were compiled through semi-structured interviews with management and trade union representatives, a survey of 205 workers and secondary material. Findings – The authors find that workplace partnership is not a prerequisite for achieving mutual gains where AH are concerned. The research draws attention to the importance of a mechanism for the creation of gains, in these cases, AH and that such gains can arise from different processes. Mutual gains output is not confined to workplace partnership but can arise from collective bargaining. Originality/value – The paper highlights the importance of comparing case studies so that the role of factors often seen as causal to mutual gains in exemplar cases can be critically evaluated. It also utilises directly workers’ opinions on AH and workplace partnership where typically, representative views of management and trade unions dominate the literature on these issues.

Innovation in China’s information and communications technology industry

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingzhi Li ◽  
Kai Reimers
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Ict Industry

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the sources of innovation in the current business environment of China. With the set target of transforming China into an innovative society by 2020, the Chinese government has taken dramatic measures to foster the nation’s innovation capability. Whether this Chinese model of promoting innovation has been successful and can be sustainable are controversial issues which need to be analyzed from an academic perspective. In recent years, there have been successful cases of innovation driven by grassroots entrepreneurs, especially in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Therefore, it is time to analyze their success factors from the perspectives of both corporate strategy and government policy. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used in this research is a comparative case analysis, and several high-profile cases in China’s ICT industry have been selected for this comparative study. Information used in the analysis comes from publicly available sources such as business school case studies and industry and news media reports. The authors have been following the evolution of China’s ICT industry for more than a decade; insights from their prior research and knowledge gained through industry contacts are also used in the analysis. Findings – Generally speaking, the types of innovation in China’s ICT industry can be categorized into a top-down or a bottom-up approach. For the top-down approach of innovation driven by the government, the authors analyzed the case of the Chinese government’s effort to build an industry value chain through fostering the Chinese indigenous third-generation mobile communications standard time division–synchronous code division multiple access. In comparison, the authors use several success cases, including the ecosystem built around the highly successful XiaoMi mobile phone and Tencent’s mobile portal WeChat, as it showcases of the bottom-up approach of innovation driven by grassroots entrepreneurship. The comparison of these two approaches suggests that massive government-sponsored projects are unlikely to generate genuine innovation in the highly competitive and dynamic ICT sector. The government’s role should be to foster entrepreneurship and to create a fair business environment. Originality/value – This research uses the method of comparative case studies to identify the source of innovation in a highly dynamic and uncertain business environment. Findings of this study shed light on the government policy toward innovation in the ICT industry and on the business firms’ strategy on innovation.

The key is ownership of agility

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-12
Author(s):  
Eu Chin Ong ◽  
Cheng Ling Tan ◽  
Azlan Amran
Keyword(s):  
Service Industry ◽  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Units ◽  
Agile Practices

Purpose This paper aims to highlight a limitation of the understanding of agility within organizations, while providing the reasoning and anecdotal example of an effective setting where agility exists, and how this affects firms’ productivity through focusing on the principle of ownership motivation. Design/methodology/approach The contemporary thoughts and historical research with anecdotal evidence are gathered from small business owners in the insurance industry. Findings Agility implementation in firms today is mainly top-down team focused. While bottom-up input approaches are prescribed for firm organizational agility implementation, the mantle of ownership and drive are not imparted to employees. The example of a service industry highlights the possibilities of having agility within the organization implemented by direct ownership of most if not all the operations and functions. Practical implications This paper shares a working example of implemented agility and proposes the application within the broader scope of firm operations, particularly for smaller firms looking for sustainable advantages. Originality/value It re-looks at actual implementable agile practices by re-imaging the role of employees into functional business units from the bottom-up, rather than from the top-down, as a different perspective of agility.

Process dynamics of managing interdisciplinary, cross-organizational learning campus in change

Facilities ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 752-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eelis Rytkönen ◽  
Suvi Nenonen ◽  
Erica Österlund ◽  
Inka Kojo
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Main Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to characterize development processes of eight novel learning environment projects in one university campus in Finland. Design/methodology/approach – This study builds propositions on case study data in an attempt to characterize the distinguished cases. In total, 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted as the primary data collection method. Supporting data includes archives, seminars and workshops. The data were analyzed in ATLAS.ti. Findings – The cases are unique in their processes constituting socio-technical change. They represent two main process types: agile, iterative bottom-up processes and slow, linear, top-down processes. The essence of each project is in balancing in five dimensions of approach, motivation, budget, type of outcome and added value (AMB to AV) process management model: approach scaling from strategic to operational, motivation scaling from space to activity, budget scaling from fixed to seed money, type of outcome scaling from slow and standardized to quick and dirty and added value scaling from research to societal impact. Research limitations/implications – The cases are highly context-dependent and only provide a narrow understanding of a previously little studied area. The main contribution is in highlighting the complexity of the studied phenomenon. Future research could further the subject by, i.e. testing the created model in another context. Practical implications – Transformation from institutionalized learning environments toward campuses facilitating learning flows requires multiple supporting processes. The roles of the campus managers are expanded from measuring, controlling and maintaining the campuses toward identifying, empowering, supporting and enabling user communities to affect their working and learning environments. Originality/value – Managing campuses top-down based on large amounts of data can be supported by bottom-up approaches. This study outlines a systemic framework for supporting both types of processes.

scholarly journals Smart und/oder partizipativ? Eine kritische Betrachtung der SmartCity Cologne

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 115-139
Author(s):  
Alexander Follmann ◽  
Stephen Leitheiser ◽  
Holger Kretschmer
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Digitale Technologien

Smart-City-Konzepte versprechen einfache Lösungen für eine Vielzahl komplexer sozioökologischer Probleme und Herausforderungen. Die vielfältigen Visionen von Smart Cities basieren auf der Vorstellung, digitale Technologien seien der Hauptantrieb für positive soziale und ökologische Veränderungen. Der Kern dieses Ansatzes ist, dass Effizienzsteigerungen aufgrund von Digitalisierung neue Möglichkeiten für Städte schaffen, wirtschaftliches Wachstum, Nachhaltigkeit und Klimaschutz miteinander zu vereinen. Zudem verspricht die Digitalisierung der Stadt auch eine zunehmende Demokratisierung durch neue, digitale Partizipationsmöglichkeiten sowie onlineunterstütze Bottom-up-Prozesse. Vorliegende empirische Studien zur Smart City kritisieren jedoch die dominierende Top-down-Implementierung, die prägende Rolle privatwirtschaftlicher Akteur_innen sowie den technokratischen Charakter vieler Projekte, obwohl diese ganz explizit als bürger_innenorientiert formuliert sind und umfangreiche Partizipationsmöglichkeiten versprechen. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht vor diesem Hintergrund die Rolle der Bürger_innenbeteiligung in Smart-City-Konzepten anhand des Entstehungs- und Implementierungsprozesses der SmartCity Cologne (SCC). Auf der Grundlage semi-strukturierter Expert_inneninterviews sowie einer umfassenden Dokumentenanalyse legt der Beitrag dar, wie die Smartifizierung der Stadtentwicklung in Köln konzeptionell verankert ist, wie sie lokal ausgehandelt und implementiert wird und welche Rolle dabei die Bürger_innenbeteiligung spielt. Der Schwerpunkt der empirischen Untersuchung liegt auf der Diskrepanz zwischen der nach außen kommunizierten bedeutsamen Rolle der Bürger_innen bei der SCC und der tatsächlich erfolgten Bürger_innenbeteiligung bei der Konzeption der SCC sowie bei der Umsetzung einzelner Teilprojekte. Theoretisch-konzeptionell basiert der Beitrag auf Sherry Arnsteins Arbeit zu Partizipationsprozessen sowie aktuellen Erweiterungen ihres Ansatzes im Kontext von Smart City und verbindet diese mit der Debatte um die post-politische Stadt. Smart City concepts promise simple solutions to a variety of complex socio-ecological problems and challenges. The various visions of Smart Cities are based on the idea that digital technologies would be the main driver for positive social and ecological changes. At its core, the smart approach is rooted in the idea that the gains in efficiency brought about through urban digitalization create new opportunities for combining economic growth, sustainability and climate protection. In addition, the digitalization of the city promises increased democratization through new, online participation opportunities and bottom-up processes. However, available empirical studies on the Smart City criticize the dominant top-down implementation, the determining role of private sector actors, and the technocratic character of smart projects – even those which explicitly promise participation and are described as citizen-oriented. In this context, the article examines the role of citizen participation within Smart City concepts with the illustrative example of the formation and implementation of SmartCity Cologne (SCC). Based on semi-structured interviews with experts and extensive document analysis, the article explains how the smartification of urban development is conceptually anchored in Cologne, how it is negotiated and implemented locally, and what role citizen participation plays in the process. The empirical investigation focuses on the discrepancy between the important role of the citizens in SCC that is communicated to the outside world, and the actual participation of citizens in the design of SCC and the implementation of individual projects. Theoretically and conceptually, the article draws on Sherry Arnstein’s seminal work on participation processes and more recent iterations of her approach against the background of the Smart City, and connects it with debates on the post-political city.

What difference does the context of activation make? Challenges and innovations in the Italian and Norwegian local welfare

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 478-493
Author(s):  
Matteo Villa ◽  
Venke Frederike Johansen
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Contexts ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of trans-contextual processes of implementation and governance in the transformation of social and labor inclusion policies in Norway and Italy, including research and practical implications. Design/methodology/approach It combines qualitative case studies with a framework that makes them comparable, namely, the Logics of Welfare. Findings Differences and similarities are related to regimes’ path dependencies as well as interactions between bottom-up and top-down dynamics of implementation. Their shifting logics and patterns enhance or hinder the local actors’ agency and enactment, and the systems’ capability to reduce the risks of exclusion. Results and the ways in which they are achieved are different, although in both cases the inclusion in the labor market remains a contended issue. Research limitations/implications The comparison is based on two case studies. A further development of in-depth comparative analysis may improve our understanding of the role of contexts in the implementation of policy reforms. Practical implications Reforms have limited capacity to achieve the expected outcomes, including due to a limited understanding of context-based factors. Practitioners and policy makers should take greater account of the latter and their active role in modifying them. Social implications This paper provides a deeper comprehension on how policy practices affect citizens’ hard pathways toward inclusion. Originality/value Through a comparative context-based analysis, the paper shows important differences, similarities and shifting modes of operation in activation policy as well as the role of socio-organizational contexts and bottom-up mobilizations. It looks forward to the possible added value derived from a wider testing of such approaches.

scholarly journals Operational competencies and relational resources: a multiple case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Nascimento Zatta ◽  
Elmo Tambosi Filho ◽  
Fernando Celso de Campos ◽  
Rodrigo Randow Freitas
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relational Resources ◽  
New Research

Purpose The purpose of this study was to use relational vision as a theoretical support for an investigation of how operational competencies are developed from the interaction of shared relational resources in the supply chain and to verify how these competencies allow the resources to be able to function, unity, integration and direction. Design/methodology/approach This multihull study was based on semi-structured interviews with 13 representatives of four dyads from companies in the steel, automotive and industrial applications, pulp processing and manufacturing and application of flexible tubes. Findings The results indicate that information, knowledge and learning are significant constructs to influence the development of operational skills in the supply chain because they represent the ability of the company to promote skills to efficiently use resources and create a barrier to imitation. Research limitations/implications There are limitations in the use of four companies from different industrial segments because it is possible to generalize the results. However, given the cross-sectional nature of the research, new studies may adopt a longitudinal approach to verify the evolution in the area of operations. Future studies may also expand the unit of analysis to understand the role of the relationship between the focus business and its strategic suppliers from the viewpoint of the suppliers. Thus, new research can be expanded to dyads, triads and business networks by investigating the various stages in the supply chain. Practical implications This study contributes to the literature and adds the dimension of relational operational skills, which is hitherto little explored in previous studies. Social implications This study contributes to the literature in the area of operations management, in collaborative relationships between buyers and sellers, focusing on the relational view of competitiveness. Originality/value The growing importance of organizations and the role of collaboration, based on mutual benefits and grouping of skills, tend to increase the competitive benefits of companies operating in this context. The management of this type of arrangement becomes a challenge for researchers, reinforcing the originality of this study.

Coping with the death of singleton children in China: the role of social capital

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 401-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pui Yan Flora Lau
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychological Pain ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bonding Social Capital ◽  
One Child Policy ◽  
Child Policy

Purpose – Discussion of China's one-child policy generally centres on its demographic effects. Bereavement among parents of singleton children and the role of social capital in the bereavement process have been under-explored. The purpose of this paper is to focus on mothers who lost their only children during the Sichuan earthquake in 2008. The paper aims to discuss the under-explored yet crucial issues of the one-child policy – the ways in which Chinese bereaved mothers handle the death of their singleton children – and the roles that social capital can play in their bereavement process. Design/methodology/approach – The author conducted eight case studies on bereaved mothers through home visits, semi-structured interviews and participation in public activities during August 2010 and May 2011. In-depth interviews were used to collect information from these bereaved mothers in Sichuan, China. Findings – The case studies reveal two major experiences of bereaved mother whose familial support varies substantially. One major experience is shared by those who had received emotional support from husband (who offered bonding social capital), and were able to get through the psychological pain. Another experience is shared by bereaved mothers who lost their familial relations. Weak social ties (i.e. an NGO which offered bridging social capital) remained the only source of support. Policies can target at the latter group of mothers by helping them to organise themselves into community-based groups and help to relieve their frustration and grief. Originality/value – These research findings have implications for the development of NGOs, as well as complementary support for community-based bereavement counselling and community care in China.

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