Knowledge Sharing in Innovation Ecosystems: A Focus on Functional Food Industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (05) ◽  
pp. 1750030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina C. Amitrano ◽  
Mariarosaria Coppola ◽  
Marco Tregua ◽  
Francesco Bifulco

This research investigated knowledge-based activities and outcomes in an innovation context, which is in line with recent contributions on ecosystems. The interactions that shape an innovation ecosystem are addressed to improve knowledge through sharing; this phenomenon was analyzed in-depth by focusing on a cross-industry, namely the Functional Food industry. Through a qualitative approach of the top firms in the UK regarding how they depict the innovation processes, the role of knowledge is described. The results are useful in illustrating how the openness of the approach adopted by firms leads to emphasizing the orientation towards knowledge sharing due to both new products and specific initiatives.

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-193
Author(s):  
Barbara Grzybowska

This paper characterises the directions of innovative activities undertaken by food industry enterprises concerning the manufacturing of food products. Based on the subject literature and secondary statistical data, the status of food industry innovativeness and areas of innovative activities related to implementation of technological and non-technological innovations are presented. The activities of enterprises focus on manufacturing new products in response to the ever-changing needs and expectations of consumers. In particular, the production of so-called functional food (which seeks to promote health, minimise the risk of specific diseases, improve psychophysical fitness, lose weight, etc.) is increasingly extensive. Manufacturers must also improve the technologies and techniques of product manufacturing, packaging and storage. 


Author(s):  
Francesca Di Virgilio

Knowledge sharing is one of the greatest challenges for a business organization. Organizations not only need to focus on innovation of new products and services, but also to pay specific attention to effective knowledge sharing which is of vital importance to their success. In this context, social media have become increasingly popular. They have a profound impact on personal relationships, enable individuals to contribute to a number of issues and generate new possibilities and challenges in order to facilitate knowledge sharing. However, scarce attention has been devoted so far to the theme of social media security and its effects on behavioral intention in relation to knowledge sharing. As a response to this challenge, this chapter illustrates a research roadmap of knowledge sharing which includes important collective variables. This study aims at highlighting a new direction for the evaluation of social media as a tool for knowledge sharing in business organizations. Finally, it concludes with the discussion of several open issues and cutting-edge challenges.


Author(s):  
Deogratias Harorimana

This chapter introduces the role of the knowledge gatekeeper as a mechanism by which knowledge is created and transferred in a networked environment. Knowledge creation and transfer are essential for building a knowledge-based economy. The chapter considers obstacles that inhibit this process and argues that leading firms create a shared sociocultural context that enables the condivision of tacit meanings and codification of knowledge. Leading firms act as gatekeepers of knowledge through the creation of shared virtual platforms. There will be a leading firm that connects several networks of clients and suppliers who may not interact directly with one another, but are, indeed, connected indirectly though the leading firm that acts as a gatekeeper. The chapter argues that a large firm connecting several clients and suppliers at the multinational level represents a gatekeeper, but even individuals and focal firms in industrial districts can be gatekeepers. The author hopes that, through this discussion, academics, researchers, and doctoral students will have a comprehensive theoretical and practical basis on which to study the role of leading firms in building innovations and virtual teams of knowledge sharing in a highly networked and competitive environment.


2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 256-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Peter Dapiran ◽  
Sandra Hogarth‐Scott

Category management has been promoted as a mechanism to achieve closer working relations between suppliers and retailers. The premise has been that category management should result in a reduced reliance on the use of power as an element of the relationship and increased levels of cooperation. However, power is an element of any relationship and exists even when not activated. Further, the premise rests on the notion that cooperation is a polar opposite of power. This research confirms that food industry managers perceive the use of power in solely negative terms. Power can be defined operationally as the ability of one channel member to influence the marketing decisions of another channel member and hence must be related to cooperation. This paper reviews the nature of dependence, power and cooperation and explores the role of these constructs in the practice of category management. The results of continuing research in the area of category management relationships are reported.


2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher P. F. Marinangeli ◽  
Peter J. H. Jones

Over the last decade the concept of functional foods and nutraceuticals (FFN) has gained support from various stakeholders including the food industry, scientific and academic community, government institutions or regulators, producers and consumers. However, as one begins to evaluate the global FFN industry, several issues emerge including (i) a lack of consensus across jurisdictions for acknowledging safe and efficacious FFN, (ii) challenges regarding the classification of novel food-derived bioactives as FFN or drugs, and (iii) a disconnect between nutrient requirements and dosages of FFN required to facilitate health benefits. The objectives of the present review are to discuss the role of existing stakeholders within the FFN marketplace and identify performance indicators for growth within the FFN sector. In addition, the following report provides feasible resolutions to present and future challenges facing the global FFN industry to ensure sustained long-term growth.


2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 84-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Milne

The importance of date labelling in informing both retailers and consumers how long a food will remain edible, safe and of sufficient quality makes it a prime site for the identification of, and intervention in, food waste. This paper examines the historical and spatial evolution of the date labelling system in the UK. The paper shows how reforms to date marking have occurred in response to shifting concerns about food quality, safety and latterly waste. It distinguishes four periods during which labels moved from an internal stock control mechanism to a consumer protection mechanism, a food safety device and recently emerged as a key element in the fight against food waste. Contributing to recent sociological studies of food labelling, the paper charts changing understandings of the role of the label in mediating between consumers, the food industry and regulators. It shows how regulatory objects such as date labels materialize societal concerns about food and situates contemporary efforts to reform date labelling in relation to prior articulations of consumer, government and industry interests.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludmila Striukova ◽  
Thierry Rayna

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of what Open Innovation means within university context. Focus is also put on the role universities believe they should play in Open Innovation, as well as the changes that might have arisen as a consequence of universities’ greater awareness of this concept. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology used is an exploratory study based on in-depth semi-structured interviews of Pro-Vice-Chancellors (or equivalent level) of a variety of British universities. The study was designed around five main research themes: discourse, change, strategy, management, Open Innovation success. Findings – In addition to the traditional teaching, research and knowledge transfer roles of university, this study has uncovered a new role of universities: trusted intermediary (or “Open Innovation Hub”). Another key finding of this study is that it highlights the diversity that prevails in the UK with regard to Open Innovation. Research limitations/implications – The number of the interviews conducted for this study is probably not large enough to allow a solid generalisation. Data saturation, however, was achieved in this study. The insight provided by this study is particularly significant as interviewees were amongst the highest-ranking executives in their respective universities. Hence the views reported in this study are what “drives” Open Innovation policies in the universities that participated in this study. Practical implications – This new role of a trusted intermediary played by universities is very likely to change the existing Open Innovation landscape and re-shape policies. Social implications – The changing role of universities within Open Innovation context may potentially change the respective role of other stakeholders in the Open Innovation ecosystem. Originality/value – This is the first study aimed at investigating how British universities understand Open Innovation and what opportunities and challenges they associate with this process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 32-51

Virtual Community (VC) is regarded as the best platform for professionals in various fields to share their expertise and knowledge. Since the escalation of web 2.0 and the internet within the last decade and the booming interest in big data and expansion of industry 4.0, VC is deemed as an ideal proxy for practitioners to share and earned instant knowledge that can be implemented within business activities and day to day application. Despite this emerging interest, there has been no comprehensive study on the overall antecedents of KS in VC. Applying for a systematic review, a total of 68 relevant articles that discusses knowledge sharing (KS) via VC are evaluated. Several central themes of theories applied in this field within the literature are discussed on its importance and relevance. Important antecedents are also reviewed on its practicality and implementation in understanding the role of KS in VC. The implication of this review would benefit stakeholders in maintaining the sustainability of VC as the platform for a knowledge-based society.


Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzad Nazari ◽  
Amir Rahimipour Anaraki ◽  
Seyedeh Safiyeh Taghavi ◽  
Behzad Ghasemi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of knowledge-based dynamic process capabilities (KBDPCs) on innovation performance, considering the mediator role of innovation processes in the Iranian knowledge-based high-tech companies. Design/methodology/approach Based on an in-depth review of previous studies, the indicators pertaining to the research constructs were extracted. Then, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied to identify and confirm the research constructs. Partial least squares-based structural equation modeling was used to investigate the intended relationships. Findings The results of the direct effect showed that KBDPCs have a significant positive effect on innovation performance. Further, moderation analysis demonstrated that innovation processes are moderated by the relationship between KBDPCs and innovation performance. Accordingly, the findings revealed that KBDPCs affect product innovation performance and exploratory innovation and transitional innovation increase this effect. Also, the mediator role of exploitation innovation in the relationship between KBDPCs and process innovation performance was proved. Research limitations/implications As this research was performed in the Iranian context, caution should be taken regarding the generalizability of the findings. Practical implications This paper provides a roadmap based on existing scenarios to enhance innovation performance for the surveyed-companies, in particular, and other companies, in general. Social implications The social implication of this study is to respond to the challenge of the managers of Iranian knowledge-based high-tech companies to improve innovation performance through KBDPCs and innovation processes and to grow and develop a sustainable business. Originality/value Given rare studies that have so far been conducted on the research field, this study extends the theories of KBDPCs, innovation processes and innovation performance. The constructs of the research model and relationships intended among them are also significant.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lummina Horlings ◽  
Chris Collinge ◽  
John Gibney

This paper concerns the role of spatial leadership in the development of the knowledge-based economy. It is argued within academic and practitioner circles that leadership of knowledge networks requires a particular non-hierarchical style that is required to establish an ambience conducive to networking and knowledge sharing across boundaries. In this paper, we explore this hypothesis at both theoretical and empirical levels. Theoretically, we propose a conceptualization of relational knowledge leadership, which is ‘nomadic’ in its capacity to travel across multiple scales and cross sectoral, thematic and geographical boundaries. We have operationalized this type of relational knowledge leadership along four key features, derived from literatures on regional learning, organizational leadership and place leadership. Two empirical case studies are then presented, one from Birmingham in the UK and one from Eindhoven in the Netherlands, exploring how these features are expressed on the sub-national level. Also conclusions are drawn regarding the status of relational knowledge leadership. It is argued that the concept of relational knowledge leadership as viewed through our analytical lens does accord with the experience of leadership in the two cases presented. The cases also show that this style of leadership is confronted with three types of tensions that play through knowledge networking. Furthermore, it is argued that the cases exhibit this style of leadership to different degrees, reflecting their different cultural and political contexts.


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