scholarly journals Technology intelligence practices in SMEs: Evidence from Estonia

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akhatjon Nasullaev ◽  
Raffaella Manzini ◽  
Tarmo Kalvet
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Small Companies ◽  
Cultural Characteristics ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Technology Intelligence ◽  
Catching Up ◽  
Manufacturing Information

Technology intelligence is regarded as a strategic tool to support open innovation to identify promising niches of technologies, opportunities and threats, potential partners, future customers and markets. However, it has often been neglected by SMEs due to their constraints in money, time, skills and competences. Hitherto, the literature documented very few cases of the operationalization of technology intelligence practices by small firms of catching-up economies. To remedy this gap, this paper investigates the case of three Estonian SMEs in the manufacturing, information technology and life-sciences industries. Our analysis reveals that elements of technology intelligence in large and small companies are similar. The three medium and small sized companies investigated in this study adopted these elements to their specific context orchestrating their organizational and cultural characteristics. This study details these elements and allows us to understand more precisely the process underlying the phenomenon of technology intelligence in small companies. The major finding of this paper is that a unique set of technology intelligence does not exist. It is important to tailor different elements of technology intelligence to determined needs. It is crucial in the case of SMEs in order to address the limitations mentioned above.

scholarly journals DOES SIZE MATTER?: Technical Efficiency and Industry Size in Indonesia

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 297
Author(s):  
Richard V. Richard V. Llewelyn ◽  
Wang Sutrisno
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Nonparametric Analysis ◽  
Large Firms ◽  
Small Companies ◽  
Output Data ◽  
Small Business Development ◽  
Manufacturing Sectors ◽  
Programming Techniques ◽  
Size Matter

The debate over which size industry is best suited for Indonesiacontinues with proponents of both large and small sizes pointing out the benefits of each. However, little empirical analysis has been done regarding economic matters such as technical efficiency. Nonparametric analysis of technical efficiency for three sizes of firms in seven manufacturing sectors is estimated using linear programming techniques. Aggregated input and output data from BPS from 1991 to 1997 are used.Household size firms are found to be most efficient relative to the other sizes for five of the seven sectors analyzed. Large firms are relatively more efficient in ‘Food, Beverage, and Tobacco’ sector. Small companies are relatively less efficient than household firms in all but one case, but relatively more efficient than large firms in five of seven sectors. The results validate and perhaps explain the duel economy in Indonesia with both large and small firms existing in the same industry.When each sector is analyzed for each firm size, the ‘Non-MetallicMineral Products Other Than Petroleum and Coal’ sector is most efficient for all sizes of firms. The least efficient sector is the ‘Chemical and Plastics’ industry.The results suggest that government policy should be focused oncreating a stable environment for business, which promotes growth of efficient businesses, either large or small. Specific policies and intervention for small business development are not necessary, given the relative efficiency of small firms in Indonesia.

Information technology capabilities and organizational agility

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Cepeda ◽  
José Arias-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Innovation Capability ◽  
Organizational Agility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Ability ◽  
External Embeddedness

Purpose Currently, it is commonly accepted that information technology capabilities (ITC) positively influence organizational agility. Nevertheless, studies have recently started to demonstrate that different organizational factors mediate this relation under the controvertible assumption that companies are capable of responding quickly to market changes using their IT in combination with other internal resources. Therefore, companies have given very little attention to collaborative work with external partners. The purpose of this study is to analyze the mediating effects of the acquisition and exploitation capabilities of open innovation on the information technology capabilities – organizational agility relationship. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model with survey data from a multinational corporation that operates in South American emerging economies in the pension and savings businesses. Findings This study found that only the open innovation capability of exploitation has a partial mediating effect. This means that this organizational ability serves as a bridge so that IT capabilities can have a positive incidence on organizational agility. Originality/value This paper adopts a more novel study focus that emphasizes the importance of collaborative work and of the use of external resources that are implicit in open innovation capability. On the other hand, this organizational ability implies external embeddedness, which is usually approached mainly from the network theory in the international business literature; however, this study offers a more interesting study focus in which externally oriented organizational abilities such as open innovation are more important for external embeddedness than are the size and quality of the external network.

Intermediates of Open Innovation in the Aquaculture Industry

2019 ◽  
pp. 203-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Ramos ◽  
Pedro Pousão Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Protein Production ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Know How ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Production Processes ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Social And Cultural Factors

Aquaculture appears to be the most adequate and logical way to suit the protein production problem. Basically, because unlike fisheries that are highly unpredictable, aquaculture rearing is based upon production protocols. This chapter developed an argument supporting the above rationale. As it stands, the evidence suggests that with the current use of information technology, it becomes a common practice to exchange aquaculture knowledge between firms, research bodies, or non-governmental organizations. The interaction between the whole set of stakeholders, where a broad range of know-how and intermediate products and services are developed, generates innovation. Sharing know-how creates open innovation. Open innovation, by its turn, seeks efficiency and generates more sustainable production processes. The way knowledge transfer is delivered and its trends are dependent upon dimensions such as economic, social, and cultural factors.

Collaborative Networks

2013 ◽  
pp. 1638-1653
Author(s):  
Kathryn Cormican
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Collaborative Networks ◽  
End User ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Innovative Solutions

The business landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Innovative organisations are restructuring their business models. They are moving away from discrete linear value chains towards open innovation models such as networks. Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) recognise that in order to survive they must be equipped with the relevant competencies required to design, develop and deploy innovative solutions that meet the needs of the end user. More and more small firms are collaborating with each other in order to create value added products and access new markets. However, the task of working in a collaborative network is not easy. SMEs find it particularly difficult to engage in these activities and experience many challenges in this regard. Moreover, there are very few support structures and systems available to guide successful knowledge sharing and collaboration. This chapter explores the fundamental concepts of collaborative networks and knowledge sharing, synthesises and presents some of the challenges faced by SMEs and identifies some critical success factors that should be considered to help overcome the barriers identified.

Collaborative Networks

2011 ◽  
pp. 169-184
Author(s):  
Kathryn Cormican
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Collaborative Networks ◽  
End User ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Innovative Solutions

The business landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Innovative organisations are restructuring their business models. They are moving away from discrete linear value chains towards open innovation models such as networks. Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) recognise that in order to survive they must be equipped with the relevant competencies required to design, develop and deploy innovative solutions that meet the needs of the end user. More and more small firms are collaborating with each other in order to create value added products and access new markets. However, the task of working in a collaborative network is not easy. SMEs find it particularly difficult to engage in these activities and experience many challenges in this regard. Moreover, there are very few support structures and systems available to guide successful knowledge sharing and collaboration. This chapter explores the fundamental concepts of collaborative networks and knowledge sharing, synthesises and presents some of the challenges faced by SMEs and identifies some critical success factors that should be considered to help overcome the barriers identified.

Dynamic Learning as Entrepreneurial Action in the Context of Open Innovation

2011 ◽  
pp. 199-223
Author(s):  
Nicholas Theodorakopoulos ◽  
Catarina Figueira ◽  
Nada Kakabadse ◽  
Andrew Kakabadse
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Learning Theory ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Competitive Performance ◽  
Dynamic Learning ◽  
Scholarly Discussion ◽  
Entrepreneurial Action

Recent scholarly discussion on open innovation put forward the notion that an organisation’s ability to internalise external knowledge and learn from various sources in undertaking new product development is crucial to its competitive performance. Nevertheless, little attention has been paid to how growth-oriented small firms identify and exploit entrepreneurial opportunities (i.e. take entrepreneurial action) related to such development, in an open innovation context, from a social learning perspective. This chapter, based on an instrumental case-firm, demonstrates analytically how learning as entrepreneurial action takes place, drawing on situated learning theory. It is argued that such learning is dynamic in nature and is founded on specific organising principles that foster both inter- and intracommunal learning.

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