The Role of Research and Technology Organizations in Innovation Processes of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dietmar Roessl ◽  
Alexander Kessler ◽  
Matthias Fink
Keyword(s):  
Innovation Process ◽  
Feasibility Studies ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Technical Feasibility ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Fundamental Research ◽  
Successful Innovation

The main challenge in innovation seems to be not a lack of ideas, but a deficit in the evaluation and transformation of ideas into new processes or products. Due to their specific characteristics and the fact that innovations of SMEs are application-oriented, SMEs depend on external know-how for fundamental research. They therefore need a support network that translates the knowledge necessary for successful innovation into their language. Technical feasibility studies provided by research and technology organizations (RTOs) are designed to promote this knowledge transformation and transfer to SMEs. In this paper, the authors examine whether or not technical feasibility studies can facilitate knowledge transfer between SMEs and RTOs. The results of a literature review and an empirical investigation of the Feasibility Studies Program of the Austrian Industrial Research Promotion Fund reveal evidence of a stimulating effect of technical feasibility studies on SMEs' innovative activities. They also identify prerequisites for SMEs to tap the full potential of their interaction with RTOs. First, there has to be a developed research scene that is willing and able to meet the needs of SMEs. Second, SMEs have to recognize the potential advantages of working together with RTOs in the innovation process and to overcome their common fear of contact with RTOs. The insights presented may enhance the quality of similar initiatives now and in the future.

scholarly journals An Exploratory Study on the Role of Feasibility Study on Sustainability of Business in Kenya: A Case of Supermarkets in Nairobi County

2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-70
Author(s):  
Paul Kilote Jumah ◽  
◽  
Thomas Githui ◽  
Martin Kweyu ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Feasibility Studies ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Technical Feasibility ◽  
Business Sustainability ◽  
The Impact

Organizational strategic feasibility studies are critical in mitigating uncertainty in the business environment and enhancing growth and performance. This study sought to ascertain the role of feasibility studies in the sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study's specific objectives were to determine the impact of technical feasibility, economic feasibility, operational feasibility, and legal feasibility on the sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County, Kenya. A descriptive research design was used for the study. The study's target population was seven major supermarkets: Naivas, QuickMart, Cleanshelf, The Game Store, Chandarana, Eastmatt, and Carrefour. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Findings indicated that technical feasibility is positively and significantly related to the business sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County. The findings also revealed that economic feasibility is positively and significantly related to the business sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between operational feasibility and business sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County. Finally, the findings revealed that the legal feasibility and business sustainability of Nairobi County supermarkets are positively and significantly related. The study concluded that technical feasibility, economic feasibility, operational feasibility, and legal feasibility all have a positive impact on supermarket business sustainability. The study recommends that supermarkets should become acquainted with the technical technology that is available on the market and evaluate those that are appropriate for their needs. Managers of Nairobi County supermarkets increase the level of internal and external benchmarking in their supermarkets for economic benefit assessments. Keywords: Technical Feasibility, Economic Feasibility, Operational Feasibility, Legal Feasibility, Sustainability & Supermarkets.

Innovation management in market-oriented SMEs: learning and internal arrangements for innovation

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 985-1003
Author(s):  
Simone Didonet ◽  
Guillermo Diaz-Villavicencio
Keyword(s):  
Innovation Management ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Organisational Structure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Path Modelling ◽  
Innovation Characteristics ◽  
Successful Innovation

Purpose This study aims to investigate the role of market orientation (MO) in improving learning for innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the facilitation of the organisational structure and links to innovation. Design/methodology/approach The data for this research were collected through a survey that was applied to a sample of 169 SMEs in Ecuador. Existing scales were used to measure all the studied variables, i.e. MO, organisational structure for innovation, linkages and learning for innovation. The last three variables correspond to the characteristics of the innovation management process. Partial least square path modelling was used to analyse the data using the SmartPLS 2.0 software. Findings The results showed that MO enhances the learning for innovation in firms both directly and indirectly through improving organisational structure and linkages towards innovation. The research finding also showed that organisational structure for innovation is more important to enhance learning than linkages. Specifically, the mediation between MO and learning through linkages is smaller than the mediation through the organisational structure. Practical implications The study informs executives of the relevance of developing MO as a way of improving learning for innovation, which in turn, is favoured by an organisational structure that supports creativity and technological changes and by the internal and external linkages for innovation in market-oriented firms. Originality/value The findings of this study provide new insights regarding how MO can work together in an innovative context and highlight the importance of MO as an enabler of innovation characteristics in SMEs. This study also contributes to the existent innovation literature by shedding light on strategic questions regarding the development of innovation process in market-oriented SMEs. Specifically, it provides some evidence regarding the nature of innovation process in SMEs, which can orient future studies focused on the understanding of how successful innovation occurs.

The importance of human resources to the innovative capacity of portuguese firms

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Silva
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Community Innovation Survey ◽  
Innovative Process ◽  
Qualified Personnel ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Innovation Capacity ◽  
Innovative Capacity ◽  
Training Of Personnel

In this study I test the importance of several Human Resource variables to the innovation capacity of portuguese firms but also the effects that the innovation process generates on Human Resources. A branch of the innovation literature states that the ability of firms to innovate relies on an innovative capacity, which, in turn, depends on several factors, both internal and external to enterprises. One of those factors is the effort of firms to train their personnel specifically in order to enable them to innovate. The present test is applied to 4818 Portuguese enterprises for the period 2002-2004 through the use of the fourth Community Innovation Survey data. In order to evaluate the contribution of Human Resources to innovation I have estimated several knowledge Production Functions, mainly using probits and tobits. In that framework it is assumed that innovation depends on some inputs (as the training of personnel) and on information-flows from the existing knowledge stock (as clients). I have found significant the role of personnel training for the innovative process of Portuguese firms. Moreover, I also found that the lack of qualified personnel hinged critically more innovative performance of firms and, in addition, it is noticed that the improvement of productivuty (cost reduction) was the main effect of innovation in Portuguese firms.

Social Media and the Transformation of Healthcare: A Viewpoint (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ella Forgie ◽  
Hollis Lai ◽  
Bo Cao ◽  
Eleni Stroulia ◽  
Andrew James Greenshaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Security And Privacy ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Physician Patient Relationship ◽  
Mediation Effects

UNSTRUCTURED As many as 80% of internet users seek health information online. The social determinants of health (SDoH) are intimately related to who has access to the internet and healthcare as a whole. Those who face more barriers to care are more likely to benefit from accessing health information online, granted the information they are retrieving is accurate. Virtual communities on social media platforms are particularly interesting as venues for seeking health information online because peers have been shown to influence health behaviour more than almost anything else. Thus, it is important to recognize the potential of social media to have positive mediation effects on health, so long as any negative mediation effects are reconcilable. As a positive mediator of health, social media can be used as a direct or indirect mode of communication between physicians and patients, a venue for health promotion and health information, and a community support network. False or misleading content, social contagion, confirmation bias, and security and privacy concerns must be mitigated in order to realize full potential of social media as a positive mediator of health. In any case, it is clear that the intersections between the SDoH, social media, and health are intimate, and they must be taken into consideration by physicians. Here, we argue that a paradigm shift in the physician-patient relationship is warranted, one where physicians: a) acknowledge the impacts of the SDoH on information-seeking behaviour, b) recognize the positive and negative roles of social media as a mediator of health through the lens of the SDoH, and c) use social media to catalyze positive changes in the standard of care.

The Role of District Leaders in School Reform: Implementing Year-Round Schooling1

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-25
Author(s):  
Carolyn M. Shields ◽  
Steven Lynn Oberg ◽  
Linda J. LaRocque
Keyword(s):  
School Reform ◽  
Wide Spread ◽  
District Leaders ◽  
Successful Innovation

In this paper, we explore the role of district leaders in implementing school reform, specifically year-round schooling. We examine the experiences of four Florida districts with particular emphasis on their social, political, and fiscal contexts. Successful innovation is promoted as leaders act in a humane and open fashion that specifically in cludes eschewing promises that cannot be fulfilled. We have found that creating wide spread support for the innovation, being flexible, and creating a climate for change and innovation are crucial. Ensuring equitable implementation of the reform and attending fairly to details of both contracts and programs are especially important.

Role of long interspersed nuclear element-1 in the regulation of chromatin landscapes and genome dynamics

2021 ◽  
pp. 153537022110312
Author(s):  
Kenneth S Ramos ◽  
Pasano Bojang ◽  
Emma Bowers
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Mobile Element ◽  
Cancer Diagnostics ◽  
Regulatory Control ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Genome Dynamics ◽  
Human Illness ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
Stressful Environments

LINE-1 retrotransposon, the most active mobile element of the human genome, is subject to tight regulatory control. Stressful environments and disease modify the recruitment of regulatory proteins leading to unregulated activation of LINE-1. The activation of LINE-1 influences genome dynamics through altered chromatin landscapes, insertion mutations, deletions, and modulation of cellular plasticity. To date, LINE-1 retrotransposition has been linked to various cancer types and may in fact underwrite the genetic basis of various other forms of chronic human illness. The occurrence of LINE-1 polymorphisms in the human population may define inter-individual differences in susceptibility to disease. This review is written in honor of Dr Peter Stambrook, a friend and colleague who carried out highly impactful cancer research over many years of professional practice. Dr Stambrook devoted considerable energy to helping others live up to their full potential and to navigate the complexities of professional life. He was an inspirational leader, a strong advocate, a kind mentor, a vocal supporter and cheerleader, and yes, a hard critic and tough friend when needed. His passionate stand on issues, his witty sense of humor, and his love for humanity have left a huge mark in our lives. We hope that that the knowledge summarized here will advance our understanding of the role of LINE-1 in cancer biology and expedite the development of innovative cancer diagnostics and treatments in the ways that Dr Stambrook himself had so passionately envisioned.

EXPRESS: Effects of Payment on User Engagement in Online Courses

2021 ◽  
pp. 002224372110163
Author(s):  
Ali Goli ◽  
Pradeep K. Chintagunta ◽  
S. Sriram
Keyword(s):  
Online Courses ◽  
Massive Open Online Courses ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Sunk Cost ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Sunk Cost Effect ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Cost Effect

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have the potential to democratize education by improving access. Although retention and completion rates for non-paying users have not been promising, these statistics are much brighter for users who pay to receive a certificate upon completing the course. We investigate whether paying for the certificate option can increase engagement with course content. In particular, we consider two such effects: (a) the certificate effect, which is the boost in motivation to stay engaged in order to receive the certificate; and (b) the sunk-cost effect, which arises solely because the user paid for the course. We use data from over 70 courses offered on the Coursera platform and study the engagement of individual participants at different milestones within each course. The panel nature of the data enables us to include controls for intrinsic differences between non-paying and paying users in terms of their desire to stay engaged. We find evidence that the certificate and sunk-cost effects increase user engagement by approximately 8%-9%, and 17%-20%, respectively. However, whereas the sunk-cost effect is transient and lasts only for a few weeks after payment, the certificate effect lasts until the participant reaches the grade required to be eligible to receive the certificate. We discuss the implications of our findings for how platforms and content creators may want to design course milestones and schedule the payment of course fees. Given that greater engagement tends to improve learning outcomes, our study serves as an important first step in understanding the role of prices and payment in enabling MOOCs to realize their full potential.

Value-added bioplastics from services of wastewater treatment

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 546-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Arcos-Hernández ◽  
L. Montaño-Herrera ◽  
O. Murugan Janarthanan ◽  
L. Quadri ◽  
S. Anterrieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Renewable Resource ◽  
Economic Networks ◽  
Technical Feasibility ◽  
Material Supply ◽  
The Social ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Fundamental Research

Pilot and prototyping scale investigations were undertaken in order to evaluate the technical feasibility of producing value-added biopolymers (polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)) as a by-product to essential services of wastewater treatment and environmental protection. A commonly asked question concerns PHA quality that may be expected from surplus biomass produced during biological treatment for water quality improvement. This paper summarizes the findings from a collection of investigations. Alongside the summarized technical efforts, attention has been paid to the social and economic networks. Such networks are needed in order to nurture circular economies that would drive value chains in renewable resource processing from contaminated water amelioration into renewable value-added bioplastic products and services. We find commercial promise in the polymer quality and in the process technical feasibility. The next challenge ahead does not reside so much any more in fundamental research and development of the technology but, rather, in social-economic steps that will be necessary to realize first demonstration scale polymer production activities. It is a material supply that will stimulate niche business opportunities that can grow and stimulate technology pull with benefit of real life material product market combinations.

Is Co-working Increase Survivability? Study on how Collaborating and Networking Facilitates Open Innovation Process for Startups

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-75
Author(s):  
Elissa Dwi Lestari
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Community Manager

Startups, as they are bounded to their liabilities of newness and smallness, need to collaborate extensively with their external partners through the open innovation process. This study aims to depict Co-working space's pivotal role in building up a working innovation ecosystem that facilitates open innovation for startups. To get a more deep understanding of the phenomena, this study used an exploratory study based on three case studies of Co-working spaces operated in the Jakarta region. The study shows that the open innovation process among startups is not naturally existed, but instead, it is purposefully designed by the role of a community manager who acts as the ecosystem catalyst. The community manager becomes the ecosystem enablers that facilitate the networking process by connecting members. As a result, these activities will help the emerging of mutual connection and collaboration processes among members that empower open innovation among startups members. The multiple-case design makes the study conclusions might be difficult to generalize. Future research, including quantitative studies, will help the conclusions examination and the knowledge enrichment of start-ups' open innovation process. This paper will enrich the knowledge concerning how Co-working spaces member seizing opportunities that lead to the open innovation process.

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