Complementarities of human capital and information technology: small businesses,emerging economy context and the strategic role of firm resources

How information technology (IT) may complement other key firm resources such as human capital is a question that has drawn increasing attention from scholars and practitioners. Answers to this question are crucial for small businesses in today’s environment. These businesses face a growing demand for IT usage at the same time that they typically can count only on limited resources. This has become a common situation that is particularly critical for small businesses operating in developing countries with emerging economies. We develop propositions and test them with a dataset of service small businesses in an emerging economy. We find that the use of IT services is positively related to firm productivity and that this relationship is positively moderated by entrepreneurs’ management education. Our findings indicate that firm productivity is associated with a combination of human and technology resources.     

Using patent analysis to establish technological position: Two different strategic approaches

Discussions on business strategy formation in the past 50 years can be separated into two categories: the inside-out and the outside-in approach. Technology is a critical factor when manager formulate their business strategy, and patents have served as an important indicator of technology. A patent portfolio can be used to understand the capabilities of a firm, as an inside resource pattern; and the patent citation of firms can be used to find the relationship of a firm, as an outside dependency. This study uses patent information to establish an effective model for the technological position of business methods. The 5 by 6 matrix was generated and four situations between firms were induced. Researchers and managers can use that matrix and situations to recognize the real competitors or cooperators, and formulate the technological strategies which include competition, cooperation, or complementary cooperation.     

区域科技资源共享平台集成服务能力结构维度研究

随着我国全面实施创新驱动发展战略,科技资源共享平台已成为国家和地区集聚科技资源、创新服务需求的重要载体,培育和提升平台集成服务能力,是发挥科技资源共享平台创新服务支撑作用与杠杆效应的有效途径和战略选择。首先界定区域科技资源共享平台集成服务能力的内涵与特征,运用解释结构模型（ISM）对平台集成服务能力的关键要素及层次结构进行识别,进而选取广东、上海、北京和黑龙江等省市科技资源共享平台作为典型案例进行比较分析。结果表明,区域科技资源共享平台集成服务能力由资源集成能力、需求集成能力、服务匹配能力、运行管理能力4个维度构成,典型案例平台各有优势与特色,但在不同能力维度仍有提升空间。结论可为区域科技资源共享平台集成服务能力培育和提升提供理论方法指导,为区域科技资源共享平台更好地服务于战略性新兴产业创新和持续发展提供有效决策依据。     

Innovation and firm performance in Korea and China: a cross-context test of mainstream theories

We investigate the relationship between innovation and firm performance in two divergent emerging economy contexts: Korea and China. Mainstream innovation theories make disparate claims for how (1) intensity of innovation, (2) scope of innovation and (3) spillovers impact firm performance. Using a comparative institutionalist approach we hypothesise how these relationships apply to firms in Korea and China. Analysis of 897 firm–year data points over a 4-year period provides broad support for our hypotheses. Intensity of innovation (patent intensity) is a strong cross-contextual argument. Scope and spillover arguments appear to be more context-sensitive. Firms with innovation depth in specific technological fields enjoy better performance in Korea, while diversified innovation is more beneficial for firms in China. Spillovers have a stronger impact in Korea than China. The findings underline the importance of incorporating change in institutional context when developing policy and theory relating to firm innovation and performance in emerging economies.     

商业模式创新与技术创新匹配性对后发企业绩效的影响——来自年报文本分析的实证研究

以2014—2019年沪深A股成长期上市公司作为后发企业代表，借助Word2Vec的文本分析方法，基于公司年度财务数据度量后发企业商业模式创新水平，实证研究后发企业追赶过程中商业模式创新、技术创新以及二者匹配性与企业绩效间的作用机理。结果发现：商业模式创新对后发企业绩效具有显著正向影响；技术创新对后发企业绩效具有显著正向影响；商业模式创新和技术创新的平衡性与后发企业绩效正相关；商业模式创新和技术创新的组合性与后发企业绩效正相关。结果表明，对于后发企业而言，商业模式创新与技术创新为互补关系，而非互替关系，二者间的匹配性对后发企业绩效提升具有增强型交互作用。     

Managing technological and social uncertainties of innovation: The evolution of Brazilian energy and agriculture

This paper explores how technological, commercial and social uncertainties shaped the development of Brazilian biofuels. Technological innovation allowed the country to emerge as a global leader, but Brazil continues to struggle with major social uncertainties due to poverty and environmental concerns common in many emerging economies. Contemporary approaches to development within the innovation literature focus primarily on overcoming technological and commercial uncertainties, but only peripherally explore social uncertainties. To fill this void, we draw on Martin and Hall's framework for managing innovative uncertainties, which is based on Kuhn and Popper's approaches to the evolution and methodology of science, and extend it with Aldrich and Fiol's concept of cognitive versus socio-political legitimacy. Based on qualitative data collected in Brazil, we outline the evolution of automotive fuel ethanol and flex-fuel technology, the development of Brazilian soybean production, and castor for socially inclusive biodiesel production. We show how innovation solved some technological and commercial uncertainties and generated new opportunities, but also created additional social uncertainties that are now being addressed. Through this process, Brazil has acquired capabilities in alternative energy technologies and more sustainable agriculture, becoming an exemplar for other emerging economies. We conclude with implications for policy and industry.     

Human capital and firms’ innovation: evidence from emerging economies

ABSTRACT

We explore the relationship between human capital and firms’ innovation in emerging economies. Most papers consider the formal knowledge developed in R&D laboratories as a major source of innovation. However, a critical portion of knowledge required for innovation resides in human resources and is created outside any formalised R&D activity. We consider that, to improve their technological capabilities, firms should invest in different forms of human capital, namely highly educated workforce and experienced managers, but also in strategic human resource (HR) practices aimed at developing human capital by increasing employees’ firm-specific technical skills and competences. Besides looking at the type of innovation outcomes, we place greater emphasis on the strategies of innovation development, as these should signal an improved firms’ ability, not just to innovate, but to put their own creative effort in the development of innovation. Our results contrast with the traditional view of firms in emerging economies as mainly relying on the external acquisition of innovations, by showing their actual ability to develop new technologies. In this respect, HR practices aimed at fostering employees’ learning and autonomy at work appear more important than the educational attainment of workers, whilst the experience of managers does not seem effective.     

Innovative Assets And Inter-Asset Linkages—A Resource-Based Approach To Innovation

The paper proposes a framework for analyzing assets and inter-asset linkages associated with technological innovation. The framework is consistent with a Penrosian view of the firm and draws on recent contributions from both the more general resource-based perspective and the innovation and technology perspective of the firm.

Three broad categories of firm assets are distinguished: tradeable resources, technical/functional capabilities and managerial competences. Assets for technological innovation are defined as resources, technical capabilities and managerial competences for developing new products and processes. A taxonomy of generic innovative assets is proposed that distinguishes four generic categories of innovative assets: Scientific research assets, process innovative assets, product innovative application assets and aesthetic design assets. Critical inter-asset linkages are analyzed in terms of inter-asset specificity. It is argued that high degrees of inter-asset specificity provide greater scope for innovation and make higher demands on the innovative assets and their coordination than low degrees of inter-asset specificity. It is moreover suggested that complementary assets not only play the role of assuring proper commercialization of given innovations; they may also play a critical role as a ‘focusing device’ for directing the innovative process.

Finally, some implications for strategy in innovative firms are indicated. Thus, the proposed inter-asset framework may help to specify the notion of core competences and provide a more differentiated perspective on innovation strategy and first-mover advantages.     

数字经济时代下联盟管理能力对企业颠覆性技术创新的影响——知识流动的中介作用与知识重构能力的调节作用

随着5G网络、人工智能等新科技的推广，数字经济时代已经到来。然而，在数字经济时代下，工业企业要在新一轮科技革命中抢占先机，必须组建联盟关系推动颠覆性技术创新。基于创新联盟理论，构建联盟管理能力与企业颠覆性技术创新研究框架，通过对451份有效问卷数据的实证研究发现：①联盟管理能力对企业颠覆性技术创新有显著正向影响；②知识流动在联盟管理能力与企业颠覆性技术创新的关系中起部分中介作用；③知识重构能力调节联盟管理能力与知识流动和颠覆性技术创新之间的正相关关系。     

重构企业技术创新能力评价体系:从知识管理到价值创造

基于从知识管理到价值创造的思路,重新审视了企业技术创新能力的内涵。通过系统的文献回顾,总结了已有企业技术创新能力评价指标体系相关框架(包括点状模型、线状模型、链状模型和面状模型)的特征和不足,提出了由问题驱动、思考未来、多样化知识、创新文化、利益相关者协同、经济价值与社会价值构成的企业技术创新能力评价体系新框架,并构建了新框架的二级指标,为企业技术创新能力的理解、体系框架的构建和评价提供了理论和实践参考。     

Indigenous technological capabilities,emerging market firms and the aerospace industry

While emerging market economies have developed significant technological capabilities and increased their share of global value-added in aerospace, they have done so largely through utilising foreign direct investment (FDI) and offset arrangements to enter supply chains that remain dominated by European and American firms. The paper examines whether emerging markets are developing indigenous technological capability in aerospace technologies. Drawing on patent data from the Thomson Innovation database, the study seeks to understand whether anchor tenant capability is indeed forming in emerging markets. A tech-mining method is applied. The study suggests that China, in particular, has dramatically increased its innovative capacity in the area. However, the data also demonstrate the significant advantages enjoyed by incumbent firms from Europe and the USA, suggesting that the complexity of aircraft R&D remains a formidable barrier that can only be surmounted by determined government policies and anchor firms equipped with substantial innovation capabilities.     

中国企业国际化多样性与创新绩效

国际化多样性作为一种成长战略，是企业国际化进程中的重要决策，然而当前关于企业国际化多样性对创新的影响机制研究尚为缺乏。以沪深两市A股上市公司为研究样本，实证检验了国际化多样性对企业创新绩效的影响，并在此基础上分析了企业国有股权比例、东道国制度水平对国际化多样性与企业创新绩效关系的调节作用。结果表明，国际化多样性对企业创新绩效有显著正向效应，东道国制度发展水平对两者关系具有正向调节作用；国有股权对两者关系的调节作用不显著。该结论丰富了以中国为代表的新兴经济体国际化研究成果，为国际化多样性对企业创新绩效的积极作用提供了新证据。     

基于技术创新能力系统构架的中小企业技术战略

技术创新能力是由相互处于互补关系的技术研发能力、配套产品开发能力、市场扩张能力、品牌建设和维护能力、售后服务能力、适应性学习能力、自我改进能力、合作能力和社会资源调动能力组成的一个系统性能力集合。从分析技术创新能力的系统性特征及其对技术创新成功的影响机制入手,探讨了其对中小企业技术发展战略的启示。     

基于动态能力的电子商务价值创造研究

在动态环境中,企业应用电子商务能否以及怎样创造竞争优势是电子商务研究人员和管理者亟待解决的问题之一。聚焦不确定和动态环境中电子商务影响组织竞争优势的内在机制,在动态能力的基础之上构建探索型电子商务价值创造的理论框架。在动态环境中信息技术利用能力和竞争优势之间以动态能力和职能能力为中介并受环境动态性调节,职能能力直接影响竞争优势,动态能力通过集成、建立和重构职能能力间接影响竞争优势。     

场景驱动的创新：内涵特征、理论逻辑与实践进路

新发展阶段，科技创新要超越传统的技术驱动，把握场景驱动的新范式、新机遇，发挥我国超大规模市场和丰富应用场景的优势，实现从创新追赶到创新引领的跨越。结合数字经济时代世界科技强国建设理论与实践，在回顾现有创新范式的基础上，系统探讨场景驱动的创新的内涵特征、理论逻辑、实践进路与典型案例，并展望未来研究和实践前沿。场景驱动的创新既是将现有技术应用于特定场景，进而创造更大价值的过程，也是基于未来趋势与愿景需求，驱动战略、技术、组织、市场需求等创新要素及情境要素整合共融，突破现有技术瓶颈，开发新技术、新产品、新渠道、新商业模式，乃至开辟新市场和新领域的过程。研究成果可为数字经济时代坚持创新引领发展，加快推进技术、场景和商业模式融合创新，以场景驱动原始性创新、关键核心技术突破、重大技术应用提供重要理论和实践启示。     

Measuring technological trends: A comparison between U.S. and U.S.S.R./Russian jet fighter aircraft

Measuring and forecasting technological change is a crucial issue from various points of view. This is particularly important in the case of weapon systems as this would enable technological performance and operational capabilities to be assessed in relation to potential threats. This paper measures and compares technological trends in U.S. and Soviet Union/Russian jet fighter aircraft by estimating the relationship between the first flight date and a set of performance and technical characteristics of these aircraft. From the point of view of technological advantage, we find that U.S. jet fighters were, on average, approximately 2 years ahead of the former Soviet Union/Russian jet fighters during the entire jet fighter era. Nevertheless, the technological advantage has swung from one side to the other during specific periods as particular models have been introduced. Finally, the development of 5th-generation jet fighters, in particular the development of the F-22 Raptor, has placed American technology about 20 years ahead of Russian technology, a difference that has never occurred before. This finding casts doubt on the ability of Russia, as the inheritor of the former Soviet Union aircraft industry, to match American technological progress in jet fighter aircraft.     

基于资源的知识型企业技术创新能力评价模型及其应用

通过对企业资源与企业技术创新能力关系的辨析,本文认为,知识型企业的技术创新能力与其获取和开发资源的能力严格相关,通过分析企业在其生命周期内经营的特定资源的种类和数量就可评价企业的技术创新能力。在此基础上,构建了基于资源的知识型企业技术创新能力评价指标体系和综合评价模型,并对实例企业的技术创新能力进行了综合评价。     

收入分布、破坏性创新与社会福利

通过构建破坏性创新企业与在位企业进行市场竞争的双寡头博弈模型,分析在具有不同收入分布特征市场中破坏性创新企业的市场绩效及社会福利。研究发现,在收入差距较大的市场中,破坏性创新企业获得更大的市场份额和利润,社会福利相对较小;相反,在收入水平较高且分布趋向同质的市场中,在位企业获得更大的市场份额和利润,并且,破坏性创新厂商的利润随着收入水平的提高而降低。同时,随着收入水平的提高,两企业的产品质量不断提高,但质量差距不断扩大,社会总福利也随之增加。最后,进一步阐释了破坏性创新更多地发生于贫富差距较大的新兴市场的微观机制,为企业根据不同市场的收入分布特征选择竞争战略提供理论依据,为相关国家基于收入分布特点制定限制或支持破坏性创新创业政策提供理论参考。     

“服务中介-企业”互动与科技型小企业知识吸收能力演化动态关系研究

“服务中介-企业”互动与科技型小企业知识吸收能力演化的动态关系需要深入洞察，以便为企业提升知识吸收能力提供指导。因此，提出“服务中介-企业”互动对企业知识吸收能力演化影响的理论框架，建立反映二者关系的系统动力学模型，并运用Venism PLE工具进行模拟仿真。分析结果发现，小企业知识吸收能力演化呈指数型增长特征；“服务中介-企业”互动对科技型小企业知识吸收能力具有促进作用，且有递增的边际贡献。随着互动层次和水平的提高，“服务中介-企业”互动对企业知识吸收能力的提升作用显著增大。“服务中介-企业”互动对企业知识吸收能力演化的作用存在“临界规模”效应。