Innovation in the bioeconomy – dynamics of biorefinery innovation networks

The bioeconomy has become a central concept in many strategies for future economic development, emphasising an increasing need for collaboration across industries and sectors for innovation. This paper unpacks aspects of collaboration in the bioeconomy by looking at the development of innovation networks for biorefinery technologies from 2004 to 2014 based on innovation project data from Swedish public funding agencies using a stochastic actor-oriented model for network analysis. The analysis shows that although the network grew significantly during the time period, indicating an increasing interest in biorefinery technology innovation, inter-sectoral collaboration is not favoured over intra-sectoral collaboration. As is known from previous work on social networks trust-building is a key driver for collaboration, as actors tend to form collaborations with previous partners or indirectly connected partners, creating clustered networks.     

The Role of Compassion in Shaping Social Entrepreneurs’ Prosocial Opportunity Recognition

Journal of Business Ethics - Compassion is acknowledged as a key motivational source of prosocial opportunity recognition (OR). This study examines the underlying processes of different types of...     

Preferences for compensation options

An analysis of preferences for compensation options was performed for a sample of employees in one organization. The organization was sampled at two points in time, approximately one year apart. The first sample was a stratified random sample of managerial and nonmanagerial employees (N = 101). The second sample contained a repeat sample of 48 individuals and a random sample of 80 individuals for a total (N = 128). The sampling procedure allowed for both cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. The analysis of compensation preferences was based on the set of compensation items currently available to all employees. The results indicated a marked stability of preferences for the longitudinal sample (N = 48), and a systematic crosssectional variance in preferences at both time periods based on age and salary levels of employees. The results of this research lend credence to both cafeteria-style compensation programs and portable pensions.     

Strategies for business innovation: Evaluating the prospects of incubation in Thailand : Technovation, 12:8 (1992) 521–533

Thailand is currently undertaking a strategy of technology development which emphasizes Business Incubation. This paper explores the issues of Business Incubation and Innovation. It presents the results of a study of potential Thai entrepreneurs on what kinds of services they require and what kinds of agencies they would go to for assistance. The results show that these entrepreneurs are much more oriented to business services than to innovation.     

Cause-related marketing and values in Australia

An investigation is conducted into attitudes towards cause-related marketing (CRM) among Australian consumers, with attention to the underlying differences in consumer values. It is found that those who place greater importance on values such as warm relationships, self-fulfilment and security are likely to have more positive attitudes towards CRM. In addition, females appear to have somewhat more positive attitudes towards cause-related marketing than males. Interestingly, the degree to which consumers are susceptible to interpersonal influence is not related to attitudes towards CRM. The implications are that cause-related marketing efforts are therefore best directed at females and those who value relationships, self-fulfilment and security. Efforts to support CRM through social influences (ie via compliance and conformity) would appear to be unlikely to succeed. Copyright © 1999 Henry Stewart Publications     

TOWARD A MORE COMPLETE MODEL OF OPTIMAL CAPITAL STRUCTURE

Most corporate finance practitioners understand the trade-off involved in making effective use of debt capacity while safeguarding the firm's ability to execute its business strategy without disruption. But quantifying that trade-off to arrive at an optimal level of debt can be a complicated and challenging task. This paper develops a simulation model of capital structure that starts by generating multiple estimates of market rates (LIBOR, currency rates) and corresponding company operating cash flows. To arrive at an optimal capital structure, the model then incorporates the shareholder value effects of alternative financing decisions by directly measuring the costs of financial distress, including the costs of missed investment opportunities and higher working capital requirements.
The model generates both a target credit rating and a lower fallback rating that permits a higher level of debt to maintain investments and dividends when operating cash flows are weak. As the model shows, companies with volatile cash flows and significant investment opportunities can add substantial shareholder value by establishing a fallback credit rating that is one or two notches below the target rating. The model also optimizes the mix of fixed versus floating debt, the maturity structure, and the currency composition. Another distinctive feature of the model is its ability to estimate the expected cost of alternative liability structures that can provide the liquidity insurance necessary to sustain the firm through periods of severe stress. This cost turns out to be quite small relative to the total market capitalization of the average firm.