Radical changes in inter-organizational network structures: The longitudinal gap

The main goal of the research presented in this paper is to provide an overview of the available insights concerning radical changes in inter-organizational network structures. The following research question has been formulated: what is known about the way organizations in networks deal with, and are affected by, radical changes in inter-organizational network structures?In order to answer this question, a review of the most relevant literature dealing with changes in network structure over time is presented. The literature reviewed has been analyzed by comparing the role of change in the analysis (independent vs. dependent variable) as well as the manner in which change is conceptualized (incremental vs. radical change and dyadic vs. network change).It is found that studies that observe networks changing over time are scarce. Nevertheless, the available studies provide some interesting insights concerning the formation, evolution and termination of dyadic ties, network evolution, and the effects of (radical) changes in network structure. However, more research on several specific topics seems necessary. These topics are: the link between dyadic change and change at the network level, the evolution of network structures, the processes through which critical events lead to changes in network structures, and the effects of radical changes in network structures.     

Strategic technology alliances and networks

This paper briefly reviews the literature on strategic technology alliances (STAs) and networks, allocating the contributions to ‘micro’ (firm) and ‘meso’ perspectives (the network). The focus is on a logical reconstruction of important themes in the literature pertaining to the role of STAs in boosting innovation and in promoting the survival and growth of partners and their environments. Overall, the literature points to a quite important role of alliances and networks especially in knowledge-intensive industrial activities combining the production and utilization of technological knowledge for competitiveness and growth. Not unexpectedly, important differences are pointed out in terms of incentives and benefits from alliances across different types of firms and industries. Network structure evolves in accordance with the nature of the industry and with the type of technological advancement sought by participating organizations.     

Use Of Information Network And Organizational Productivity: Firm-Level Evidence In Korea

This paper studies the relationship between the use of various information networks and organizational productivity in Korean firms. To this end, first. the current firm-level usage panems of information networks are explained in the following network categories: (1) LAN (Local Area Network). (2) inter- and intra-firm networks, (3) various types of inter-firm networks, and (4) the Internet and intranet, Second, by deriving TFP (Total Factor Roductivity) from the baseline production function, which augments lT stock into otherwise standard one, the impact of various information networks is investigated. The results show that LAN, the Intemet and intranet have significant impacts on fm-level TFP, while inter-firm network does not. Also, the productivity of firm using the Internet is 8.5 percent higher than the firms using only LAN, and the productivity of firms using intranet is 43.6 percent higher than the firms using just the Internet.     

基于社会资本的企业间网络变迁

现有研究对于企业间网络由强关系向弱关系变迁的发展模式已经基本达成共识,而在网络变迁的内在机制上仍存在较大分歧。本文基于社会资本理论和资源依赖理论,分两个阶段深入研究了企业成长初期企业间网络变迁的内在机制。在单层egocentric强关系网络模式下,社会资本增加与资源积累的动态促进过程是网络变迁的内在机制;随着强关系网络层级的不断增加,社会资本仍然能够促进企业效用的提高和资源的积累,但其贡献程度不断降低。当合作关系网络扩张到规模边界时,企业应当摆脱路径依赖,加入灵活性较大的弱关系网络,以获得持续发展。     

Production and financial linkages in inter-firm networks: structural variety, risk-sharing and resilience

The paper analyzes how (production and financial) inter-firm networks can affect firms’ default probabilities and observed default rates. A simple theoretical model of shock transfer is built to investigate some stylized facts on how firm-idiosyncratic shocks are allocated in the network, and how this allocation changes firm default probabilities. The model shows that the network works as a perfect “risk-pooling” mechanism, when it is both strongly connected and symmetric. But the “risk-sharing” does not necessarily reduce default rates, unless the shock firms face is lower on average than their financial capacity. Conceived as cases of symmetric inter-firm networks, industrial districts might have a comparative disadvantage in front of heavy crises.     

孵化网络治理机制、网络负效应对网络绩效的影响

孵化网络是资源整合与创新增值的重要载体,但是孵化网络绩效方面的研究相对缺乏。鉴于此,主要关注孵化网络不同治理机制与网络负效应对网络绩效的差异性影响,以西安等地孵化网络为对象进行问卷调研,运用逐层回归方法进行实证检验。结果表明：契约治理机制对孵化网络绩效具有倒U型影响,关系治理机制对孵化网络绩效具有正向影响。进一步实证发现,两类网络负效应（结构与行为）在抑制孵化网络绩效的同时呈现出不同的中介作用。     

Building Innovation Networks: Issues of Strategy and Expertise

This article investigates the role of networks in new product development by reporting on a contemporary case study of a firm in the defence electronics sector. A specific focus is the development and ongoing management of a network that comprises a number of formal inter-firm strategic alliances. The paper begins by reviewing earlier literature on technology strategies for innovation that has identified a key role for inter-firm networking in the organization and management of new product development. We then consider the related issue of the relevant management expertise, which enables firms to adopt a network approach to their strategy for innovation by developing a competence in the process of network building. In this particular case study the critical issue centred upon the extent of the internal resources in terms of time and personal effort that was devoted to building trust and actively managing various inter-firm relationships over time. The article concludes that while inter-firm networking can facilitate new product development across firm boundaries, it is not a panacea for success. Whilst financially successful in terms of product and market development, the networking strategy has also set up problems within the particular case study firm in terms of resourcing and managing the very growth that has been generated.     

Building Innovation Networks: Issues of Strategy and Expertise

This article investigates the role of networks in new product development by reporting on a contemporary case study of a firm in the defence electronics sector. A specific focus is the development and ongoing management of a network that comprises a number of formal inter-firm strategic alliances. The paper begins by reviewing earlier literature on technology strategies for innovation that has identified a key role for inter-firm networking in the organization and management of new product development. We then consider the related issue of the relevant management expertise, which enables firms to adopt a network approach to their strategy for innovation by developing a competence in the process of network building. In this particular case study the critical issue centred upon the extent of the internal resources in terms of time and personal effort that was devoted to building trust and actively managing various inter-firm relationships over time. The article concludes that while inter-firm networking can facilitate new product development across firm boundaries, it is not a panacea for success. Whilst financially successful in terms of product and market development, the networking strategy has also set up problems within the particular case study firm in terms of resourcing and managing the very growth that has been generated.     

The dynamics of inter-firm networks in the course of the industry life cycle: the role of appropriability

This paper examines the dynamics of inter-firm networks and introduces a conceptual framework for explaining why inter-firm networks change over time. The framework is based on the idea that patterns of inter-firm linkages are linked to the life cycle development of an industry. Special emphasis is placed on the role of appropriabiliy, i.e. a firm's ability to capture the profits generated by its innovations. The (trans)formation of inter-firm networks in three industries is examined and used to illustrate the relevance of the framwork. One important inference from our study is that public policy makers and manageers should take into account the phase of industry development before implementing policies to create and/or change inter-firm networks.     

Possible suboptimal diffusions of technological innovations in clustered scale-free networks

Many inter-firm networks take a skewed power-law- or scale-free distribution in which one or a few central actors are connected to numerous peripheral actors. Research argues that central actors can act as early adopters and catalysts for the adoption of technological innovations, but studies are inconclusive regarding central actors’ de facto role in this matter. Peripheral actors in scale-free networks tend to cluster, which implies that they are structurally embedded and mutually dependent. A major thesis in this paper is that clustered peripheral actors in scale-free networks may restrict central actors’ propensity to adopt innovations, and as a result impede their diffusion. The paper discusses which implications this may have for stakeholders in the private and public sector domain and practitioners of strategic management.     

Are there spillover effects of large firms’ growth in supply chain networks? Evidence from the Korean economy

Previous literature has found that inter-firm cooperation leads to higher growth rates for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, these studies have focused only on direct effects, such as subcontracting, rather than on spillover effects in supply chain networks (SCNs). Regarding the spillover effects, this article investigates whether a large firm’s growth leads to the growth of the directly and indirectly related SMEs in its SCN, using Korean firm-level data with the system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach. The estimation results show that increases in the sales of large firms significantly affect the growth rates of the related SMEs. These effects, however, diminish as the relationship with the large firm goes down from the first vendor to the second vendor and from the second vendor to the third vendor. In the case of Korea, when a large firm grows by 1%, the first vendor grows by 0.38–0.44%, but the growth rates of the second and third vendors are only 0.036–0.047% and 0.003–0.005%, respectively. Thus, while there are spillover effects, the effects are weak. We discuss what these findings mean for national economic growth.     

Bayesian belief networks as a meta-modelling tool in integrated river basin management — Pros and cons in evaluating nutrient abatement decisions under uncertainty in a Norwegian river basin

A Bayesian network approach is used to conduct decision analysis of nutrient abatement measures in the Morsa catchment, South Eastern Norway. The paper demonstrates the use of Bayesian networks as a meta-modelling tool in integrated river basin management (IRBM) for structuring and combining the probabilistic information available in existing cost-effectiveness studies, eutrophication models and data, non-market valuation studies and expert opinion. The Bayesian belief network is used to evaluate eutrophication mitigation costs relative to benefits, as part of the economic analysis under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). Pros and cons of Bayesian networks as reported in the literature are reviewed in light of the results from our Morsa catchment model. The reported advantages of Bayesian networks in promoting integrated, inter-disciplinary evaluation of uncertainty in IRBM, as well as the apparent advantages for risk communication with stakeholders, are offset in our case by the cost of obtaining reliable probabilistic data and meta-model validation procedures.     

迁移模式对农民工人际网络构建的影响研究

利用2011年全国流动人口抽样调查数据,运用多元logistic回归分析模型,研究迁移模式对农民工重构人际网络的影响。迁移意愿在迁移模式影响人际网络的过程中起到显著作用;迁移距离和迁移规模对两个阶段人际网络都产生负影响,迁移时间对两个阶段人际网络都产生正影响;农民工在初级人际网络建立阶段群体差异不大,呈现"内卷性"群体特征,迁移距离和迁移时间都不显著,而在新型人际网络构建阶段群体差异显现,三种迁移模式均显著,构成新型人际网络差异性的重要原因;受教育程度、就业身份等显著影响人际网络的构建。     

东亚企业间组织与我国中小企业组织创新--理论述评和一个基于文化的解释框架

本文旨在对东亚发达地区的企业间组织进行研究。为此,本文扫描了有关内生企业间组织的纵横一体化结构研究,分析了均衡中可以出现多种企业间组织结构的各种解释理论。在此基础上提出不同的地域或亚文化因素对不同的企业间组织结构产生影响的机理,提出了我国中小企业的网络型拓扑结构可能产生于华人文化背景的论点,以及东亚企业发展模式对我国中小企业改进网络组织效率、进行组织创新的启示性建议。     

结构洞度对联盟网络中企业创新绩效的影响研究

对于结构洞是否可以真正促进企业创新网络中的成员提高创新绩效,不同学者持有不同观点。在国内外相关研究文献的基础上,发现企业在联盟网络中所处的结构洞位置与局部网位置都将对企业的创新性产生影响,从而提出结构洞度概念。结合社会网络分析法与负二项回归方法,以社会网络理论为基础,以中国家用视听设备制造业企业联盟网络为研究对象,研究了企业在战略联盟网络中网络位置的结构洞度对企业创新绩效的影响。研究结果表明,企业所处联盟网络的结构洞度的确可以对企业的创新绩效产生显著促进作用,这将为企业在选择联盟伙伴时提供重要的参考依据。     

经济地理学中的企业网络研究

根据对国际经济地理学的文献分析和作者的研究体会，提出企业网络研究在经济地理学新近出现的研究方向中占重要地位。中国特殊的国情，形成了中国特殊的企业网络，为经济地理学家提供了得天独厚的条件。深入进行相关研究，有希望推出创新成果，提高中国经济地理学的国际地位。     

知识守门者企业间领导力与产业集群升级

作为产业集群中的核心异质性主体,知识守门者对于产业集群的知识更新和开放式升级至关重要。结合联盟管理中的企业间领导力理论,从知识守门者自身知识基础、网络能力和网络位置优势探讨了其在集群中的企业间领导力形成机理。在此基础上,将知识守门者在产业集群中的领导力划分为技术领导力、平台领导力和制度领导力3个维度。此外,结合湖南新材料产业集群案例,探讨了该集群中知识守门者科力远公司的技术领导力、平台领导力和制度领导力构建途径及其对集群升级的影响,研究结果证明了理论的合理性。最后,基于理论与案例结论,提出了促进我国集群开放式升级的若干政策建议。     

Dismantling terrorist networks: Evaluating strategic options using agent-based modeling

Dismantling dark networks remains a critical goal for the peace and security of our society. Terrorist networks are the most prominent instantiation of dark networks, and they are alive and well. Attempts to preemptively disrupt these networks and their activities have met with both success and failure. In this paper, we examine the impacts of four common strategies for dismantling terrorist networks. The four strategies are: leader-focused, grassroots, geographic, and random. Each of these strategies has associated pros and cons, and each has different impacts on the structure and capabilities of a terrorist network. Employing a computational experimentation methodology, we simulate a terrorist network and test the effects of each strategy on the resiliency of that network. In addition, we test scenarios in which the terrorist network has (or does not have) information about an impending attack. Our work takes a structural perspective to the challenge of addressing terrorist networks. Specifically, we show how various strategies impact the structure of the network in terms of its resiliency and capacity to carry out future attacks. This paper also provides a valuable overview of how to use agent-based modeling for the study of complex problems in the terrorism, conflict studies, and security study domains.     

开放式创新效能提升的制度基础:关系治理还是契约治理

开放式创新是21世纪以来理论研究和管理实践中的热点问题,然而,值得注意的是,在理论研究蓬勃发展的同时,企业实践并未实现预期效果,甚至失败率很高,这一反差不得不引起人们的反思。以往研究忽视了这样一个事实:开放式创新本质上是一种知识联盟,而联盟治理结构是联盟运行的制度基础,不同治理结构会对联盟决策权、利益格局、激励和冲突等问题产生根本影响。整合社会资本理论和交易成本理论,阐释了不同治理结构对开放式创新绩效的影响机理。运用分层线性模型,利用58家制造企业共398份问卷检验了该模型,研究结果表明:1关系治理与开放式创新绩效呈现倒U型关系;2契约治理对开放式创新绩效有倒U型影响;3在网络化程度较低的情境中,关系治理和契约治理能够相互补充,二者共同使用提升了开放式创新绩效。在网络化程度高的情况下,"软"性的关系治理与"硬"性的契约治理具有明显的替代作用,二者共同使用会显著降低开放式创新绩效,形成"软硬兼施"的负效应。     

RESEARCH NETWORKS AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR KNOWLEDGE DIFFUSION IN EUROPEAN REGIONS

This paper concentrates on the role of research network infrastructure in fostering the dissemination of innovation-related knowledge. It examines the structure of collaborative networks and of knowledge transfer between research, innovation and deployment activities in the field of information and communication technology for the European Union as a whole and for several European regions. Research networks complement diffusion networks by providing additional links and by increasing the number of the organisations involved in sharing and exchanging knowledge. Two types of actors are key players in these networks: hubs and gatekeepers. Hubs maintain the bulk of ties in the networks also helping the smaller and more isolated members remain connected. Gatekeepers bridge research and diffusion networks. Such organisations naturally offer greater policy leverage in establishing a European knowledge infrastructure. Moreover, strengthened inter-network connectivity among research and diffusion activities (deployment) would raise the effectiveness of European research in terms of accelerating innovation.