What drives technology transitions? An integration of different approaches within transition studies

This paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of transition drivers by reviewing four major strands of inquiry in transition studies: Multi Level Perspective (MLP); Strategic Niche Management (SNM); Transition Management (TM); Technological Innovation Systems (TIS). To the best of our knowledge, none of these contributions have so far provided a clear-cut classification of main drivers of transitions, as evidenced by the difficulty of practitioners in reaching goals as entrepreneurs, or policy makers in supporting economic growth. We believe that these theoretical streams share views relating the origin and drivers of transitions and that the analysis of the multi-level developments and systemic sub-processes by using the Integrative Propositional Analysis (IPA) allows for a more comprehensive identification of transition drivers. By mapping causal relationships within each perspective and by developing an integrative framework that takes in due account of overlaps between theories, we derived a new conceptual structure for the identification of transitions’ drivers.     

To each his own: Matching different entrepreneurial models to the academic scientist's individual needs

This paper presents a comparative case study of academic group leaders, active in three different scientific fields at a leading Swiss technical university. It examines the obstacles that prevent scientists from commercializing their technologies and how they can be reduced. Traditional models of technology transfer assume that scientists prefer either to 'go it alone' and become entrepreneurs (the inventor entrepreneur model) or to let go of their technologies to people interested in their commercialization (the surrogate entrepreneur model). The results of qualitative research suggest that these two models capture the extremes of a continuum populated by a variety of intermediate situations where scientists are unwilling completely to let go of their findings, but also do not want to become full time entrepreneurs. This results in considerable commercial potential that is unexploited. The Founding Angels approach might be a solution to this problem; it is designed for academics in these intermediate situations. The study contributes to the literature on university-industry technology transfer and should be useful for practitioners and scientists interested in maximizing the synergies between academia and industry.     

An integrated approach to the purchase decision making process of food-delivery apps: Focusing on the TAM and AIDA models

The study employed two theories, the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the Attention-Interest-Desire-Action (AIDA) model, to provide an understanding of the process of consumers accepting an on-demand food-delivery app, and to establish the effect of marketing communication on outcomes related to consumer behavior. A conceptual model and hypotheses were developed by combining the key constructs of the two models to predict behavioral intentions. Findings revealed the attention and interest in the AIDA model related strongly to the salient behavioral beliefs of TAM, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Thus, it can be concluded that marketing communication acts as an external element in the process of accepting new innovations. Besides, it was confirmed that attitude towards the adoption of new technology acts as a mediator that promotes desire for the app. From the disciplines of information system and marketing communication, the study suggests an innovative approach to incorporating models.     

金融市场化进程是否改变了中国货币政策不同传导渠道的相对效应？

本文利用SVAR模型脉冲偏导分离技术,从利率市场化和影子银行两个维度测算了金融市场化进程对货币政策不同传导渠道相对地位的影响。实证结果揭示了中国货币政策传导的一些重要特征:第一,以信贷渠道为代表的数量化渠道效应要强于以利率和汇率渠道为代表的价格渠道,并且该结果没有因金融市场化的推进而改变。第二,利率市场化的推进主要强化了利率渠道的作用,但一定程度上弱化了其他渠道尤其是信贷渠道的作用。第三,影子银行的发展,强化了资产价格渠道的效应,而相对弱化了信贷渠道和利率渠道的效应。研究为在金融与实体经济市场仍存在一定程度摩擦的条件下,央行采用价格与数量货币政策调控方式有机结合的必要性与有效性,提供了实证支持。同时研究还表明,要充分发挥利率市场化改革完善货币政策价格传导机制的作用,既需要加强对各种形式金融创新的监管,还需要实体经济体系进一步市场化改革相配合。     

Diversification and sophistication of livestock products: The case of African countries

This study assesses the level of sophistication of livestock products in Africa by evaluating technology intensity and economic complexity of each product. Using trade data from 1995 to 2012, livestock commodity exports are classified based on technology intensity. Employing a method of reflection in computing the economic complexity of export products, we find that one fifth of African livestock commodity exports are manufactured with low technology while the rest is composed of raw materials. The results also show that the ten most complex livestock commodities represent about a third of African livestock total exports while the world level is almost double this figure. Yet African countries spend a huge share of their wealth on importing complex products. The results imply that by exporting non-complex products Africa loses nearly a third of the total value of its livestock exports. To boost the value of livestock products, African countries should exploit their untapped potential while securing the domestic market to achieve import substitution. This can be done by integrating with global value chains or developing niche markets at the regional or international markets and improving productive capabilities.     

成都理工大学教职工体育协会的现状研究

文章对成都理工大学6个教职工体育协会的建制、经费、场地设施、指导人员以及活动开展状况等方面进行了调查访谈,发现协会中仍然存在着协会成员固化、成员覆盖面小以及资金不足、场地匮乏等问题,并提出加大宣传力度,狠抓培训、扩大会员人数;扩展资金来源,寻求学校场地人力支持以及多层次创造活动交流平台等建议措施,以促进成都理工大学教职工体育协会的进一步发展。     

How to improve a technology evaluation model: A data-driven approach

Academic research suggests a number of technology evaluation models. To ensure effective use, models need to be improved in accordance with changing internal and external environments. However, a majority of previous studies focus on model development, while a few emphasize their implementation or improvement. To fill this research gap, this study suggests a systematic approach to examining the validity of technology evaluation models and improving them. We consider three propositions as criteria for improvement: 1) the coherence of the evaluation results with the evaluation purpose, 2) the appropriateness of the evaluation methods, and 3) the concreteness of the evaluation model. Rather than using expert opinions, this study takes a data-driven approach, wherein we analyze actual evaluation results and determine whether the model produces the intended results. A case study of 291 technology evaluation results, all made by the South Korean government in support of technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises, is conducted to verify the suggested approach's applicability. This is one of the few studies to address issues regarding improvements to a technology evaluation model. Its approach can help to develop and continuously improve a valid technology evaluation model, thus leading to more effective practice.     

Socio-technical transition governance and public opinion: The case of passenger transport in Finland

As a governance perspective, transition management views the engagement of a wide variety of stakeholders in policy development as a necessary element in furthering sustainability through enhanced social learning. Yet as a literature it has paid relatively little attention to public consultation on socio-technical change. Here we set transition management in the context of longstanding debates in science and technology studies, technology assessment and deliberative democracy. Empirically, we use national survey data on Finnish public opinion of state support for future transport options. Showing how transport practices and attitudes to transport innovation policy vary with both demography and geography, we argue that these differences have implications for policy legitimacy. We suggest that, both given and despite the practical difficulties of deliberative democracy, use of participative opinion surveying to better understand social groups with needs and interests that differ from national averages, may help to enhance policy legitimacy and hence the success of transition management.     

知识重叠、知识库特性与创新绩效

以往研究着重探讨重叠/非重叠知识在技术并购中的创新效应，然而在测度知识重叠时仅关注到数量属性而忽略了质量评估。因此，构建一个新的理论框架，利用国家知识产权局2008-2018年专利授权数据，分析217家中国机械制造企业352次国内技术并购案例，探索知识库中重叠、非重叠知识数量和质量属性对并购后创新绩效的影响。结果表明，高质量重叠知识对并购后的企业创新绩效具有正向影响，而高质量非重叠知识则有负向影响。同时，探讨知识数量对并购后创新绩效的影响。研究结果强调了知识重叠对企业获取外部知识的重要性，对企业技术并购实践具有借鉴作用。