Systemic absorptive capacity: creating early-to-market returns through R&D alliances

For most complex emergent technologies, product-market success depends on efficient linkages between changing lead innovators within the R&D process. In this paper, our unit of analysis is a complex high technology product and the system of alliance linkages formed to progress a product through R&D milestones. We present a model and evidence for advancing our understanding of how achieving early-to-market returns depends on systemic absorptive capacity. This systemic absorptive capacity is the cumulative efficiency in the use of absorptive capacity to link changing lead innovators across successive milestones in R&D product development. We advance propositions of how systemic absorptive capacity can explain performance differences between rival product development systems competing for early-to-market returns with similar products through accelerating speed to market, cost and quality advantages. These explanations are contrasted with the conclusions of previous studies that have focused on absorptive capacity of single firms or single alliances in RD.

Inter-organisational networks, value creation and the process of technology integration in research and development

Traditional methods of R&D management are no longer sufficient for embracing innovations and leveraging complex new technologies to fully integrated positions in established systems. This paper presents the view that the technology integration process is a result of fundamental interactions embedded in inter-organisational activities. Emerging industries, high technology companies and knowledge intensive organisations owe a large part of their viability to complex networks of inter-organisational interactions and relationships. R&D organisations are the gatekeepers in the technology integration process with their initial sanction and motivation to develop technologies providing the first point of entry. Networks rely on the activities of stakeholders to provide the foundations of collaborative R&D activities, business-to-business marketing and strategic alliances. Such complex inter-organisational interactions and relationships influence value creation and organisational goals as stakeholders seek to gain investment opportunities. A theoretical model is developed here that contributes to our understanding of technology integration (adoption) as a dynamic process, which is simultaneously structured and enacted through the activities of stakeholders and organisations in complex inter-organisational networks of sanction and integration.

Globalisation and connectedness: A network approach to international business

There have been recent calls for the field of International Business to retool its routines by becoming genuinely interdisciplinary. This paper takes such an approach by using recent advances in the fields of evolutionary economics and applying them to IB. Evolutionary economists are now viewing the economy as an actual network. Consequently, one the key analytical tools in this approach is network analysis. Some of the basic methods in network analysis are reviewed. The paper then looks at how using these tools might be of use in IB studies. In particular, it outlines fruitful research paths in the areas of globalisation and regionalisation, and the measurement of performance in multi-national firms and alliances. In each case, propositions are put forward which can be analytically tested with the use of network analysis. The paper concludes with a brief outline of a research agenda which utilises this approach in International Business studies.

Critical reflections on international collaborative research

The excitement and challenge of undertaking research is an integral part of an academic staff member’s role. There are a multitude of reasons which encourage academics to undertake collaborative research. These range from the enthusiasm that arises from particular discipline interests, through to the pressure from tertiary contexts to be actively engaged in research and to produce research outputs. This paper uses the experiences of an international academic research team to explore the nature of the collaborative academic research process, including the perils and pitfalls, as well as the joys and enthusiasms. The three researchers are convinced that there are many positives to be gained from international collaboration. By critically reflecting on the dynamics of the research process employed by the tri-national team, (as against the research project itself), and identifying ‘lessons learned’ by the researchers themselves, suggestions for productive and enjoyable research relationships are offered.

Learning orientation and market orientation: From an alliance perspective

The literature on market orientation has grown in significance during the past decade. Whilst there is more literature on market orientation, the literature on learning orientation is also starting to increase. Numerous researchers have studied and found support for the positive relationship between market orientation and learning orientation (eg Slater and Narver 1995). However, not many researchers have investigated the relationship that firms with a high learning orientation have a high market orientation (eg Sinkula, Baker and Noordewier 1997). This paper attempts to investigate that link in more detail. An alliance perspective is taken in understanding this relationship.

The strategic logic of terrorism: Violent and non-violent responses

Dynamic Alliances: Strengthening ties between the GCC and Asia