Negative Effects of Relative Proximity and Absolute Geography on Open Innovation Practices in High-tech SMEs in the UK

© 2014 IEEE. This exploratory study addresses a gap in management literature by addressing the role of location in the continuously expanding field of open innovation research. In this context, we analyze potential negative effects of absolute geography and relative proximity on open innovation practices in high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the United Kingdom. Drawing upon cluster theory and business ecosystem literature, the analysis from three SME case studies in the East of England suggests that presumed 'favorable' location variables, such as close relative proximity between partners and the presence of economic clusters, can have certain negative effects on open innovation practices.

Dialogical strategies for orchestrating strategic innovation networks: the case of the Internet of Things

Strategic innovation has been shown to provide significant value for organisations whilst at the same time challenging traditional ways of thinking and working. There is less known, however, as to how organisations collaborate in innovation networks to achieve strategic innovation. In this paper we explore how innovation networks are orchestrated in developing a strategic innovation initiative around the Internet of Things. We show how a hub actor brings together a diverse group of actors to initially create and subsequently orchestrate the strategic innovation network through the employ of three dialogical strategies, namely persuasive projection, reflective development, and definitional control. Further, we illuminate how different types of legitimacy are established through these various dialogical strategies in orchestrating strategic innovation networks.

Exploration on enhancing innovation capability of functional information materials in China

The present status and future prospects of functional information materials, mainly focusing on semiconductor microstructural materials, are introduced first in this paper. Then a brief discussion how to enhance the academic level and innovation capability of research and development of functional information materials in China are made. Finally the main problems concerning the studies of materials science and technology are analyzed, and possible measures for promoting its development are proposed.

Exploration on enhancing innovation capability of functional information materials in China

The present status and future prospects of functional information materials, mainly focusing on semiconductor microstructural materials, are introduced first in this paper. Then a brief discussion how to enhance the academic level and innovation capability of research and development of functional information materials in China are made. Finally the main problems concerning the studies of materials science and technology are analyzed, and possible measures for promoting its development are proposed.

Innovation and hybrid genres: disturbing social rhythm in legal practice.

This paper explores the non-adoption of an innovation via the concept of hybrid genres, that is digital genres that emerge from a non-digital material precedent. As instances of innovation these are often resisted because they disturb the order of activity and balance of power relations in a given situation, or require users to make conceptual and physical adaptation efforts that they consider too costly. The authors investigate such issues with a case study of the introduction of a hybrid digital genre, ODR or online dispute resolution, in legal practice

Changes in innovation styles - comprehensive study of the changes in innovation styles to identify the causes and effects of different influencing factors and capabilities to create a general innovation pattern.

An investigation in innovation management and entrepreneurial management is conducted in this thesis. The aim of the research is to explore changes of innovation styles in the transformation process from a start-up company to a more mature phase of business, to predict in a second step future sustainability and the probability of success. As businesses grow in revenue, corporate size and functional complexity, various triggers, supporters and drivers affect innovation and company's success. In a comprehensive study more than 200 innovative and technology driven companies have been examined and compared to identify patterns in different performance levels. All of them have been founded under the same formal requirements of the Munich Business Plan Competition -a research approach which allowed a unique snapshot that only long-term studies would be able to provide. The general objective was to identify the correlation between different factors, as well as different dimensions, to incremental and radical innovations realised. The 12 hypothesis were formed to prove have been derived from a comprehensive literature review. The relevant academic and practitioner literature on entrepreneurial, innovation, and knowledge management as well as social network theory revealed that the concept of innovation has evolved significantly over the last decade. A review of over 15 innovation models/frameworks contributed to understand what innovation in context means and what the dimensions are. It appears that the complex theories of innovation can be described by the increasing extent of social ingredients in the explanation of innovativeness. Originally based on tangible forms of capital, and on the necessity of pull and technology push, innovation management is today integrated in a larger system. Therefore, two research instruments have been developed to explore the changes in innovations styles. The Innovation Management Audits (IMA Start-up and IMA Mature) provided statements related to product/service development, innovativeness in various typologies, resources for innovations, innovation capabilities in conjunction to knowledge and management, social networks as well as the measurement of outcomes to generate high-quality data for further exploration. In obtaining results the mature companies have been clustered in the performance level low, average and high, while the start-up companies have been kept as one cluster. Firstly, the analysis exposed that knowledge, the process of acquiring knowledge, interorganisational networks and resources for innovations are the most important driving factors for innovation and success. Secondly, the actual change of the innovation style provides new insights about the importance of focusing on sustaining success and innovation ii 16 key areas. Thirdly, a detailed overview of triggers, supporters and drivers for innovation and success for each dimension support decision makers in putting their company in the right direction. Fourthly, a critical review of contemporary strategic management in conjunction to the findings provides recommendation of how to apply well-known management tools. Last but not least, the Munich cluster is analysed providing an estimation of the success probability of the different performance cluster and start-up companies. For the analysis of the probability of success of the newly developed as well as statistically and qualitative validated ICP Model (Innovativeness, Capabilities & Potential) has been developed and applied. While the model was primarily developed to evaluate the probability of success of companies; it has equal application in the situation to measure innovativeness to identify the impact of various strategic initiatives within small or large enterprises. The main findings of the model are that competitor, and customer orientation and acquiring knowledge important for incremental and radical innovation. Formal and interorganisation networks are important to foster innovation but informal networks appear to be detrimental to innovation. The testing of the ICP model h the long term is recommended as one subject of further research. Another is to investigate some of the more intangible aspects of innovation management such as attitude and motivation of mangers. IV

The Role of SoTL in Classroom Innovation.

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is being promoted as an activity for teaching-focused academics in the UK. However, support for SoTL is not a priority for most institutions, and formal provision for such support may not extend beyond the postgraduate certificate in higher education that is offered for new academic staff. This paper examines the experiences of SoTL of a group of twenty-one Life Sciences academics from a range of UK universities. It explores the role that SoTL has to play in developing classroom innovation in a structured and scholarly manner, and the consequences to both teaching staff and students, if SoTL is not supported as an academic activity throughout the careers of teaching-focused academics.

Toward a European Army: A Military Power in the Making?

Shepherd, Alistair, and T. C. Salmon, Toward a European Army: A Military Power in the Making? (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2003), pp.x+237 RAE2008

Land Use and Military Supply in the Highland Zone of Roman Britain

Davies, Jeffrey. 'Land Use and Military Supply in the Highland Zone of Roman Britain', In: Artefacts and Archaeology. Aspects of the Celtic and Roman World (University of Wales Press, 2002), pp.44-61 RAE2008

Bezpieczeństwo państwa w Unii Europejskiej na przykładzie Polski. Analiza realistyczna i państwowo-centryczna

Poszukiwanie uniwersalnej definicji bezpieczeństwa Polski w niestabilnym systemie Unii Europejskiej opiera się głównie na odnalezieniu się w roli gracza i aktora, który jako samodzielny podmiot bierze aktywny udział w wielowymiarowym unijnym systemie negocjacji i przetargów (brokering between different interests). Polska musi mieć przygotowany swój program działania w UE o charakterze strategicznym i taktycznym włączając w niego państwo-centryczne priorytety horyzontalne i sektorowe, zarówno antykryzysowe jak i antagonistyczne i dysfunkcjonalne. Wymaga to perfekcyjnego przygotowania wykształconego zespołu ludzi zajmujących się bezpieczeństwem. Konieczne są bardzo wysokie umiejętności organizacyjne i wysoki stopień znajomości sposobu funkcjonowania państw w relacjach do całości i poszczególnych elementów UE. Wszystko to sprowadza się do konieczności wypracowywania specyficznego modus operandi polskiego bezpieczeństwa, na który poza znanymi już regułami i procedurami składa się ich interwencyjne zaplecze instytucjonalno-administracyjne oraz logistyczno-techniczne. Polska musi też posiąść zdolność do adaptacji do otaczającego świata (Europy) poprzez poszerzanie bazy funkcjonowania systemu integracyjnego. Wiąże się to bezpośrednio z dostosowywaniem do permanentnej zmiany w Unii Europejskiej i globalnym otoczeniu. Adaptacja jest również istotna z punktu widzenia potrzeby stabilizowania systemu. Pozwala neutralizować wszelkie próby zakłóceń funkcjonalnych jej struktury, pozycji i zbioru kompetencji. Adaptację powinna uzupełniać realistyczna innowacyjność i misyjność Polski widoczna przez wprowadzanie do środowiska (otoczenia) nowych reguł i mechanizmów bezpieczeństwa. Innowacyjność wiąże się z inicjowaniem nowego stylu/sposobu myślenia o bezpieczeństwie, a w związku z tym z nowatorstwem w zakresie wielopoziomowego (wieloprzestrzennego) ujmowania bezpieczeństwa. Na tak rozumiane bezpieczeństwo państwa składa się nie tylko zdolność obronna (militarna), ale także siła gospodarki oraz zasoby, którym Polska powinna dysponować. Misyjność sprowadza się natomiast do promowania i propagowania wartości przypisanych państwu narodowemu - niezapisanych w unijnych traktatach takich jak potęga, racja stanu i niepodległość.

Conflict Transformation and the Spiritual Practices for the Military Chaplain

No abstract is available.

XBATTLE: A Dynamic Distributed Model of Generalized Military Conflict

A dynamic distributed model is presented that reproduces the dynamics of a wide range of varied battle scenarios with a general and abstract representation. The model illustrates the rich dynamic behavior that can be achieved from a simple generic model.

Innovation in Ireland's 'high-technology' businesses: the roles of interaction and proximity

This thesis explores the drivers of innovation in Irish high-technology businesses and estimates, in particular, the relative importance of interaction with external businesses and other organisations as a source of knowledge for innovation at the business-level. The thesis also examines the extent to which interaction for innovation in these businesses occurs on a local or regional basis. The study uses original survey data of 184 businesses in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical, Information and Communications Technology and Engineering and Electronic Devices sectors. The study considers both product and process innovation at the level of the business and develops new measures of innovation output. For the first time in an Irish study, the incidence and frequency of interaction is measured for each of a range of agents, other group companies, suppliers, customers, competitors, academic-based researchers and innovation-supporting agencies. The geographic proximity between the business and each of the most important of each of each category of agent is measured using average one-way driving distance, which is the first time such a measure has been used in an Irish study of innovation. Utilising econometric estimation techniques, it is found that interaction with customers, suppliers and innovation-supporting agencies is positively associated with innovation in Irish high-technology businesses. Surprisingly, however, interaction with academic-based researchers is found to have a negative effect on innovation output at the business-level. While interaction generally emerges as a positive influence on business innovation, there is little evidence that this occurs at a local or regional level. Furthermore, there is little support for the presence of localisation economies for high-technology sectors, though some tentative evidence of urbanisation economies. This has important implications for Irish regional, enterprise and innovation policy, which has emphasised the development of clusters of internationally competitive businesses. The thesis brings into question the suitability of a cluster-driven network based approach to business development and competitiveness in an Irish context.