Search results
1 – 10 of 28Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver, Fiorenza Belussi, Silvia Rita Sedita, Annalisa Caloffi and Gregorio Gonzalez-Alcaide
For the specific topic of multinationals in clusters, both regional strands and international business and management literatures address the topic from different yet intertwined…
Abstract
Purpose
For the specific topic of multinationals in clusters, both regional strands and international business and management literatures address the topic from different yet intertwined perspectives. This study aims to facilitate the integration of the conversations and the distinct literatures to produce a clear understanding and conceptualization of the existent knowledge on the topic, with the aim to foster an integration of those different lines of inquiry on the topic that can advance scholarly research and improve policymaking.
Design/methodology/approach
Mixing a robust and longitudinal bibliometric analysis (1992-2018) and a qualitative critical review, the study disentangles sub-conversations on the topic in each literature.
Findings
The study encounters commonalities that foster cross-fertilization and blind spots that prevent integration of findings from each literature.
Research limitations/implications
Both literatures need to cross-fertilize and integrate each other’s knowledge.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to integrate literatures using bibliometrics, mapping the existing knowledge on two key areas of competitiveness: clusters and multinationals.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to understand the contribution of research and transfer institutes (RTIs) to digitising in traditional Marshallian industrial districts (IDs). This study answers…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand the contribution of research and transfer institutes (RTIs) to digitising in traditional Marshallian industrial districts (IDs). This study answers how to digitise small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in IDs capitalising on RTIs? As collective actors, RTIs introduce change in local/regional innovation systems where they are embedded.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses qualitative evidence based on interviews and secondary data analysis on digitising the Vinalopo Footwear district in Spain.
Findings
This paper provides empirical insights about how RTIs perform research and development (R&D) and non-R&D activities to digitise, facilitated by leading firms that frequently engage with RTIs. Subsequently, leading firms interact and diffuse Industry 4.0 within their networks of SMEs. RTIs activate digitising in districts avoiding the manifested reluctance of SMEs to engage with them, capitalising on leading firms’ networks orchestration.
Research limitations/implications
Because of the chosen research approach, the findings are limited to the chosen setting and method.
Practical implications
This paper includes implications for policymakers, responding to the paradox of how to activate knowledge transfer from RTIs to SMEs, when the latter are reluctant to use RTIs.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an identified need to study how to digitise IDs and clusters.
Details
Keywords
Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver, Eleonora di Maria and Marco Bettiol
Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver, Gregorio Gonzalez-Alcaide, Ronald Rojas-Alvarado and Silvia Monto-Mompo
Industry 4.0 or digitization, from a regional innovation system (RIS) and policy perspective to improve regional innovation, is over-looked. Specifically, this paper aims to focus…
Abstract
Purpose
Industry 4.0 or digitization, from a regional innovation system (RIS) and policy perspective to improve regional innovation, is over-looked. Specifically, this paper aims to focus on analyzing the nascent European Commission (EC) digital innovation hub (DIH) program, designed for fostering transition into Industry 4.0 in regions and facilitating new path development.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirically, 10 Spanish DIH is explored through interviews and secondary data analysis.
Findings
The results suggest that DIHs despite their emerging and trial-and-error stage are designed for promoting multi-actor collaborative platforms including non-local actors to stimulate transition into Industry 4.0 by promoting place-based collaboration alliances that respond to local/regional contextual specificities and demands. These regional-based platforms facilitate public-private partnerships that co-design policy initiatives resulting from co-participation and negotiation of spatially-bounded oriented initiatives for digitizing.
Originality/value
The authors answer: what are the key characteristics of emerging European-level regional innovation policies aimed at facilitating Industry 4.0 in regions? This is the first study on the topic.
Details
Keywords
Jose Albors, Jose Luis Hervas, Patricia Marquez and M. Cristina Martinez‐Fernandez
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the analysis of firms’ innovative activities from the knowledge‐intensive service activities (KISA) point of view and analyse their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the analysis of firms’ innovative activities from the knowledge‐intensive service activities (KISA) point of view and analyse their relation to the firms’ competitive performance in the case of a mature industry, the Spanish ceramic tile cluster.
Design/methodology/approach
The research is based on a field survey. Through a selection of variables multivariable tests were applied to map the industry from the KISA standpoint and evaluate the impact of certain knowledge intensive service activities on innovation and performance.
Findings
Internal and external knowledge‐intensive service activities were related to their output in terms of innovation, competitive advantages and economic performance.
Research limitations/implications
Further research must consider and segment customers, suppliers, and other firms in the industry as other sources of KIBS.
Practical implications
Understanding how firms access and employ the variety of innovation‐related KISA available to them in different industries, and at different times, will help policy makers to design targeted policies and programs to actively stimulate innovation across them. For firms, KISA offers a strategic choice in their innovation objectives.
Originality/value
The present analysis contribution to KISA validates a mathematical model to simulate the relation between KISA and the competitive advantage of the firm in the case of a mature medium‐tech industry.
Details
Keywords
Jose‐Luis Hervas‐Oliver, Ronald Rojas, Blanca‐Maria Martins and Roberto Cervelló‐Royo
This paper aims to present a focus for identifying the convergence between the theory of the intellectual capital of nations and that of the National Systems of Innovation from…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a focus for identifying the convergence between the theory of the intellectual capital of nations and that of the National Systems of Innovation from the literature of innovation systems, with the aim of providing a more robust theoretical framework to explore the drivers of intangibles and the policies which foster competitiveness through the development of the national intellectual capital platforms.
Design/methodology/approach
Selecting 28 indicators which best fit the analyzed theoretic principles and taking into account the member countries of the European Union as a sample (15) with the data taken from the IMD, a simple analysis of the seven‐year (2000‐2006) window was carried out to compare the intangibles pointed out in the two aforementioned perspectives.
Findings
The homogeneity of the results using models of measurement of intellectual capital of countries with those obtained through the models of the National Systems of Innovation prove the considerable convergence between these two theoretic fields, validating the hypotheses proposed in the study.
Research limitations/implications
The system provided is not an exhaustive use of all the available measures and countries. A more comprehensive practical application on more countries and indicators would be necessary to validate the model.
Practical implications
The study has implications for the business, politicians and academia. The study opens new lines of research in the sense that it advocates a theoretical approximation and the integration of the abundant literature on the National Systems of Innovation as basic drivers to explain the intangibles at a macro level, their management and politics related to the maintaining and renewal of said assets of intellectual capital.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, so far no study analyzing this convergence has been designed or published. This paper extends and adds robustness to the national IC measurement model to help policymakers and scholars.
Details
Keywords
José Luis Hervas‐Oliver and Juan Ignacio Dalmau‐Porta
The paper seeks to provide a consistent theoretical framework to measure national intellectual capital (IC) and also empirical evidence on the core factors which explain…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper seeks to provide a consistent theoretical framework to measure national intellectual capital (IC) and also empirical evidence on the core factors which explain countries' IC stocks.
Design/methodology/approach
A multidisciplinary theoretical framework is provided to underpin research on regional/national IC. Empirical evidence through multivariate methodology is used in order to design a method to extract the national IC drivers which can explain countries' IC stocks in OECD countries in the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Findings
Theoretical bases of IC are presented to contribute to expanding territorial IC fundamentals and a regional/national IC model is developed. Results show that technological capability and the governmental policy oriented to business are both key factors in mapping the position of the nation in the IC ranking and both are mainly responsible for the levels of countries' IC.
Research limitations/implications
The sample was limited to OECD countries.
Practical implications
The paper is a very useful source of information for policymakers. The paper also opens a necessary debate on the critical areas that need to be reinforced in order to develop regional and national knowledge and national IC platforms. The IC index offered thus explains the key areas in need of improvement in order to upgrade the national IC.
Originality/value
To date, no study has identified the critical IC areas, but rankings have been drawn up with no conclusions at all. This exploratory study adds new empirical evidence to fill this gap in the research.
Details
Keywords
Susana Pasamar and Ramón Valle Cabrera
The purpose of this paper is to analyse perceptions of institutional pressures on employers to improve the work-life balance in challenging environments with difficult financial…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse perceptions of institutional pressures on employers to improve the work-life balance in challenging environments with difficult financial and economic conditions and to classify organisations according to these perceptions.
Design/methodology/approach
Using survey data from 146 Spanish private firms in different industries, the cluster analysis was conducted.
Findings
The analysis clearly shows the existence of three different groups of companies according to their perception of coercive, mimetic and normative pressures, and the different characteristics of the groups. The perceptions of institutional pressures determine the stance of the company with regard to work-life balance.
Research limitations/implications
Despite the changing economic context, it seems important to analyse the existence of environmental pressures to encourage work-life balance.
Social implications
Spain still has a long way to go in the diffusion of work-life practices.
Originality/value
This paper explores the institutional pressures on employers to improve work-life balance in a crisis context, and in a non-Anglo-Saxon country, showing that companies pay attention to the dynamics of the environment in which the company operates, and do not only consider economic reasons.
Details