International Journal of Technology Management, 2008
406 Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 44, Nos. 3/4, 2008 ... When technology innovation is not ... more 406 Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 44, Nos. 3/4, 2008 ... When technology innovation is not enough, new competitive paradigms, revisiting the Spanish ceramic tile sector ... Jose Albors-Garrigós,* Jose Luis Hervas-Oliver and Patricia Beatriz Marquez
This research is an attempt to explore how an incremental organizational eco innovation (the ISO ... more This research is an attempt to explore how an incremental organizational eco innovation (the ISO 14001 environmental standard certification system) affects economic performance of firms belonging to one of the most important GPD generator in developed countries: food industry. The analysis is based on a sample of 6118 Spanish firms. We have used quantitative analysis techniques to correlate economic indicators with the implementation of the ISO 14001. Food industry operates in an economy and a society context increasingly concerned with wide and diverse environmental issues. In the case of the food industry this has been augmented by the food security standards. In this context, many companies decide to go beyond the formal legal requirements and take a proactive stance on environmental issues. The study results show how environmental focused companies are able to create a competitive advantage by the earlier implementation of an eco-management tool.
International Journal of Technology Management, 2008
406 Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 44, Nos. 3/4, 2008 ... When technology innovation is not ... more 406 Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 44, Nos. 3/4, 2008 ... When technology innovation is not enough, new competitive paradigms, revisiting the Spanish ceramic tile sector ... Jose Albors-Garrigós,* Jose Luis Hervas-Oliver and Patricia Beatriz Marquez
... Castellon JOSE´ LUIS HERVA´ S OLIVER, JOSE´ ALBORS GARRIGO´ S & J... more ... Castellon JOSE´ LUIS HERVA´ S OLIVER, JOSE´ ALBORS GARRIGO´ S & JUAN IGNACIO DALMAU PORTA Faculty of Business Administration and Management, Higher Technological College of Industrial Engineering, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain ...
Abstract The aim of this paper is to overcome the inability of present-day econometric models to ... more Abstract The aim of this paper is to overcome the inability of present-day econometric models to identify the most efficient modes and mechanisms of transmitting knowledge from the academic world to industry. To do so, it incorporates knowledge-based theories into the analysis of ...
The resource-based view (RBV) of the firm has been applied to territories, although academia has ... more The resource-based view (RBV) of the firm has been applied to territories, although academia has not frequently undertaken exploration of RBV applied to clusters in an empirical base. The goal of this paper aims at empirically translating RBV to the territory with a double objective. First, the work seeks to understand which are the cluster's resources and capabilities. Second, the paper evaluates whether a cluster's unique set of resources and capabilities could influence a cluster's performance. Research is applied to leading European ceramic tile clusters located in Spain (Castellon) and Italy (Emilia-Romagna). Comparing clusters in the same industry allows benchmarking and the metrics make more sense. Secondary data and face-to-face semi-structured interviews with managers from the R&D Institutes, institutional agents and Castellon (59) and Emilian (19) firms assess a cluster's resources and capabilities. The employed variables address skilled labour availability, social capital, linkages, business sophistication and network effects. In addition, and through the utilization of financial and productivity data the work analyses whether there are performance differences. Results indicate that clusters have a unique set of resources and capabilities and a certain performance level. On the whole, a cluster's unique set of resources and capabilities matter. The paper offers a methodological approach to tackle empirically the RBV application to clusters.
This paper studies why some clusters in a certain region are more dynamic than others, even thoug... more This paper studies why some clusters in a certain region are more dynamic than others, even though they all operate within the same basic innovative regional environment. We first established which variables were to be used to measure the dynamics of a regional cluster. We included both inputs and outputs of the innovative regional environment and also cluster development-related variables. We then applied this to two clusters located in the Valencian Region, Spain. The first cluster is involved in the footwear industry, while the other is involved in the ceramic tile industry. The evolution of the variables which had an influence on their dynamics was studied to determine which variables had similar behaviours and how their evolution was related to the clusters' life cycle and to the evolution of regional income. The results show that regional innovation impacts on clusters’ productivity and that when clusters lose their dynamism, employment, sales and exports are the most affected variables.
Recent studies about clusters claim that firm-specific characteristics should be considered as ce... more Recent studies about clusters claim that firm-specific characteristics should be considered as central to the explanation of innovation This article contributes to this literature and explores the role of combinations of internal and relational resources to the explanation of ...
Multinational enterprises (MNEs) can play the role of extracting, diffusing and bringing knowledg... more Multinational enterprises (MNEs) can play the role of extracting, diffusing and bringing knowledge through external linkages. The classical literature of industrial districts has not focused on these external ties, although occasionally they have been mentioned when trying to avoid lock-in and entropic inertia. This work focuses on this gap and examines the process of knowledge exchange between clusters through MNE affiliates which operate in all of them. Empirical work is conducted with interviews to clustered indigenous firms with affiliates operating in other clusters and affiliates belonging to MNEs which are independent of other clusters, all of them in the ceramic tile industry. The results show that the knowledge created in the collective learning process is local-scaled and is created from interaction between local SMEs and indigenous and foreign MNEs. The knowledge created in other clusters is introduced through foreign MNE affiliates complementing the local one. The results, interpreted within and limited to this context, can also provide insight into policy-making. Within global industries, polycentric networks from different clusters are open entities formed by local SMEs and connected and linked with foreign and indigenous MNE affiliates which sustain the channels that allow knowledge to be transferred from a local to a global scale.
A firm's search strategy is to use innovation inputs from external sources such as suppliers, cli... more A firm's search strategy is to use innovation inputs from external sources such as suppliers, clients, competitors, universities and research transfer offices (RTOs) to complement their in-house knowledge. Thus, a firm needs to be capable of identifying and valuing the potential value of certain external knowledge, i.e. absorptive capacity. Most of the studies regarding search patterns are reduced mostly to medium–high- and high-tech industries in which only the level of investment in R&D activities as determinant of a firm's search strategy is considered. In addition, when the flows of external knowledge arise from firm–university interactions, the evidence is still inconclusive, specifically for SMEs and low–medium-tech environments. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to explore the pattern of a firm's search strategy through its absorptive capacity to acquire external flows of knowledge from universities and RTOs. The paper draws especially on the role of non-R&D innovation activities in low–medium-tech sectors. Seven hundred and forty three innovative firms from the Spanish Ministry of Industry are analysed. Results suggest that human resources and other non-R&D activities are the core drivers explaining the cooperation agreements to access external knowledge from universities and RTOs. Surprisingly, R&D expenditures do not contribute to the explanation. This paper presents important implications for policy-makers beyond the classic R&D policies.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the analysis of firms' i... more 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 ...
International Journal of Technology Management, 2007
Abstract: This article presents an analysis of the CINet survey results in Spain. Although Spain ... more Abstract: This article presents an analysis of the CINet survey results in Spain. Although Spain is a newcomer to Continuous Improvement (CI) practices, globalisation has stressed the need to raise the level of the firms' competitiveness in order to compete worldwide. As a ...
This paper will try to contribute to the understanding of public programs supporting high technol... more This paper will try to contribute to the understanding of public programs supporting high technology diffusion and transference. The framework utilised will combine the theory of technology and innovation diffusion and the use of value mapping methodology. The article provides empirical evidence on the variables, which contribute to filling some research gaps on the assessment of high tech diffusion programs. For this we have utilised the evaluation of the GAME initiative, part of the European Commission IV Research Framework Programme. The objective of this program was to diffuse microelectronics technology among Spanish firms. Using one hundred set cases and employing multivariable analysis methods it was found that a model could be built with two multivariable constructs to explain and understand technology diffusion, absorption and transference flows. In addition, the model is useful for evaluating technology dissemination using the diffusion model to measure its social impact. The statistical methodology applied, as a complement to value mapping, provides a robustness in the results which is not normally furnished by classical evaluation methods. It also reinforces value mapping as an adequate tool for high tech cases with certain modifications to the original approach. The␣latter is due to the uncertainty of technology disruption curves and change, as well as to the changing conditions in the economies of scale.
International Journal of Technology Management, 2008
406 Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 44, Nos. 3/4, 2008 ... When technology innovation is not ... more 406 Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 44, Nos. 3/4, 2008 ... When technology innovation is not enough, new competitive paradigms, revisiting the Spanish ceramic tile sector ... Jose Albors-Garrigós,* Jose Luis Hervas-Oliver and Patricia Beatriz Marquez
This research is an attempt to explore how an incremental organizational eco innovation (the ISO ... more This research is an attempt to explore how an incremental organizational eco innovation (the ISO 14001 environmental standard certification system) affects economic performance of firms belonging to one of the most important GPD generator in developed countries: food industry. The analysis is based on a sample of 6118 Spanish firms. We have used quantitative analysis techniques to correlate economic indicators with the implementation of the ISO 14001. Food industry operates in an economy and a society context increasingly concerned with wide and diverse environmental issues. In the case of the food industry this has been augmented by the food security standards. In this context, many companies decide to go beyond the formal legal requirements and take a proactive stance on environmental issues. The study results show how environmental focused companies are able to create a competitive advantage by the earlier implementation of an eco-management tool.
International Journal of Technology Management, 2008
406 Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 44, Nos. 3/4, 2008 ... When technology innovation is not ... more 406 Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 44, Nos. 3/4, 2008 ... When technology innovation is not enough, new competitive paradigms, revisiting the Spanish ceramic tile sector ... Jose Albors-Garrigós,* Jose Luis Hervas-Oliver and Patricia Beatriz Marquez
... Castellon JOSE´ LUIS HERVA´ S OLIVER, JOSE´ ALBORS GARRIGO´ S & J... more ... Castellon JOSE´ LUIS HERVA´ S OLIVER, JOSE´ ALBORS GARRIGO´ S & JUAN IGNACIO DALMAU PORTA Faculty of Business Administration and Management, Higher Technological College of Industrial Engineering, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain ...
Abstract The aim of this paper is to overcome the inability of present-day econometric models to ... more Abstract The aim of this paper is to overcome the inability of present-day econometric models to identify the most efficient modes and mechanisms of transmitting knowledge from the academic world to industry. To do so, it incorporates knowledge-based theories into the analysis of ...
The resource-based view (RBV) of the firm has been applied to territories, although academia has ... more The resource-based view (RBV) of the firm has been applied to territories, although academia has not frequently undertaken exploration of RBV applied to clusters in an empirical base. The goal of this paper aims at empirically translating RBV to the territory with a double objective. First, the work seeks to understand which are the cluster's resources and capabilities. Second, the paper evaluates whether a cluster's unique set of resources and capabilities could influence a cluster's performance. Research is applied to leading European ceramic tile clusters located in Spain (Castellon) and Italy (Emilia-Romagna). Comparing clusters in the same industry allows benchmarking and the metrics make more sense. Secondary data and face-to-face semi-structured interviews with managers from the R&D Institutes, institutional agents and Castellon (59) and Emilian (19) firms assess a cluster's resources and capabilities. The employed variables address skilled labour availability, social capital, linkages, business sophistication and network effects. In addition, and through the utilization of financial and productivity data the work analyses whether there are performance differences. Results indicate that clusters have a unique set of resources and capabilities and a certain performance level. On the whole, a cluster's unique set of resources and capabilities matter. The paper offers a methodological approach to tackle empirically the RBV application to clusters.
This paper studies why some clusters in a certain region are more dynamic than others, even thoug... more This paper studies why some clusters in a certain region are more dynamic than others, even though they all operate within the same basic innovative regional environment. We first established which variables were to be used to measure the dynamics of a regional cluster. We included both inputs and outputs of the innovative regional environment and also cluster development-related variables. We then applied this to two clusters located in the Valencian Region, Spain. The first cluster is involved in the footwear industry, while the other is involved in the ceramic tile industry. The evolution of the variables which had an influence on their dynamics was studied to determine which variables had similar behaviours and how their evolution was related to the clusters' life cycle and to the evolution of regional income. The results show that regional innovation impacts on clusters’ productivity and that when clusters lose their dynamism, employment, sales and exports are the most affected variables.
Recent studies about clusters claim that firm-specific characteristics should be considered as ce... more Recent studies about clusters claim that firm-specific characteristics should be considered as central to the explanation of innovation This article contributes to this literature and explores the role of combinations of internal and relational resources to the explanation of ...
Multinational enterprises (MNEs) can play the role of extracting, diffusing and bringing knowledg... more Multinational enterprises (MNEs) can play the role of extracting, diffusing and bringing knowledge through external linkages. The classical literature of industrial districts has not focused on these external ties, although occasionally they have been mentioned when trying to avoid lock-in and entropic inertia. This work focuses on this gap and examines the process of knowledge exchange between clusters through MNE affiliates which operate in all of them. Empirical work is conducted with interviews to clustered indigenous firms with affiliates operating in other clusters and affiliates belonging to MNEs which are independent of other clusters, all of them in the ceramic tile industry. The results show that the knowledge created in the collective learning process is local-scaled and is created from interaction between local SMEs and indigenous and foreign MNEs. The knowledge created in other clusters is introduced through foreign MNE affiliates complementing the local one. The results, interpreted within and limited to this context, can also provide insight into policy-making. Within global industries, polycentric networks from different clusters are open entities formed by local SMEs and connected and linked with foreign and indigenous MNE affiliates which sustain the channels that allow knowledge to be transferred from a local to a global scale.
A firm's search strategy is to use innovation inputs from external sources such as suppliers, cli... more A firm's search strategy is to use innovation inputs from external sources such as suppliers, clients, competitors, universities and research transfer offices (RTOs) to complement their in-house knowledge. Thus, a firm needs to be capable of identifying and valuing the potential value of certain external knowledge, i.e. absorptive capacity. Most of the studies regarding search patterns are reduced mostly to medium–high- and high-tech industries in which only the level of investment in R&D activities as determinant of a firm's search strategy is considered. In addition, when the flows of external knowledge arise from firm–university interactions, the evidence is still inconclusive, specifically for SMEs and low–medium-tech environments. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to explore the pattern of a firm's search strategy through its absorptive capacity to acquire external flows of knowledge from universities and RTOs. The paper draws especially on the role of non-R&D innovation activities in low–medium-tech sectors. Seven hundred and forty three innovative firms from the Spanish Ministry of Industry are analysed. Results suggest that human resources and other non-R&D activities are the core drivers explaining the cooperation agreements to access external knowledge from universities and RTOs. Surprisingly, R&D expenditures do not contribute to the explanation. This paper presents important implications for policy-makers beyond the classic R&D policies.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the analysis of firms' i... more 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 ...
International Journal of Technology Management, 2007
Abstract: This article presents an analysis of the CINet survey results in Spain. Although Spain ... more Abstract: This article presents an analysis of the CINet survey results in Spain. Although Spain is a newcomer to Continuous Improvement (CI) practices, globalisation has stressed the need to raise the level of the firms' competitiveness in order to compete worldwide. As a ...
This paper will try to contribute to the understanding of public programs supporting high technol... more This paper will try to contribute to the understanding of public programs supporting high technology diffusion and transference. The framework utilised will combine the theory of technology and innovation diffusion and the use of value mapping methodology. The article provides empirical evidence on the variables, which contribute to filling some research gaps on the assessment of high tech diffusion programs. For this we have utilised the evaluation of the GAME initiative, part of the European Commission IV Research Framework Programme. The objective of this program was to diffuse microelectronics technology among Spanish firms. Using one hundred set cases and employing multivariable analysis methods it was found that a model could be built with two multivariable constructs to explain and understand technology diffusion, absorption and transference flows. In addition, the model is useful for evaluating technology dissemination using the diffusion model to measure its social impact. The statistical methodology applied, as a complement to value mapping, provides a robustness in the results which is not normally furnished by classical evaluation methods. It also reinforces value mapping as an adequate tool for high tech cases with certain modifications to the original approach. The␣latter is due to the uncertainty of technology disruption curves and change, as well as to the changing conditions in the economies of scale.
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