A structural equation model of the impact of the “fuzzy front end” on the success of new product development

In this study of new product development projects, the fuzzy front end of innovation was explored. The new product development process has multiple stages, so two types of fuzzy front end impacts on the success of new product development were examined: (1) a direct impact and (2) an indirect impact by influencing the next stage of the new product development process, i.e. project execution. Furthermore, the degree of project newness, in accordance with contingency theory, was considered.We developed and tested a conceptual model of relationships among key variables related to the fuzzy front end, project execution, and project success. The structural equation model was tested with AMOS using information from 144 projects completed by German measurement and control technique firms.For the most part, the responses from these firms supported the hypothesized relationships and the frequently claimed importance of the fuzzy front end was confirmed. The results offer strong support for the importance of the early involvement of all departments in new product development to enhance communication and, ultimately, project success. This process can be advanced by initial planning prior to development.Furthermore, the firms’ responses highlighted the importance of reducing market and technical uncertainty during the fuzzy front end, as both were found to negatively influence communication and increase deviations during project execution. The technical uncertainty remaining at the start of a project had a direct, negative influence on project efficiency and the most far-reaching implications regarding the success or failure of the project.With regard to contingency theory, the results indicated that efforts spent on the reduction of uncertainty to improve project execution and success may be influenced by the degree of newness of new product concepts. The degree of newness was found to influence the reduction of technical uncertainty, deviations from specifications, and efficiency.     

Institutional changes and the commercialization of academic knowledge: A study of Italian universities’ patenting activities between 1965 and 2002

This paper focuses on Italian universities’ patenting activities between 1965 and 2002 and on the way they were affected by internal IPR regulations, set as part of broader responses to the increased level of autonomy granted to universities during the 1990s. Our analyses are based on a unique dataset including detailed information on all patents filed by Italian universities and university-level characteristics. Results show that: (1) in the last 10 years, the number of Italian university patents rose substantially; (2) patenting activities almost tripled in universities with an internal IPR regulation, after controlling for several universities’ characteristics, previous patenting activity and time trends; (3) each time a university creates its own patent regulation, there is a 9% increase in the likelihood that universities without any internal patent regulation will adopt one. Implications for university technology transfer policies are discussed.     

结构洞对产品创新绩效的作用机理研究——基于知识搜索与转移的视角

结构洞对企业产品创新有着重要的影响,但对其具体的作用机理尚缺乏全面和深入的研究。通过引入知识搜索和知识转移理论,本文提出并实证检验了结构洞对产品创新绩效的作用机理。研究发现:结构洞与产品创新绩效之间呈倒U型关系;知识搜索和知识转移都有助于企业产品创新,但结构洞有利于知识搜索却不利于知识转移;结构洞对知识搜索和转移的这种不同影响是形成结构洞与产品创新绩效之间倒U型关系的原因。研究结论为企业更有效地利用结构洞提供了理论指导。     

质量管理在制造技术与企业绩效中的中介效应检验 ——基于Bootstrap法的结构方程分析

摘要：以重庆市制造企业为样本,运用基于Bootstrap的结构方程方法,对质量管理在先进制造技术与企业绩效间的中介作用进行了实证检验。中介效应的三步检验结果表明：先进制造技术对企业绩效的直接作用并不显著;先进制造技术对质量管理、质量管理对企业绩效均有显著的直接影响,质量管理活动在先进制造技术和企业绩效的关系中起到了完全的中介作用。中介效应的进一步分析显示,先进制造技术通过对质量管理核心活动与基础活动的递进作用,最终经由员工管理和流程管理活动间接改善了企业的绩效水平。     

Tacit knowledge acquisition & sharing,and its influence on innovations: A Polish/US cross-country study

This study measures the relationship between tacit knowledge sharing and innovation in the Polish (n = 350) and US (n = 379) IT industries. Conceptually, the study identifies the potential sources of tacit knowledge development by individuals. That is, the study examines how “learning by doing” and “learning by interaction” lead to a willingness to share knowledge and, as a consequence, to support process and product/service innovation. This study empirically demonstrates that tacit knowledge internalization and externalization (awareness and sharing) significantly mediate between tacit knowledge experimentation and socialization (acquisition) and its final combination (knowledge in action). While such theoretical assumptions already exist, they have not yet been empirically explained and revealed in a single structural model. Further, this empirical approach enabled a demonstration that internalization and externalization of tacit knowledge may occur consciously or unconsciously with equal success. Even so, the study also showed conscious tacit knowledge’s greater impact on innovation. Therefore, an organizational effort to manage autonomous, informal, and strongly contextual tacit knowledge is worthwhile and creates the capacity for superior competitive advantage. Finally, this study also demonstrates that national context influences tacit knowledge acquisition. In the US, “learning by doing” is dominant, whereas in Poland, “learning by interaction” and critical thinking are more common. This might be related to factors such as risk acceptance that could be studied in more detail and provide opportunities for future research.