New market creation through exaptation: The role of the founding team's prior professional experience

This paper focuses on the creation of new markets through technological exaptation i.e. the repurposing of existing technologies to serve new functions in a different market domain. We conceptualize the ability of new ventures to create new market applications for existing technologies as dependent on the knowledge, skills, and cognitive frames developed by the founding teams’ members during their professional careers. Specifically, we hypothesize that the extent of the founding team's employment experience across different organizations influences the probability that the new venture will create a new market through technological exaptation. We also explain why experience in entrepreneurially prominent organizations changes this relationship at various levels of prior employment experience. We test our arguments using data on blockchain startups (and their founders/co-founders) in the worldwide energy sector established between 2010 and 2019. The results show that the likelihood that a new venture develops a new market application for blockchain technology in the energy sector is associated with the professional experience of the founding team members. We discuss the implications of these findings.     

Environmental management systems and technological environmental innovations: Exploring the causal relationship

Within the discussion of voluntary proactive approaches to environmental protection, former micro-econometric studies analyze the causal effect of the adoption of environmental management systems (EMS) on technological environmental innovations and find some positive impacts. Based on empirical studies which consider the effect of general innovativeness on the adoption of voluntary environmental programs (VEP) as well as based on insights from the resource-based view of the firm, we contrarily hypothesize in this paper that EMS could also reversely be affected by environmental product or process innovations. This hypothesis is empirically examined with a unique firm-level data set from the German manufacturing sector. Our econometric analyses with uni- and multivariate probit models imply a significantly positive effect of environmental process innovations on certified EMS. According to this, the causal relationship between EMS and technological environmental innovations is obviously not clear.     

First adoption of consumer innovations: Exploring market failure and alleviating factors

Consumers innovate usually for non-commercial motives. They generally lack incentives to diffuse, and this is expected to hamper first adoption – even if consumer innovations are valuable to many other people. We confirm this market failure with survey data of 164 German consumer innovators. First adoption by others is unrelated with general use value, unless the innovator is highly willing to commercialize. Next, as classical diffusion theory does not explain when consumer innovations become available to others, we propose an individual-object-process (I-O-P) framework to study factors alleviating the market failure. The viability of the framework is explored by studying the moderating role of entrepreneurial experience (I), product newness (O) and community engagement during the innovation process (P). First adoption of generally valuable consumer innovations is enhanced when a community was involved. We also find tentative evidence for a moderating role of entrepreneurial experience and product newness.     

Exploring the sources of design innovations: Insights from the computer,communications and audio equipment industries

Whereas business research has focused on the impact of design innovations on market response and financial performance, the sources of design innovations, as opposed to those of technological innovations, have largely escaped investigation. In this research, we examine the organizational, financial, and environmental drivers of design innovations and how they contrast to technological innovations. Our study utilizes a unique dataset encompassing a 10-year window of innovation output drawn from the computer, communications, and audio and video equipment manufacturing industries. Our results suggest that design innovations are driven primarily by investments in research and development and slack organizational resources. Interestingly, we find that design innovations are more prevalent in smaller but fast-growing markets as opposed to technology innovations, which are prevalent in larger markets. Contrary to expectations, we find no association between marketing investments and design innovations. Our research contributes to the extant business literature by considering the sources of design innovations separately from the sources of technology innovations. We also contribute to the literature by distinguishing design and technology patents, developing a deeper understanding of design innovation, and illuminating a lesser understood source of competitive advantage for firms.     

Modular exaptation: A missing link in the synthesis of artificial form

Exaptation, the cooption of existing technologies for emergent functions, is an important but neglected mechanism for innovation. Exaptation may enable an existing technology to (a) construct a new technological niche, (b) enter into a preexisting niche, or (c) transform the internal architecture of an artifact without changing its function.     

企业技术创新活动调查分析研究——以河南省为例

根据对河南省企业创新活动的的调查数据,从该省企业开展创新活动的强度、产品创新和工艺创新研发主体情况、产品创新和工艺创新类型情况、自主品牌及知识产权保护情况、企业拥有新颖性产品情况等五个方面进行了分析,并提出了我国企业技术创新活动能力的一般特点、存在的问题及相应建议.     

Exploring market orientation through social network analysis: an exploration of three cross-functional,cross-geographic teams

Prior research has shown a correlation between market orientation and business performance as measured through new product success. Market orientation has traditionally been measured through the MKTOR and MARKOR scales developed by Narver and Slater and Kohli et al., respectively. We examine whether there might be a different, complementary way to study market orientation. Kohli and Jaworski discuss the role of networks in achieving higher levels of market orientation, but network analysis has not previously been used to study market orientation. Following Kohli and Jaworski we find that network analysis can show how information is gathered and disseminated within a group; and following Narver and Slater we find that network analysis can be used to examine customer orientation and coordination. We discover a possible association between the organization’s structure and its level of coordination, and that certain roles within the group facilitate increased customer orientation within the team. Our research suggests that network analysis, particularly when managers participate in the interpretation of results, can be an effective means of identifying and correcting obstacles to a team’s market orientation. We believe our research contributes to theory by showing an alternative, complementary way to study market orientation and suggests factors that contribute to a group’s level of market orientation. We believe that this research contributes to practice by providing managers with a practical measure to improve their organization’s market orientation, thus increasing the likelihood of new product success.     

基于系统动力学的印度能源及煤炭需求情景预测

随着印度能源和煤炭需求的增加,中印两国的能源竞争将日趋激烈,正确预测印度能源和煤炭需求增长趋势对于中国国际能源战略制定具有非常重要的意义。综合印度社会、经济、产业结构等因素对一次能源需求量的影响和经济、社会发展实际,构建了能源需求预测的7种情景,利用系统动力学模型预测了不同情境下的能源及煤炭需求量。根据印度经济、社会、能源、煤炭工业发展现状和趋势,考虑印度工业化需求、工业化基础、工业化的资源限制和市场限制,结合其他能源研究机构的预测结果,认为人口中增速、GDP中增速和当前产业结构模式的情景1与人口中增速、GDP中增速和弱工业化模式的情景4是较为可能的情景,根据这一判断,最终预测结果确定为:2035年能源需求量约(17~19)亿t油当量,煤炭需求量约(9~10)亿t油当量。至2035年的20多年里,印度可能成为全球能源消费增长最快和煤炭消费增长最快的地区。     

Making the development of technological innovations more efficient: An exploratory analysis in the biotechnology sector

The current study analyzes the processes involved in obtaining technological innovations. Conclusive results are lacking in the literature, so this work defines and empirically tests a model of the relations between the firm's innovative capacity and the different ways of accumulating knowledge and the decision whether or not to codify it. Also, the model takes into account whether the innovations obtained are radical or incremental.The empirical study uses a sample of Spanish biotechnology firms, and the results show that accumulating knowledge using internal sources and not codifying it significantly improves the firm's capacity to develop radical innovations. The results also show that knowledge codification speeds up the development of incremental innovations. The relation between incremental innovations and the sources of knowledge is not so clear, although the results suggest the possible existence of a nonlinear relation between the two variables.     

Stimulating a more Circular Economy through Public Procurement: Roles and dynamics of intermediation

Public procurement can accelerate transitions to a more circular economy by creating new demand for resource efficiency. Interactions during pre-procurement consultations influence the impact of such purchasing by helping define tender specifications. Intermediation throughout these processes can facilitate interactions between participants, assisting in sourcing, generating, and translating knowledge. However, roles for intermediaries and dynamics of intermediation are not fully understood. This paper intends to address how intermediation can promote a more circular economy. It examines a pilot project led by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to incorporate post-consumer recycled content in textiles through extensive consultation activities. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with those directly involved in the pilot, and analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Six intermediaries were identified and found to play a critical role in the process by 1) coordinating government and industry through aligning project goals, 2) facilitating cooperation of industry players to stimulate new business relationships, and 3) collaborating with the buyer to push for higher post-consumer recycled material in the final tender. With respect to public demand articulation, greater insight is needed to discover how to best combine buyers’ motivations for cost savings, sellers’ motivations of increased returns, and the sustainability requirements often imposed by third parties. These dynamics may mark transitions toward circularity as further projects arise, offering a more permanent role for intermediation.     

Exploring CO2 mitigation pathway of local industries using a regional-based system dynamics model

Low-carbon development based on low energy consumption, low pollution and low emissions has become an important strategic choice for worldwide governments to achieve sustainable development. In order to support smart government in decision making, information systems have been developed to monitor and predict CO₂ emissions. Most of the existing studies investigate CO₂ emission amounts, identify influencing factors of CO₂ emission and discuss potential suggestions to mitigate CO₂ emission for different industries. They often focus on CO₂ emission research of industries in a region or country, while the integration of carbon flow in the neighboring regions is not well studied. Therefore, this paper proposes a system dynamics model to explore an optimal carbon emission reduction path of a regional industry by integrating regional differences, i.e., industrial comparative advantages, technology advantages and the inter-regional context between the neighboring regions. In the case study, we use a key industry in a typical industrial region of Western China, the cement industry in Chongqing, as a scenario to simulate the CO₂ emission, possible energy demand and cement production of the cement industry in this region for recent years. Simulation results show that by leveraging the regional differences, especially the collaboration of the industrial chain and production capacity among regions, the cement industry in Chongqing can achieve the low-carbon target. In addition, through the analysis and discussions about the features of our model and Chongqing’s cement industry, it reflects that our model using regional differences is applicable to industries with a common demand market at the regional level such as energy, chemical and steel industries.     

Exploring the complexity of the individualistic culture through social exchange in online reviews

Online reviews have reshaped visitor economies. However, there is a lack of research regarding the motivations of visitors to write online reviews as most existing research disregards the cultural differences between individuals. This research investigates the motivations of museum visitors from individualistic cultures to write online reviews with the critique of Hofstede (1980) through the lens of Social Exchange Theory (SET). This study utilises the netnography methodology. One hundred and eleven detailed TripAdvisor reviews and ten email interviews were collected. Theoretically, we contribute to SET by developing a two-dimensional framework which indicates 1) that the complexity and heterogeneity of individualist culture were identified in the dimension of social exchange between the service provider and the visitors through online reviews; and 2) American and British visitors share similar individualist culture in the second dimension of social exchange between peers in online reviews. Practically, this research can benefit the online reputation management and expectation management for visitor attractions, with the goal of improving their visitor offerings and to minimise negative reviews.     

On dynamics analysis of a novel three-scroll chaotic attractor

This paper reports a novel chaotic member to the three-dimensional smooth autonomous quadratic system family, which is derived from the classical Chen system but exhibits a three-scroll chaotic attractor. The basic dynamical properties, such as Lyapunov exponents, fractal dimension, Poincaré map and chaotic dynamical behaviors of the new chaotic system are studied, either numerically or analytically. Simulation results clearly show that this is a novel chaotic system and deserves further detailed investigation.     

Commercialization of disruptive innovations: Literature review and proposal for a process framework

The challenges of disruptive innovations have gained significant attention from both academics and practitioners, commercialization being one of the most critical phases. At the same time, however, it is the less studied area of disruptive innovation. Therefore, this article examined scholarly papers on the commercialization of disruptive innovations through a multidisciplinary systematic literature review. It resulted in the analysis of 64 high-quality peer-reviewed academic articles. The analysis highlighted the commercialization models and main constructs that are affecting the commercialization process: market orientation, market learning, user's involvement, market configuration, adoption networks and stakeholders, and innovation transference. The study evidences how commercialization has evolved from a later stage in innovation to influence even the early phases of innovation, characterized in turn by exploration, learning and ecosystem creation activities. Additionally, the analysis led to a proposition that established an integrated commercialization model for high uncertainty innovations. The model has three phases: 1) Concept/value proposition validation, 2) Business model validation & Market creation, and 3) Creating sales in the majority market. Lastly, the article contributes to a better understanding of commercialization processes in high uncertainty innovations, bridging also the academic-practitioner divide.     

我矿紧密褶皱煤层开采的矿井地质工作与煤矿安全生产

通过矿井地质工作 ,认识、利用煤层压薄带 ,认识、搞好顶板管理 ,认识、预报断层等等。说明我矿紧密褶皱煤层开采的矿井地质工作与煤矿安全生产的密切关系、搞好矿井地质工作的重要性和必要性。     

Spillovers in the production of knowledge: A meta-regression analysis

The production of knowledge was subjected to quantitative analysis in the second half of the twentieth century, following Arrow (1962). The determinants of knowledge and the externalities present in the innovation process were discussed with immediate policy influence. In particular, the presence and strength of the spillover of the pool of past knowledge has encouraged high subsidization of R&D in the most developed countries. We survey the empirical literature on the spillover effect in the production of knowledge and implement a meta-analytic regression. We discover that the average spillover effect is less than but close to one and is highly significant. We also find that the spillover effect tends to be greater when the estimation of knowledge production accounts for foreign inputs, and it tends to be lower when the estimation includes only rich economies, regional data are used, and the pool of knowledge is not the patent stock.     

Modeling the adoption rates of manufacturing technology innovations by small US manufacturers: a longitudinal investigation

This study provides conclusive evidence to support the view that small plants are slower than larger plants to adopt manufacturing innovations. This empirical study based on over 1000 US manufacturing plants engaged in producing discrete products, studies the adoption of manufacturing technologies in small plants relative to large plants between 1993 and 1997.Under the assumption that small manufacturers are disadvantaged, several federal and state programs have been created to assist small manufacturers in acquiring and adopting manufacturing innovations. Through quantification of technology adoption in small manufacturing firms, this study’s findings reveal which manufacturing innovations are in greater need of governmental assistance programs. While small plants are making progress over time in catching up with larger plants in computerized technology use, they are not making similar progress in adopting manufacturing technology innovations in soft technologies. Several propositions for future research and recommendations for public policy are offered.     

基于CGE模型的中国煤炭产能政策优化

本文基于CHINAGEM模型构建了中国能源经济均衡模型（CGE）,建立差异化的多情景政策分析,比较了不同煤炭产能政策及其组合对中国宏观经济和产业部门的影响。研究结果表明：①煤炭产能政策在优化煤炭生产结构的同时,会显著影响其他能源产业和与之有上下游关联的非能源产业产出,不可避免地对宏观经济造成一定的冲击。②降产量政策对煤炭产业结构调整的作用最有效,但对宏观经济的冲击也最大;税收政策对宏观经济的冲击最小,但对煤炭产业结构调整的作用最弱;去产能政策对煤炭产业结构与宏观经济的影响介于降产量政策和税收政策之间。③在实施煤炭产能政策的同时,综合利用税收优惠、产能置换、技术进步等综合政策手段有助于推进煤炭生产结构调整,减缓其对宏观经济的负面影响,最终实现煤炭行业长效发展。本文采用冲击资本投入的方式模拟产能政策的结果更合理,更符合煤炭去产能的经济学含义,该方法同样适用于钢铁、玻璃、水泥等产业去产能的研究。     

行业技术动态下相关技术多样化对二元创新平衡的影响研究

本研究利用中国106家上市制造企业在2007—2010年间的面板数据,采用随机效应的GLS模型,分析行业技术动态下企业相关技术多样化对二元创新平衡的影响机理。研究结果表明:(1)企业相关技术多样化与二元创新平衡呈倒U型关系;(2)行业技术动态正向调节企业相关技术多样化与二元创新平衡间的关系。因此,在行业技术动态增大情况下,制造企业为了获得最大程度的二元性创新平衡,需要维持一个适当的相关技术多样化程度。     

Analyzing the functional dynamics of technological innovation systems: A scheme of analysis

Various researchers and policy analysts have made empirical studies of innovation systems in order to understand their current structure and trace their dynamics. However, policy makers often experience difficulties in extracting practical guidelines from studies of this kind. In this paper, we operationalize our previous work on a functional approach to analyzing innovation system dynamics into a practical scheme of analysis for policy makers. The scheme is based on previous literature and our own experience in developing and applying functional thinking. It can be used by policy makers not only to identify the key policy issues but also to set policy goals.