R&D plays a dual role: First, it generates new knowledge and second, it develops a firm's absorptive capacity. Most of the existing strategic investment game models neglect, however, the second role of R&D. The aim of this paper is to incorporate the absorptive capacity hypothesis in such a model by endogenizing the spillover. A two-stage game is established and subsequently solved, looking for the subgame perfect Nash equilibria. Considering the comparative static properties of the model as well as the simulation results, a new effect appears: The "free-rider effect" of the models with exogenous spillover, which deteriorates the higher the spillover becomes, is now counteracted by the "absorptive capacity effect". It is found that firms will invest more in R&D to strengthen absorptive capacity when the spillover parameter is higher. (author's abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

Det kunskapssamhälle som råder idag medför att organisationer måste rusta sig och hålla ett högt tempo i den förändringsbenägna omvärlden. Kunskap och lärande ses däremellan som nyckelaktiviteter i relation till förändring vilket i sin tur föder innovation. Forskning har påvisat att småföretag förväntas bidra till en större del av näringslivets tillväxt, men att småföretagen samtidigt har behov av att höja sin innovationskapacitet för att möta utmaningen. Studien avsåg därför att utforska småföretag i extern samverkan för att se huruvida ett sådant kunskapsutbyte skapat förutsättningar för innovation hos den egna organisationen. Med hjälp av en kvalitativ forskningsmetodik undersöktes sex småföretagsledare som deltagit i det lärande nätverket, Tillväxtmotorn, via semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultatet påvisade att småföretag inte aktivt arbetade med att ta tillvara på kunskapsutbytet som framkommit från Tillväxtmotorn på grund av tidsbrist, en bristfällig strategisk ledning eller värdesättandet av kunskap och lärande. En modell skapades i riktning att ge småföretagsledare verktyg till att ta tillvara samt integrera kunskapsutbytet med den egna organisationen i större utsträckning och på så vis öka dess innovationskapacitet. / The knowledge society that currently exists demands that organizations must adequately equip themselves and be able to maintain a fast pace of learning and adaptation in the changing environment. Knowledge and learning are seen as key activities in relation to change, which in turn generates innovation. Research has shown that small businesses are expected to contribute to a larger percentage of economic growth, than previously, and that small businesses simultaneously have the need to raise their innovation capacity to meet these challenges. The study intended, therefore, to explore small businesses participation in external partnerships to see whether such an exchange of knowledge for innovation in the organization is effective. Using a qualitative research technique, six small business leaders who participated in the learning network were interviewed, using semi-structured questionnaires concerning the ”engine of growth”. The results demonstrated that small businesses are not proactively working to take advantage of the knowledge exchange that emerged from the growth engine due to a lack of time, inadequate strategic direction or their value planting of knowledge and learning. A model was created to provide small business leaders tools to utilize and integrate knowledge exchange with its own organization to a greater extent, thus increasing its capacity for innovation.

As universidades brasileiras, a partir da reforma educacional iniciada na década de 60, invertem o modelo público politizado existente incentivando a expansão do ensino superior surgindo então as Universidades Comunitárias (UC). Essas universidades privadas, sem fins lucrativos e de utilidade pública, surgem da ausência das IES públicas ou confessionais em regiões distantes dos grandes centros pois encontram-se instaladas, principalmente, nas capitais dos Estados. Com isso, pela mobilização das lideranças locais e regionais, novos cursos superiores isolados focados nas carências regionais são abertos e, essas instituições comunitárias, passam a ser as portas de entrada do ensino superior para uma população até então não atendida, promovendo a sistematização do conhecimento disponível e, devolvendo diretamente a sociedade que as constituiu. As Universidades Comunitárias atuam como portais de conhecimento (knowledge gatekeepers) e, ao possibilitar o acesso ao ensino superior para uma sociedade até então não atendida, a UC adquire uma relevância social que pode contribuir para uma reflexão também sobre o papel social de um knowledge gatekeeper. Através de um estudo de caso em uma Universidade comunitária multicampi do Rio Grande do Sul-Brasil. A pesquisa propõe, por meio da avaliação dos fatores endógenos presentes em uma IES comunitária e, através do aprofundamento de sua dimensão social, avaliar a capacidade absortiva, a proximidade regional e o capital social do corpo docente da IES, identificando também, os níveis de percepção da identidade da IES pela população estudada. Através dos resultados da pesquisa propõe um modelo que propicia sua identificação de uma Universidade Comunitária como social knowledge gatekeeper tendo os resultados, demonstrado a viabilidade do modelo, bem como, a identificação das características que possibilitam sua aplicabilidade. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-04-30T11:45:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Leonardo Roth.pdf: 1501282 bytes, checksum: 907ca4885abf4d5d6c7b39269f4b05a0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-04-30T11:45:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Leonardo Roth.pdf: 1501282 bytes, checksum: 907ca4885abf4d5d6c7b39269f4b05a0 (MD5) / Brazilian universities, from the education reform started in the 60's, reverse the existing model politicized public by encouraging the expansion of higher education appearing then the Community Supported Universities(CSU). These private universities, nonprofit and public utility arising from the lack of public higher education institution (HEI) or confessional in regions far from major centers as are installed mainly in the capitals of the states. With this, the mobilization of local and regional leaders, new degree courses focused on isolated regional shortages are open, and these institutions, become the entrance doors of HEI to a population hitherto unmet , promoting the systematization of knowledge available and returning it directly to the company constituted. The Community Supported Universities act as portals of knowledge (knowledge gatekeepers), and to provide access to higher education for a society hitherto unmet, CSU acquires a social relevance that can also contribute to a reflection on the role of social one knowledge gatekeeper. Through a case study in a CSU multicampi of Rio Grande do Sul-Brazil. The research proposes, through the evaluation of endogenous factors present in a community and HEI, by deepening its social dimension, assess the absorptive capacity , proximity and the regional capital of the faculty of HEI, also identifying the levels of perception of the identity of the HEI study population. Through the results of the research we propose a model that provides identification of a Community Supported University as social knowledge gatekeeper and the results demonstrated the feasibility of the model, as well as identifying the characteristics that enable its applicability.

Bakgrund: Managementkonsultbranschen har de senaste 40 åren växt kraftigt och managementkonsultens roll i organisationer tar allt större plats. Det har genererat mycket forskning kring inköp av managementkonsulter, men forskning kring utvärderingens plats i organisationers konsultanvändning är fortfarande bristande. Utvärderingar av komplexa tjänster har tidigare setts som formella processer, men det finns indikationer på att den informella utvärderingen tar mer plats i organisationer än någonsin. Idag är marknader och industrier kompetensbaserade, varpå det bör finnas intresse inom organisationer att ständigt sträva mot förbättrad prestation. Organisationer bör fokusera på kontinuerligt lärande i organisationens alla delar, vilket kanske kan stimuleras av konsultanvändning, genom utvärdering. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att bidra med kunskap om hur organisationer utvärderar managementkonsultens arbete och på vilket sätt utvärderingen bidrar till det organisatoriska lärandet. Metod: Studien baseras på tre fallföretag som använder managementkonsulter i sin dagliga verksamhet. Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär, där data är samlad genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med inköpare och projektledare. Slutsats: Studien påvisar tre typer av utvärdering som inkluderas i organisationers konsultanvändning, den informella utvärderingen, den individuella utvärderingen samt den projektbaserade utvärderingen. Studien är bland de första av sitt slag som konstaterar den informella utvärderingens förekomst i organisationer. Vidare kan det konstateras att utvärderingen direkt kan gynna organisationers lärande, främst då information kodas och sprids i interna nätverk genom individuell utvärdering. Det kan även konstateras att lean har en negativ inverkan på lärandet genom utvärdering, då organisationer som är lean ofta väljer att inte spara utvärderingsrelaterad information. / Background: The use of Management Consultants has increased during the past 40 years and is now more common in organisations. This has resulted in much research regarding the purchasing processes of Management Consultants, but less regarding how organsiations evaluate these services. Evaluation of complex services has previously been categorised as a formal process, but today, there are indications that informal evaluations are more and more common. Moreover, industries today are highly influenced by the possession of knowledge, why organisations should find interest in continuously improved performance. Organisations should therefore focus on general continuous learning, which could be stimulated by evaluations through the use of Management Consultants. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to contribute with knowledge regarding how organisations evaluate the work of management consultants and how the evaluation can contribute to organisational learning. Methodology: This study concerns three cases, three organisations that include management consultants in their daily operations. This is a qualitative study, where data was collected through semi-structured interviews with both procurement managers and project managers. Conclusions: This study argues for three evaluation strategies, included in organisational use of Management Consultants, the informal evaluation, the individual evaluation and the project-based evaluation. The study is among the first to state the presence of informal evaluations in organisations. Moreover, the study argues that evaluations can favour organisational learning, principally when information from individual evaluations are crystalised and spread through organisation’s internal networks. It can be further noted that lean production can influence learning through evaluations on a negative note, since organisations who use lean often choose not to save information related to evaluations.

Diversos estudos exploram temas relacionados ao monitoramento do ambiente com o intuito de auxiliar empresas a se protegerem contra ameaças e a aproveitarem oportunidades provenientes do ambiente externo. Outros pesquisadores se dedicaram aos tópicos relacionados à gestão do conhecimento, colocando o conhecimento como elemento central para o desenvolvimento e o sucesso empresarial. Contudo, identificaram-se poucos estudos que explorem as temáticas de monitoramento do ambiente e gestão do conhecimento em conjunto. Com o propósito de contribuir para o preenchimento desta lacuna, o presente estudo investiga o desenvolvimento da capacidade absortiva em processos de exploração de sinais fracos, sob a perspectiva da criação do conhecimento organizacional. Para tal investigação se utilizou método qualitativo e exploratório; tendo como técnicas de coleta de dados entrevistas semiestruturadas e análise de conteúdo para exploração dos mesmos. Constatou-se que o desempenho do processo de Inteligência pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento da capacidade absortiva, além de propiciar a criação, expansão e renovação de conhecimentos individuais e organizacionais. Observou-se, também, que a realização das atividades de Inteligência incentiva a ação e influencia na tomada de decisão de colaboradores e gestores. Os profissionais ao se sentirem melhor informados sobre oportunidades e ameaças provenientes do ambiente externo à organização passam a refletir e se responsabilizar mais por ações e decisões. / Many studies explore topics related to the environmental scanning process in order to assist companies with protecting themselves against threats and seizing opportunities that arise from external environments. Furthermore, a number of researchers have focused broadly and deeply on topics related to knowledge management, placing knowledge as a central resource to a business’s development and success. Nevertheless, there are few studies that combine the themes of environmental scanning and knowledge management. Aiming contribute to fill this gap, this study investigates the absorptive capacity developing in weak signals’ exploration process through the organization knowledge creation’ perspectives. The employed method to this qualitative and explorative research will be interviews by means of techniques for collecting data; and a content analysis for an exploitation of these data. It was found that the Intelligence process performance contributes to the development of absorptive capacity. Futhermore, the practice of Intelligence process facilitates the creation, expansion and renewal of individual and organizational knowledge. It was also observed that the realization of intelligence activities encourages action and influence in employees and managers decision making. Professionals who feel better informed about opportunities and threats from the external environment in regards to the organization start to further reflect and be more accountable for actions and decisions.

Diversos estudos exploram temas relacionados ao monitoramento do ambiente com o intuito de auxiliar empresas a se protegerem contra ameaças e a aproveitarem oportunidades provenientes do ambiente externo. Outros pesquisadores se dedicaram aos tópicos relacionados à gestão do conhecimento, colocando o conhecimento como elemento central para o desenvolvimento e o sucesso empresarial. Contudo, identificaram-se poucos estudos que explorem as temáticas de monitoramento do ambiente e gestão do conhecimento em conjunto. Com o propósito de contribuir para o preenchimento desta lacuna, o presente estudo investiga o desenvolvimento da capacidade absortiva em processos de exploração de sinais fracos, sob a perspectiva da criação do conhecimento organizacional. Para tal investigação se utilizou método qualitativo e exploratório; tendo como técnicas de coleta de dados entrevistas semiestruturadas e análise de conteúdo para exploração dos mesmos. Constatou-se que o desempenho do processo de Inteligência pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento da capacidade absortiva, além de propiciar a criação, expansão e renovação de conhecimentos individuais e organizacionais. Observou-se, também, que a realização das atividades de Inteligência incentiva a ação e influencia na tomada de decisão de colaboradores e gestores. Os profissionais ao se sentirem melhor informados sobre oportunidades e ameaças provenientes do ambiente externo à organização passam a refletir e se responsabilizar mais por ações e decisões. / Many studies explore topics related to the environmental scanning process in order to assist companies with protecting themselves against threats and seizing opportunities that arise from external environments. Furthermore, a number of researchers have focused broadly and deeply on topics related to knowledge management, placing knowledge as a central resource to a business’s development and success. Nevertheless, there are few studies that combine the themes of environmental scanning and knowledge management. Aiming contribute to fill this gap, this study investigates the absorptive capacity developing in weak signals’ exploration process through the organization knowledge creation’ perspectives. The employed method to this qualitative and explorative research will be interviews by means of techniques for collecting data; and a content analysis for an exploitation of these data. It was found that the Intelligence process performance contributes to the development of absorptive capacity. Futhermore, the practice of Intelligence process facilitates the creation, expansion and renewal of individual and organizational knowledge. It was also observed that the realization of intelligence activities encourages action and influence in employees and managers decision making. Professionals who feel better informed about opportunities and threats from the external environment in regards to the organization start to further reflect and be more accountable for actions and decisions.

As universidades brasileiras, a partir da reforma educacional iniciada na década de 60, invertem o modelo público politizado existente incentivando a expansão do ensino superior surgindo então as Universidades Comunitárias (UC). Essas universidades privadas, sem fins lucrativos e de utilidade pública, surgem da ausência das IES públicas ou confessionais em regiões distantes dos grandes centros pois encontram-se instaladas, principalmente, nas capitais dos Estados. Com isso, pela mobilização das lideranças locais e regionais, novos cursos superiores isolados focados nas carências regionais são abertos e, essas instituições comunitárias, passam a ser as portas de entrada do ensino superior para uma população até então não atendida, promovendo a sistematização do conhecimento disponível e, devolvendo diretamente a sociedade que as constituiu. As Universidades Comunitárias atuam como portais de conhecimento (knowledge gatekeepers) e, ao possibilitar o acesso ao ensino superior para uma sociedade até então não atendida, a UC adquire uma relevância social que pode contribuir para uma reflexão também sobre o papel social de um knowledge gatekeeper. Através de um estudo de caso em uma Universidade comunitária multicampi do Rio Grande do Sul-Brasil. A pesquisa propõe, por meio da avaliação dos fatores endógenos presentes em uma IES comunitária e, através do aprofundamento de sua dimensão social, avaliar a capacidade absortiva, a proximidade regional e o capital social do corpo docente da IES, identificando também, os níveis de percepção da identidade da IES pela população estudada. Através dos resultados da pesquisa propõe um modelo que propicia sua identificação de uma Universidade Comunitária como social knowledge gatekeeper tendo os resultados, demonstrado a viabilidade do modelo, bem como, a identificação das características que possibilitam sua aplicabilidade. / Brazilian universities, from the education reform started in the 60's, reverse the existing model politicized public by encouraging the expansion of higher education appearing then the Community Supported Universities(CSU). These private universities, nonprofit and public utility arising from the lack of public higher education institution (HEI) or confessional in regions far from major centers as are installed mainly in the capitals of the states. With this, the mobilization of local and regional leaders, new degree courses focused on isolated regional shortages are open, and these institutions, become the entrance doors of HEI to a population hitherto unmet , promoting the systematization of knowledge available and returning it directly to the company constituted. The Community Supported Universities act as portals of knowledge (knowledge gatekeepers), and to provide access to higher education for a society hitherto unmet, CSU acquires a social relevance that can also contribute to a reflection on the role of social one knowledge gatekeeper. Through a case study in a CSU multicampi of Rio Grande do Sul-Brazil. The research proposes, through the evaluation of endogenous factors present in a community and HEI, by deepening its social dimension, assess the absorptive capacity , proximity and the regional capital of the faculty of HEI, also identifying the levels of perception of the identity of the HEI study population. Through the results of the research we propose a model that provides identification of a Community Supported University as social knowledge gatekeeper and the results demonstrated the feasibility of the model, as well as identifying the characteristics that enable its applicability.

Capacidade de absorção é um tipo de capacidade dinâmica da firma, presente na literatura de gestão estratégica e que demonstra a aprendizagem organizacional, a partilha de conhecimentos, a inovação e o desempenho da empresa. Estudos anteriores indicam que é importante se concentrar nas rotinas e processos que as organizações usam para adquirir, assimilar, transformar e explorar o conhecimento, dentro do conceito de capacidade de absorção. Entretanto, é ainda um tema recente e pouco estudado na academia e, por isso, alguns autores chamam a atenção para a falta de estudos dos processos relacionados a efetiva implementação e realização da capacidade de absorção nas empresas. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é fornecer uma compreensão de como a capacidade de absorção ocorre nas startups, que mantém relacionamentos interorganizacionais com grandes empresas, para obtenção de vantagem competitiva, sob a perspectiva do gerenciamento de processos de negócio. Para atender aos objetivos propostos, foi utilizado o estudo de caso como método de pesquisa, permitindo identificar os gatilhos que iniciam e terminam os processos de absorção de conhecimento nas startups, bem como as atividades estruturadas e sistematizadas que operacionalizam o conceito. Foi construído um diagrama de atividades que representa o modelo de processos para o desenvolvimento da capacidade de absorção, indicando que os processos de negócio estão relacionados aos fluxos de informações que são processados pelas startups nos programas de aceleração corporativa. As vantagens competitivas decorrentes da capacidade de absorção concretizam-se nas startups por meio da flexibilidade estratégica, inovação do tipo organizacional e no desempenho organizacional, avaliado na perspectiva de seus processos internos. O estudo contribui para o avanço no estado da arte ao descrever os processos de negócio relacionados à operacionalização do conceito de capacidade de absorção em startups, por meio dos relacionamentos interorganizacionais com as grandes empresas. / Absorptive capacity is a type of dynamic capabilities of the firm, present in the strategic management literature, that demonstrates the organizational learning, the knowledge sharing, the innovation and the performance of the company. Previous studies indicate that it is important to focus on the routines and processes that organizations use to acquire, assimilate, transform and exploit knowledge within the concept of absorptive capacity. However, it is still a recent and little-studied topic at the academy and therefore some authors draw attention to the lack of studies of the processes related to the effective implementation and realization of the absorptive capacity in the companies. In this context, the aim of this work is to provide an understanding of how absorptive capacity occurs in startups, which maintains interorganizational relationships with large companies, to gain competitive advantage, from the perspective of Business Process Management. To meet the proposed objectives, the research method was the case study, that is allowing the identification of triggers that initiate and end the processes of absorptive of knowledge in the startups, as well as structured and systematized activities that operationalize the concept. An activity diagram was made that represents the process model for the development of absorptive capacity, indicating that the business processes are related to the information flows that are processed by the startups in the corporate accelerator programs. The competitive advantages arising from the absorptive capacity are achieved in the startups through strategic flexibility, organizational-type innovation and organizational performance, evaluated from the perspective of their internal processes. The study contributes to the advancement in the state of the art by describing the business processes related to the operationalization of the concept of absorptive capacity in startups, through the interorganizational relationships with the large companies.

The objective of this study is to understand how the integration of digital technology (DT) in the Bangladesh Film industry has been responded to by its production, distribution and exhibition related organisations. Since no research on digital integration has been considered in a developing country context, and specifically within the area of concentrating on the industry rather than the films themselves, this research therefore addresses the gaps within the knowledge field. The Bangladesh Film Industry (BFI) used to be a centre for film production, distribution and exhibition, but this traditional industry has been in decline for decades. In response to the decline, the government started an integration process of DT in 2003, yet eight years after the launch only a fraction of the project has been completed. Apart from its partial adoption in the film production sector, distribution and exhibition have appeared to resist the adoption of new technology. This thesis therefore sets out to explore the causes of partial integration of DT in the film industry in Bangladesh through a study of the workforce, business owners, practitioners, scholars, government officials and executives functioning in and outside the industry. With the mixed method approach and emphasis on qualitative engagement (two case studies and 38 interviews), this thesis explores current attitudes and beliefs and identifies potential barriers to effective integration. In particular this dissertation examines five areas: technology integration, training for workforce development, production, distribution and exhibition capabilities, and argues that the political factor was the most important driver in integrating DT, while knowledge integration, training, and development of digital production, distribution and exhibition compatibility at individual and organisational levels were ignored. Moreover, the greatest concern of losing a job or business within the industry community due to inadequate knowledge, skills and finance is impeding the possibility of full completion of the integration process within the industry. Overall, two important contributions of this research include 1) an exploration of factors that impeded progress of the film industry in responding to the DT and 2) a formulation of some suitable recommendations to overcome the challenges in order to completely realise the integration of DT within the Bangladesh Film Industry. However, further research is recommended to investigate whether completion of the integration process will save the industry from decline or not.

External knowledge sourcing is not only an integral practice within knowledge management, its successful facilitation through leadership has a pressing importance for companies in order to stay innovative and thus competitive in an economic environment, shaped by the dominant and continuous influence of globalization and the increasingly fast pace of technological innovation. Hereby, only limited research has been conducted in the relation between knowledge-oriented leadership, knowledge management, and innovation.This thesis is contextualized in the scientific discourse which concerns itself with the role of individual attitudes towards external knowledge sourcing, as well as the facilitating role of leadership towards changing individual attitudes. This thesis is, furthermore, also contextualized within the concepts of open innovation and absorptive capacity, which, respectively, are consequences of the spatial effects of globalization and the temporal effects of the fast pace of technological innovation.Research Question: Facing the challenges of globalization and the fast-changing pace of technology, what patterns between employee’s attitudes towards external knowledge acquisition and employee’s perceived leadership behaviors can be observed within tech companies in Sweden?In order to answer the proposed research question, we conducted a qualitative research including nine semi-structured interviews with employees with a technical background in tech companies in Sweden, ranging from small to large companies and with local to multinational operations.Our main findings represent a generally positive attitude towards external knowledge sourcing within our research scope, which relates with high levels of transformational leadership. Still, we were not able to explore the existence of knowledge-oriented leadership.This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge management, innovation, and leadership research, as it provides a first look into previously identified research gaps, namely the impact of knowledge-oriented leadership and knowledge management on open innovation (Naqshbandi & Jasimuddin, 2018) and the missing connection of the three separate bodies: leadership, knowledge management, and innovation (Donate & de Pablo, 2015)