Strategic innovation networks are formed to through collaboration and joint activities fuel the innovation performance and economic growth for the network members and the regions they are based in and their presence has been more and more common in recent times. Many studies have been made to explore the relations between the innovation performance and the network structure and some has suggested commitment as an intermediate variable. The effect of expectations on joining such network and especially the fulfillment of those expectations has however not been studied. This study explores, on the network level, the relationship between expectation gap, structure, commitment and innovation performance. A questionnaire was sent to all members of three Swedish strategic innovation networks in different industries and regions to collect data to check the relations. The result gives support to the results from previous studies with regard to relationship between network structure, commitment and innovation performance. Furthermore it indicates there is a negative relation between expectation gap and both network structure and commitment. The results of this can help network actors realizing the importance of managing expectations rather than experiencing the negative effects if they are not fulfilled.

Innovation networks are not only about connections, but also dynamics, structures and influences. This research focuses on these three new aspects of innovation networks. The results of this research show that innovation networks have regularities in their dynamics, structures and influences. In the conclusion, these regularities are presented in the network snapshots and regression modelling. This research makes contributions in improving the understanding about how service innovation is created.

This thesis addresses the opportunities and difficulties that can occur in the creation of an innovation arena concerning sustainable city solutions. A case study was conducted of the Stockholm Royal Seaport project and a model for the management of an innovation arena was created. Three critical factors were discovered which were commitment, collective risk taking and trust and their connection to the overall common vision for an innovation arena. Conclusions after analyzing the critical factors was that clear contracts needs to be established and that third party involvement in the process of searching, qualifying and coaching of involved actors can be helpful in the process of developing an innovation arena.

Economic growth has virtually dropped to depression era levels in recent years as the domestic economy was and is still being impacted by severe competition in the international market. With the competition in the markets of most industries, how can we deal with the different stressful challenges to gain a dominant position in regard to competitiveness? There are numerous factors preventing many domestic traditional industries from being transformed, such as: the lack of innovative technical knowledge and competence, the limited necessary funds for manpower and equipment, the restriction of our government¡¦s subsidy clauses, etc. Accordingly, industry holders still keep and run their existing traditional industries, thereby raising obstacles to the promotion of the regional innovative system. The key point to solve the problem is to raise the knowledge technology level for the regional industry clusters. How can our government¡¦s policy help to assist the related industries to form the clusters and practice regional balanced development? The goal is to raise innovation in the necessary technologies; only then can an enterprise¡¦s business be sustained. According to the above, industry clusters constitute an important key to promote industrial development. The regional innovative system emphasizes the reactions and flow among organizations, including government, academia, research organizations, intermediaries, the financial market, the information network, etc. The thriving growth in the domestic economy relies much on the strengthening of innovation policies regarding urban areas. This research will discuss Chinese, Japanese and Korean governments¡¦ achievements in regard to the policies concerning regional innovations and management. The aims of the discussion include the following: 1. Investigating these 3 governments¡¦ successful cases of their innovation policies and strategies of industry clusters, in order to offer the greater Kaohsiung area a reference for practicing an innovative system; 2. Applying the results of the successful cases as suggestions for domestic traditional industries; and 3. Through integrated comparisons and analysis, substantial suggestions and measures for future development are proposed for the interaction between industry and academia, the enforcement of the administrative management regulations of the central and regional governments, the clustering strategies, etc. In addition, new energy, new materials and high technology industries are advised as a direction for the overall industrial development in the greater Kaohsiung area. Finally, the issues of industrial pollution of the environment, increasing the employment opportunities, and the cross-region and cross-nation innovative interactions are also explored.

Digitization of analogue everyday artifacts, i.e. when physical products are equipped with digital capabilities, has a profound impact on today’s society. Some examples of these digital innovations aimed at consumer markets are the “connected” car, the digitized television set, and in the near future, digitized IKEA furniture. Digital innovation provides endless opportunities for providing value adding products and services. However, in digital innovation there is a need to find new ways of organizing network activities, i.e. activities such as e.g. production and translation of knowledge and enrollment of actors. These activities need to embrace and build on the networked aspects and the complexity inherent to digital innovation. This requires network activities that can overcome challenges with the ambiguous and messy characteristics of digital innovation. In this thesis, I propose that the theoretical perspective of network orchestration can enlighten fruitful ways to address challenges that are encountered when organizing network activities in digital innovation. Inspired by practical challenges with digital innovation, as well as contemporary calls for research within IS, this thesis investigates: How can network activities be orchestrated in digital innovation? Two cases of digital innovation aimed at consumer markets are studied. The first case concerns the digitization of the newspaper. The second case regards the digitization of door locks. Literature about digital innovation is used to understand the context of the studied phenomenon. Furthermore, theories about network orchestration as well as activities in innovation are used as a theoretical framework to help answer the research question. The thesis is based on an interpretative perspective where a multi-method approach has been applied to address the research question. The contribution is divided into two different parts. The first part presents four categories of empirically derived network activities that address socio-technical challenges with organizing digital innovation. The second part is a proposed model detailing orchestration of network activities in digital innovation. The model is based around the four suggested categories of network activities: (1) Supporting flexible innovation networks, (2) Production and translation of layered architectural knowledge, (3) Addressing heterogeneous user communities, and (4) Harnessing generativity to leverage value. The categories of network activities can be viewed as building blocks for the orchestration process. By emphasizing both a proactive and a reactive way of orchestrating digital innovation, the model proposes a means for organizations to address the ambiguity and complexity of digital innovation.

Research: In recent years the concept of crowdfunding, fundraising through social communities, has risen as an alternative for launching new creations and projects. The aim of this study was to explore the non-financial aspects of how interactive value is created through the social networks on a reward-based crowdfunding platform. This was done through investigating how creators on Kickstarter perceive value, approaching the social network from three different levels: the context, structure and practices. This study had a qualitative approach and 13 interviews were performed with key actors on the crowdfunding platform. A secondary study was performed gathering information about Kickstarter through their website. Findings: The result of this study suggests that there are non-financial benefits of being connected with an innovation network. The findings further indicate that the creators are utilizing the digital platforms to gain attention from the crowd and to connect with other networks. The study concludes that collective value is created through interactions on the crowdfunding platform. Further, the general attitude of authenticity within the crowdfunding context implies that the creators’ personal values and motives might play role for the rate success rates of new ventures.

the hub firms which happen to be the central leading body carrying out responsibilities as a hub firm. The network orchestration comprises three vital orchestration processes Knowledge Mobility, Innovation Appropability and Network Stability which help the network orchestrator to communicate with multiple actors in the network. The research work is based on reflection and analysis of performance of hub firm in perspective of network orchestration and innovation project directed towards betterment of public transportation department. With respect to the domain of study there have been thorough perusal and analysis of several academic articles and resources which have hitherto been contributed for the subject in question. Methodology consists of in depth interview of the researchers of Victoria institute which are currently working on ISET program (Innovation for sustainable everyday travel). Our findings seek to answer the main question, that how a hub firm tackles with its emerging challenges to leverage network innovation, in shape of evidences from Viktoria Institute of research and development. Analysis of data is carried out through strategic management tool and descriptive approach. With all due efforts, the work has been afforded with validity and authenticity employing all the requisite elements as per social research is concerned. Discussion follows the analysis and results have been illustrated accordingly.

A inovação é um desafio cada vez mais importante e recorrente no nosso contexto econômico. A formação e operação de redes de inovação entre empresas constituem parte do esforço para enfrentar esse desafio. Esta pesquisa tem como propósito apresentar um modelo de referência para apoiar a formação e operação de redes de inovação auto-organizadas. A metodologia de pesquisa é composta de um estudo bibliográfico para a discussão dos principais constructos sobre redes de inovação e sistemas complexos, e de um estudo de caso múltiplo para a coleta de dados em campo. A análise e discussão do cruzamento entre as evidências teóricas e os dados práticos visa propor um modelo de referência para apoiar a formação e operação de redes de inovação auto-organizadas. O modelo de referência é desenvolvido com a metodologia Enterprise Knowledge Development (EKD). O resultado da pesquisa contribui para ampliar a compreensão dos elementos envolvidos no processo de formação e operação de redes autoorganizadas. Espera-se dessa forma estender a aplicação da auto-organização, enquanto constructo teórico de sistemas complexos, para a área de redes de inovação. / Innovation is an increasingly important challenge and recurrent in our economic context. The formation and operation of innovation networks between companies are part of the effort to meet this challenge. This research is intented to provide a reference model to support the formation and operation of self-organized innovation networks. The research methodology consists of a literature study for the discussion of the main constructs of innovation networks and complex systems, and a case study analysis with multiple units to collect field data. Analysis and discussion of the intersection between theoretical evidence and practical data aims to propose a reference model to support the formation and operation of self-organized innovation networks. The reference model will be developed with the Enterprise Knowledge Development methodology (EKD). The search result helps to broaden the understanding of the elements involved in the formation and operation of self-organized networks. It is hoped in this way to extend the application of self-organization, while theoretical construct of complex systems, to the innovation networks area.

A inovação é um desafio cada vez mais importante e recorrente no nosso contexto econômico. A formação e operação de redes de inovação entre empresas constituem parte do esforço para enfrentar esse desafio. Esta pesquisa tem como propósito apresentar um modelo de referência para apoiar a formação e operação de redes de inovação auto-organizadas. A metodologia de pesquisa é composta de um estudo bibliográfico para a discussão dos principais constructos sobre redes de inovação e sistemas complexos, e de um estudo de caso múltiplo para a coleta de dados em campo. A análise e discussão do cruzamento entre as evidências teóricas e os dados práticos visa propor um modelo de referência para apoiar a formação e operação de redes de inovação auto-organizadas. O modelo de referência é desenvolvido com a metodologia Enterprise Knowledge Development (EKD). O resultado da pesquisa contribui para ampliar a compreensão dos elementos envolvidos no processo de formação e operação de redes autoorganizadas. Espera-se dessa forma estender a aplicação da auto-organização, enquanto constructo teórico de sistemas complexos, para a área de redes de inovação. / Innovation is an increasingly important challenge and recurrent in our economic context. The formation and operation of innovation networks between companies are part of the effort to meet this challenge. This research is intented to provide a reference model to support the formation and operation of self-organized innovation networks. The research methodology consists of a literature study for the discussion of the main constructs of innovation networks and complex systems, and a case study analysis with multiple units to collect field data. Analysis and discussion of the intersection between theoretical evidence and practical data aims to propose a reference model to support the formation and operation of self-organized innovation networks. The reference model will be developed with the Enterprise Knowledge Development methodology (EKD). The search result helps to broaden the understanding of the elements involved in the formation and operation of self-organized networks. It is hoped in this way to extend the application of self-organization, while theoretical construct of complex systems, to the innovation networks area.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:45:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Elisa Martins Pacheco de Castro.pdf: 671895 bytes, checksum: 7a0eca6d9a61dad47a8a9c482281c8a7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-11 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / While companies compete directly in the same industry, this does not mean that innovate in the same way. With this the search for partnerships has been identified as a common practice among companies perceived as effective and internalization of R&D, strategic before, is giving way to new forms open collaborative. Understanding how companies manage the open knowledge for sustainable competitive advantage is the central question of this research. Because it is a subject little explored in Brazil, there is little clarity about the types of knowledge shared within the open collaborative networks. This makes it necessary to broaden knowledge about collaboration and knowledge. To increase this understanding, this research will present a single case study, conducted in a leading company in its industry, which funded its business model on open innovation. The research was made possible by the innovative adaptation of the organization's two conceptual models: a collaboration that helped in the classification of innovative internal staff and listed the characteristics of each one, and another of knowledge, which evaluated the types of knowledge shared between actors open innovation with the aim of seeking to relate the success of the company's innovative model of the nature of knowledge among innovative agents affairs. The results indicated that the dynamics of knowledge happens through the exchange of knowledge hierarchy. Companies that make use of open innovation are inserted at specific times of the spiral of knowledge of the community of practice and implement innovations, and generally incremental, depending on the model established by communities of practice. Note, therefore, the existence of managerial implications for the use of open innovation. It is expected that the results of this study provide knowledge to advance the studies on knowledge management in open innovation / Embora empresas concorram diretamente na mesma indústria, isto não significa que inovam da mesma forma. Com isto, a busca de parcerias tem sido identificada como uma prática comum entre as empresas tidas como eficazes e a internalização do P&D, antes estratégica, vem cedendo lugar a novas formas colaborativas abertas. Entender como as empresas gerenciam o conhecimento aberto para obter vantagens competitivas sustentáveis é a questão central desta pesquisa. Por ser um assunto pouco explorado no Brasil, há pouca clareza sobre os tipos de conhecimento compartilhados dentro das redes colaborativas abertas. Isto faz com que seja necessário aumentar os conhecimentos gerais sobre colaboração e conhecimento. Para aumentar este entendimento, esta pesquisa apresentará um estudo de caso único, realizado em uma empresa líder em seu setor de atuação, que fundamentou seu modelo de negócios sobre a inovação aberta. A pesquisa foi viabilizada pela adaptação do modelo inovador da organização a dois modelos conceituais: um de colaboração, que auxiliou na classificação dos agentes inovadores internos e elencou as características de cada um, e outro de conhecimento, que avaliou os tipos de conhecimento compartilhado entre os atores de inovação aberta com a finalidade de buscar relacionar o sucesso do modelo inovador da empresa à natureza do conhecimento compartilhado entre agentes inovadores internos. Os resultados indicaram que a dinâmica do conhecimento acontece por meio da troca hierarquizada de conhecimentos. As empresas que fazem uso da inovação aberta se inserem em momentos específicos da espiral do conhecimento da comunidade de prática e executam inovações, de um modo geral incrementais, dependentes do modelo estabelecido pelas comunidades de prática. Nota-se, portanto, a existência de implicações gerenciais para utilização da inovação aberta. Espera-se que os resultados deste estudo forneçam subsídios para avançar os estudos sobre a gestão do conhecimento em inovação aberta