This thesis is focused on the meaning and importance of innovations for small and medium sized businesses. The theoretical part deals with the terms necessary to understand this issue, such as the definition of small and medium sized enterprises; the definition of innovations; and their connection with the strategy and competitiveness of the organisation. Also, the innovation processes, methods, techniques and the support for basic innovation within the EU is described here. In the practical part of my diploma thesis, research on a selected sample of small and medium firms is conducted. This research is concerned with the level of innovations these particular companies are focusing on; in which area of business activities are they innovating; what sources of financing they're reporting in their results.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design / Melody L. A. LeHew / The relationship between knowledge, attitudes and behavior has been a subject of interest for researchers for several decades in various fields of study. However, an inconsistency has been found from one study to another with literature showing inconclusive and inconsistent results regarding the relationship between knowledge, attitudes and behavior in general and purchase of eco-conscious apparel in particular. Literature also found perceived characteristics of innovation (PCI) to significantly influencing innovation adoption. However, research investigating the influence of eco-conscious apparel knowledge (EAK) and eco-conscious apparel attitudes (EAA) on intention to purchase eco-conscious apparel (IPEA) that includes PCI has not been conducted in any previously published studies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influential relationship between EAK-EAA-IPEA to understand if including PCI strengthens the inconsistent link between knowledge, attitudes and behavior as well as enhances the predictability of IPEA. The model of stages in the innovation-decision process developed by Roger’s (1983) in the diffusion of innovation theory was used as a theoretical framework for developing the model of innovation-decision process for eco-conscious apparel. Specifically, the three product characteristics used in this current study were based on the PCI (i.e., complexity, compatibility and relative advantage) explained by Rogers (1983) in his model. Two objectives were developed and tested using six research questions and pertinent hypotheses. The research relied on quantitative analysis of responses from 592 respondents to an online survey with eco-conscious knowledge, attitude and behavior questions pertaining eco-conscious apparel products. Hierarchical regression analysis, t-test and correlation analysis reveal that, inclusion of PCI significantly strengthened relationship between EAK-EAA-IPEA and also enhanced the predictability of IPEA; the ability to predict IPEA as well as strength of the link between EAK-EAA-IPEA was greater when more information was provided about eco-conscious apparel than less information; respondents have limited EAK; EAK was not a good predictor of IPEA; EAA was found to significantly predict IPEA; highly innovative respondents perceive eco-conscious apparel less complex and highly compatible and are more likely to purchase eco-conscious apparel; all three PCI were found to significantly predict IPEA; demographic variables were found to be related to only certain variables in this study.

Innovation and ‘creative destruction’ should thrive in the competitive, high risk and high cost environment of the North Sea. Paradoxically, uptake of new technology is slow. The focus of this research was to understand how new technology is developed and how end users make decisions about innovation. Innovation process in the literature can sometimes come across like a ‘black box’ without much explanation of what happens inside the box. This study seeks to explicate what transpires inside the ‘black box’ to improve our understanding of the innovation process. The linear models of technology-push and market-pull are too simplistic to account for the complexity of relationships and engagements that affect innovation at small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) level. Subsequent models of innovation are suited to how large corporations manage innovation but neglect patterns of social interactions at the micro level where SMEs operate. These innovation models are incomplete because they relegate the importance of context and how it shapes understanding, action and outcome. This study, rooted in a social constructionist paradigm, takes a process-relational stance on entrepreneurship and innovation, recognising the dynamic relationships between social actors and context. Taking Heidegger’s explication of how we relate to the world, this thesis submits that innovation occurs when actors move into the ‘occurrent’ mode. The happenings and doings in the innovation process are treated as the results of perpetual social constructions. This study is based on extended interviews with eleven individuals in relevant roles and with direct experiences of the technical innovation construction in the oil and gas industry. The purposeful sample of research encompasses a variety of roles including technology entrepreneurs, end users of technology and venture capitalists. This study makes a number of contributions. Firstly, the research improves our understanding of how different social constructions are welded together to develop shared understanding. Secondly, a conceptual framework is presented that bridges a number of theoretical concepts, which allows us to see that innovation cannot be properly understood using simplistic models that ignores the social constructions human actors instantiate. Thirdly, the research claims that problem framing is foundational to innovation construction, where social actors collaborate to develop shared understanding, and mentally represent in the present a future that is not totally knowable. Fourthly, an alternative model of innovation construction is presented that is relational and accounts for the social constructions of process participants. Finally, a number of research implications for academics and insights for practitioners engaged in the technical innovation construction are offered.

創新帶來的影響，隨著二十一世紀的全球化潮流，開始衝擊世界各地，各國政府因應各式各樣的創新競爭、民主選舉與全球化潮流，為了政府績效與成果，我國在資通訊政策的發展，更注入諸多資源建置新計畫、新科技與新政策，藉以達成政府的設定願景目標。本研究透過政策創新過程來分析資通訊政策創新在行政體系內部的形成因素，探究我國E台灣到U台灣的資通訊發展之創新過程，透過次級資料分析與深度訪談的方式，從政策創新過程的三個階段：議程設定階段、採納說服階段與採納決策階段，分析各階段的影響因素，藉以探討資通訊政策創新過程，及此過程裡阻礙創新之問題。研究結果顯示我國資通訊政策創新乃透過多種管道得到創新資訊來源，諸如內部智庫幕僚、支援部會與外部專家學者、資通訊龍頭產業與國外顧問公司。議程設定主要來自於相關專業社群，諸如行政院科技顧問組與SRB會議的共識，以及科技政務委員的政治理念，並根據國內產業發展問題而觸發的政策創新議程。在說服階段，體系內部創新倡議者與外部支援管道彼此針對資通訊創新的理念與預算競和，篩選出可行的政策創新方案，決策階段則因資通訊政策的集權化現象，因此決策者本身的領導特質與對創新的支持、風險承擔，會對資通訊政策創新的產生影響。然而此創新過程裡，資通訊官僚組織的運作問題會發生官僚組織文化、創新疊床架屋、溝通協商費時、創新的民意基礎與管道薄弱以及之智庫團隊獨佔性等阻礙問題，甚至外部關鍵人士專業獨大、執政輪替與預算問題都會阻礙政策創新。蓋因創新過程之制度與專家社群對於創新形成的限制，建議政府在政策創新過程上，需有制度化的培育人才與建立創新倡議管道，且決策者需具備支持創新提案的心態。由於本研究屬於初探性研究，未來建議針對外部政策企業家、不同創新類型與各國資通訊創新過程等議題分析比較，加強我國政策創新過程的研究發現與經驗累積。

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T16:32:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MESTRADO_Juliana_Santi_Botton.pdf: 5642965 bytes, checksum: c3f49846987fe5a712c5e18e6f743a6f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-04 / The proposition of this study is based on the Innovation Generation Process (IGP) like basis to technology-based companies (TBC) by the knowledge management practices (KMP). It was understood that, innovation is a knowledge product, consequently, it was proposed to elaborate a theoretical and empirical construction in search of the innovation generation based on the knowledge management (KM), understanding like better way the use of the KMP. Furthermore, the choose of the study s universe, the TBCs, was based in the perspective that they have like synonymous of their work, the innovation. Therefore, this search was structured by the question: How the KMP and their application on technology-based companies, can be organized to allow the development of an Innovation Generation Process? This kind, it was obtained the general objective of this study: Developing a construct of the Innovation Generation Process, based on the Knowledge Management Practices and their application in Technology-based Companies and a) elaborating, by bibliographic study, possible levels and stages in the IGP; b) Listing, by bibliographic study, the KMP that were validates yet, that could be allocated on the IGP; c) identifying on the TBCs, the KMP most used, those whose importance is greater, and, whose would be is the level of each one in the IGP, excluding the rejects and validating other. Developed the theory part of the Construct of IGP, it was applied the questionnaire contain 40 practices and three questions, about Importance, about the frequency and, about the classify of the practices relation to the nine situational variables of IGP. To obtain a return of 47 questionnaires. It was used the test Alpha of Cronbach to confirm the reliability of data to the search. It was applied, the descriptive statistic, compromising like more important practices: Brainstorming or generation of ideas, development and apply of new process and, the corporative University; like more frequents practices: corporative e-mails, enterprise blog and, the social network. In addition, the test of Correlation of Pearson indicated relation of 64, 3% between importance and frequency, and Simple Linear Regression (respecting the regression assumptions) indicated that 42, 3% of the variations at importance are explicated by the variations at frequency. Finally, in relation on the incorporation of the practices to the IGP, they were observed the mean and standard deviation of each practice. Some propositions of analysis were done: a) the Variations coefficient; b) the visual analysis; c) the amplitude and; d) the Factorials Analysis. The first of them was refuted because it didn t supply the proposed objectives; the visual analysis indicated it s applied like auxiliary; the Amplitude Analysis indicated like the best technic to the result obtain, enabling a division with five classifies among the practices: The Primary Practices; The Central Practices; The Superior Practices; The Dispersed Primary Practices and; The Dispersed Superior Practices. The Factorial Analysis corroborated with the Amplitude, dividing the practices on Primary, central and superior practices. In summary, the practices were allocated in chart, showing which practice assist each phase of IGP. The results allow the recommendation the construct another sectors. / A proposta deste estudo está baseada no Processo de Geração de Inovação (PGI) como alicerce para Empresas de Base Tecnológica (EBT s) a partir das Práticas de Gestão do Conhecimento (PGC). Compreendeu-se que, a inovação é fruto do conhecimento, consequentemente, propôs-se elaborar uma construção teórico-empírica em busca da geração da inovação baseada na Gestão do Conhecimento (GC), entendendo como melhor caminho o uso das PGC. Além disso, a escolha do universo de estudo, as EBT s, foi baseada na perspectiva de que elas têm como sinônimo de seu trabalho, a inovação. Assim, esta pesquisa foi baseada no objetivo geral do estudo de Desenvolver um constructo do Processo de Geração de Inovação - PGI, baseado nas Práticas de Gestão do Conhecimento sob a perspectiva de empresas de base tecnológica do segmento de desenvolvimento de software ou web. a) Elaborar, a partir de estudo bibliográfico, possíveis níveis e estágios dentro do processo de geração de inovação; b) Listar, a partir de estudo bibliográfico, as Práticas de Gestão do Conhecimento já validadas, que possam ser aplicadas a um processo de Geração da Inovação; c) Identificar nas empresas de base tecnológica, as PGC mais utilizadas, as de maior importância, e em qual, ou quais Estágios do Processo de Geração de Inovação se encontra cada prática. Desenvolvida a parte teórica do Constructo do PGI, foi aplicado questionário contendo 40 Práticas e três perguntas, sobre a importância, sobre a frequência e sobre a classificação das práticas em relação a nove Variáveis Situacionais referentes ao PGI. Obtendo um retorno de 47 questionários, pode-se efetuar o teste Alfa de Cronbach, que confirmou a confiabilidade dos dados para a pesquisa. Aplicou-se a Estatística Descritiva, compreendendo como práticas mais importantes o Braintorming ou geração de ideias, o Desenvolvimento e aplicação de novo processo e, a Universidade corporativa; como práticas mais frequentes, os resultados indicaram os E-mails corporativos, o Blog empresarial e, as redes informais (rádio corredor). Em adição, o teste de Correlação de Pearson indicou relação de 64,3% entre as variáveis Importância e Frequência, e a Regressão Linear Simples (respeitando os pressupostos de regressão) indicaram que 42,3% das variações na Importância são explicadas pelas variações na Frequência. Finalmente, em relação à incorporação das práticas ao PGI, foram observadas a média e o Desvio Padrão de cada prática. Algumas proposições da análise foram feitas: a) Do Coeficiente de Variação; b) Da Análise Visual; c) da Amplitude e d) da Análise Fatorial. A Primeira delas foi refutada por não suprir aos objetivos propostos; a Análise Visual sugeriu aplicabilidade como técnica auxiliar; a Análise da Amplitude indicou a melhor técnica para a obtenção dos resultados, possibilitando a divisão de cinco Classificações entre as práticas: As Práticas Primárias; As Práticas Centrais; As Práticas Superiores; As Práticas Dispersas Primárias e; As Práticas Dispersas Superiores. A Análise Fatorial corroborou com a Amplitude, dividindo as práticas entre Práticas Primárias, Centrais e Superiores. Em síntese, as práticas foram alocadas em Painel, indicando qual prática auxilia em cada Estágio do PGI. Os resultados permitem a recomendação do Constructo em outros setores.

Ein zentraler Aspekt der industriellen Digitalisierung ist die Entwicklung digitaler Geschäftsmodellinnovationen (GMI), um auch zukünftig wettbewerbsfähig zu bleiben und das Potenzial der Digitalisierung vollumfänglich ausschöpfen zu können. Mit verbunden ist dabei die Frage: Wie sollten Unternehmen zielführend vorgehen, um diese zu entwickeln? In den Fokus rückt dabei der Innovationsprozess zur Entwicklung von GMI und dessen Gestaltung im Hinblick auf die industrielle Digitalisierung. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit, welche sich an der Fallstudienmethodik von Yin (Yin, R. K.: Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 5. ed., Los Angeles: Sage Publications, 2014) orientiert, konnte ein fundiertes Verständnis über die Gestaltung eines Innovationsprozesses von GMI in Zeiten der Digitalisierung geschaffen werden. Wesentlicher Bestandteil des Forschungsfeldes ist die prozessuale Betrachtung zur Entwicklung von GMI, welche in der Wissenschaft durch heterogenes und zerfahrenes Wissen sowie bestehende Unklarheiten auf sich aufmerksam macht. Folglich besteht ein großer Forschungsbedarf darin, sich der Gestaltung des GMI-Prozesses und den damit verbundenen Fragestellungen zu widmen. Diesen ist die vorliegende Arbeit im Hinblick auf Struktur- und Verlaufsmerkmalen, Erfolgsfaktoren und durch eine Berücksichtigung der Digitalisierungsliteratur in der GMI-Forschung nachgekommen. Hinzukommend ermöglichen es die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse, Implikationen für die Praxis abzuleiten, wobei zu berücksichtigen gilt, dass diese aufgrund der qualitativ-empirischen Methodenwahl viel mehr als generische Handlungsoptionen für das Management und nicht als Handlungsempfehlungen zu verstehen sind. Die entwickelten Prozessmodelle für Produktionsunternehmen dienen als Vorschläge für methodische Hilfestellungen zur Entwicklung digitaler GMI. Weitere Handlungsoptionen für das Management lassen sich in Bezug auf Erfolgsfaktoren bzw. Potenziale des GMI-Prozesses konkretisieren. Dabei gilt es für Produktionsunternehmen u.a. die Integration des Kunden in den Innovationsprozess zu berücksichtigen, das Ökosystem einzubinden, mit Startups zusammenzuarbeiten, eine schnelle Prototypenentwicklung zu praktizieren und Daten auszuwerten und daraus GM-Ideen abzuleiten. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse bilden Anknüpfungspunkte für eine weiterführende Forschung. / The digital age is forcing manufacturing firms to innovate beyond new products and services and to professionalize their digital business model innovation (BMI) activities in order to stay competitive. While new product development (NPD) and new service development (NSD) research boasts a multiplicity of well-founded publications on process models, which contribute to increasing the likelihood of innovation, only few business model researchers have examined innovation processes for BMI. This is particularly so with digital BMI activities in manufacturing firms, as their digital BMI approach is often based on an extension of their NPD activities. This study explores how the innovation processes of manufacturing firms can be designed in order to develop novel business models to address the challenges of digitalization. Thereby, NPD-related path dependency considering the history in manufacturing firms and requirements on specific digital process characteristics are factored in. The study uses a multiple-case study approach, where data on BMI processes was collected in six manufacturing firms. The results show that the design of BMI processes in the digital age differs conceptually between B2C and B2B manufacturing firms. While BMI processes in B2C firms follow a semi-structured approach that considers experimentation, process models in B2B firms show similarities with an NPD hybrid model comprising stage-gate methods and agility. Concerning empirical and managerial implications, this study proposes two process models for digital BMI for B2C and B2B firms. Thereby, this study identifies specific digital process characteristics manufacturing firms need to consider when designing a BMI process in the digital age.

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Depuis la première révolution industrielle, « l'innovation » a été mentionnée à de nombreuses reprises. Ce terme a souvent été associé à « l'innovation technologique ». Récemment, un nouveau type d’innovation, l’innovation managériale, ainsi que son processus d’adoption sont au coeur de l’attention. Dans de nombreuses études sur les innovations organisationnelles, l'innovation technologique reste un sujet dominant et il convient de sortir des limites des études d'innovation technologique. Récemment, des thèmes diversifiés sur les innovations managériales ont été étudiés, montrant l’attrait particulier des innovations managériales pour les chercheurs dans ce domaine. Les chercheurs dans ce domaine ont exploré avec soin les processus de l'innovation managériale, en particulier la génération, la diffusion et l'adoption (avec ou sans adaptation) de l'innovation managériale. Cependant, les études sur l'adoption de l'innovation managériale semblent être négligées. En outre, l'adaptation mutuelle entre les innovations managériale et les organisations adoptantes doit également être étudiée. De manière plus concrète, il est essentiel d’étudier la tension qui peut apparaître lors de l’introduction d’une innovation managériale dans une organisation ainsi que de la pression mutuelle entre l’innovation managériale et l’organisation lors du processus d’adoption. Néanmoins, les études empiriques sur cette question restent encore insuffisantes. Par conséquent, nous nous concentrons sur les processus d'adoption d'une innovation managériale et les tensions entre cette innovation managériale et son organisation d'accueil pendant le processus d'adoption. Chaque innovation managériale comprend une philosophie de gestion alors que chaque organisation concerne certaines représentations. Par conséquent, les tensions potentielles pendant le processus d'adoption peuvent être considérées comme l'harmonie imparfaite entre la philosophie de l'innovation managériale et les représentations dominantes au sein de l'organisation « hôte ». À partir de cela, trois sous-questions importantes se dégagent : (1) comment identifier la philosophie d'innovation managériale et les représentations organisationnelles, (2) comment expliquer leurs accords / désaccords de valeurs pendant le processus d'adoption et (3) comment éviter les désaccords potentiels qui pourraient interrompre ce processus. / Since the first industrial revolution, “innovation” has been mentioned in numerous occasions. This term has often been associated with "technological innovation". Recently, a new type of innovation, management innovation, and its adoption process have been at the heart of attention. In numerous studies on organizational innovations, technological innovation is still a dominant subject and there is a need to go outside the limit of technological innovation studies. Diversified topics on management innovations have been studied, showing a particular attraction of this subject for scholars in this field. Management innovation processes have carefully been explored, in particular the generation, diffusion and adoption processes (with or without adaptation). However, the studies on management innovation adoption seem to be neglected. In addition, the mutual adaptation between management innovations and adopting organizations also need to be studied. In a more concrete way, it is essential to study the tension that can appear when introducing a management innovation into an organization as well as the mutual pressure between them during the adoption process. Nonetheless, the empirical studies on this issue still remain deficient. Consequently, we focus on the adoption processes of a management innovation and the tensions between this management innovation and its adopting organization during the adoption process. Every management innovation comprises a management philosophy while every organization pertains to certain representations. Consequently, the potential tensions during the adoption process can be viewed as the imperfect harmony between the management innovation philosophy and the dominant representations within the “host” organization. Hence, three important sub-questions emerge: (1) how to identify the management innovation philosophy and the organizational representations, (2) how to explain their agreements/disagreements of values during the adoption process and (3) how to avoid potential disagreements that can interrupt this process.