This thesis investigates the transformations associated with the development and diffusion of 4.0 technologies, by combining a firm-level perspective with a territorial-level perspective. The aim is to understand whether and to what extent the engagement of firms, in particular technological knowledge-intensive business services, in 4.0 innovation activities is affected by the characteris-tics of the territory, regions, cities, or local production systems, in which they are located. The thesis consists of three chapters. Chapter 1 comprises a systematic literature review of the studies that address Industry 4.0-related issues in industrialized countries from a regional perspective. The selected articles have been systematically collected and then discussed using a qualitative content-based approach. This review allowed for the identification of the main issues discussed and the gaps that exist in the literature and laid the foundation for the empirical analysis conducted in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, which focus on private technological knowledge-intensive business services (t-KIBS) engaged in the production and/or provision of ICT services. The decision to concentrate on technological knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) specializing in information and communication technology (ICT) is connected to their significant role in 4.0 transformations as they serve as both producers of these technologies and intermediaries and adapters, facilitating their adoption and implementation. Chapter 2 delves into the examination of the firm level and territorial level factors that influence the spatial distribution of the t-KIBS involved in the provision of 4.0 technologies (4.0 t-KIBS). 4.0 t-KIBS were identified using information extracted from t-KIBS websites, collected through web-scraping techniques. Then, a probit model with sample selection was employed to identify the most important territorial and firm-related factors influencing the decision to develop and/or provide 4.0 technologies. The results show that the probability of mentioning 4.0 technology is positively affected by t-KIBS size and profitability. From a territorial perspective, the main determinants are represented by demand coming from co-located manufacturers and to a lesser extent by urbanization economies. Finally, following the literature on KIBS variety, Chapter 3 explores the heterogeneous nature of the t-KIBS involved in the production and provision of 4.0 technologies. The objective is to gain insights into how these organizations differ across several key dimensions frequently examined in the KIBS variety literature. These dimensions encompass the geographical scope, innovation output, cognitive structure, external collaborations, and client focus. The empirical analysis draws on the same database built for Chapter 2 and on data collected through an original survey of a sample of 500 t-KIBS. The survey allowed for the collection of firm-level information that could not be retrieved from other data sources. The empirical analysis is split into two parts. Using a probit approach, the first part of the analysis explores whether and to what extent the peculiarities of 4.0 t-KIBS vary mainly according to their geographical scope and innovation output. The second part of the analysis employs a matching technique to compare certain attributes of 4.0 t-KIBS with those whose activities are not centred around 4.0 technologies. The main results show that the activities of 4.0 t-KIBS have a broader geographical scope that goes beyond local and regional boundaries. In contrast to established literature on KIBS, this is especially true for those t-KIBS that deliver customized innovations tailored to the needs of customers. From a cognitive perspective, it emerges the tendency of 4.0 t-KIBS to also rely on non-technical knowledge, while in terms of collaborations, they are more likely to collaborate with firms belonging to the same business group. Finally, 4.0 t-KIBS that are regionally anchored (i.e., they have not established an inter-regional network) are more likely to develop services and technologies specifically for public administrations.

我國經濟發展早期建立於價格低廉且素質高的勞力密集生產，政府的出口導向貿易政策，促使台灣成為製造業為發展重心的經濟型態，台灣經濟成長動力來源遂以製造部門為主，但在面對全球知識經濟發展的競爭壓力下，謀求轉型升級成為亟欲探討的課題。另外，全球化的發展趨勢下，開發中國家擁有大量的廉價勞力，在比較利益的原則之下，使得台灣長期以來依賴製造與出口為經濟重心的發展模式受到了相當程度的影響。因此在製造部門為了維持企業競爭優勢而將工廠外移的隱憂下，台灣如何以知識密集服務業造就下一波經濟成長的動力，此為亟欲探討的課題。 服務業占我國經濟結構比重已超過三分之二，但是我國服務業之整體知識密集度仍有提升的空間。長期以來我們對於創新的認知大多集中於製造業的範圍，忽略了服務業創新與創新過程中服務所扮演的重要角色，因此，我國對於研發與創新的理解也須跳脫硬體和製造的層次。 本研究由服務系統與創新構面的角度切入，探討選取個案中的服務創新因子，並歸類出其創新驅動的形式。研究問題如下： 1.創新服務核心技術應用在服務系統發展的關鍵點為何？ 2.知識密集服務業的創新成果與服務創新之間有哪些重要的構面？構面之間的互動對創新成果的影響為何？ 3.知識密集服務業的創新驅動可能因子有哪幾種形式？ 本研究以個案訪談及蒐集次及資料為主要分析來源，本研究選取對象，以策略性服務業科專計畫中，工研院能資所開發的全溫層保鮮系統服務為主，其中包括工研院能資所開發技術的過程，以及大榮貨運、台灣宅配通、中華郵政三家移轉服務系統的宅配業者。而本研究主要結論如下： 1.知識密集服務業創新服務技術發展的關鍵，在於與服務業者的共同開發合作。 2.服務創新構面中新服務觀念、新交付系統、新顧客介面等三構面會影響服務創新的成果，服務創新構面需互相配合。 3.服務創新構面中技術選擇不具關鍵性，服務決定技術，而非技術決定服務，但技術採用可加速新服務創新的實行。 4.服務創新驅動因子來自供應商、服務業者、客戶端。不同創新驅動因子有不同創新驅動形式，如客戶導向的創新驅動、供應商支配的創新驅動、服務業者的創新驅動與共同合作開發的創新驅動。 5.技術層次與對服務的認知決定服務創新驅動的形式。

Submitted by ANTONIO GENESIO VASCONCELOS NETO (genesiovasconcelos@gmail.com) on 2017-06-13T14:37:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Antonio Genesio Vasconcelos Neto - Versao Final.pdf: 4336012 bytes, checksum: a4bab2839854f132e8c1dbecb527d14a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Pamela Beltran Tonsa (pamela.tonsa@fgv.br) on 2017-06-13T14:53:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Antonio Genesio Vasconcelos Neto - Versao Final.pdf: 4336012 bytes, checksum: a4bab2839854f132e8c1dbecb527d14a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-13T15:51:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Antonio Genesio Vasconcelos Neto - Versao Final.pdf: 4336012 bytes, checksum: a4bab2839854f132e8c1dbecb527d14a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-06 / Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo verificar como Capacidades Operacionais das Cadeias de Suprimentos são desenvolvidas a partir de tecnologias (recursos) de um agente externo. Para isso, pretende-se analisar as alterações ou melhorias em Práticas e Capacidades Operacionais nos elos da Cadeia de Suprimentos, a partir do uso de tecnologias, transferidas por empresa intensiva em serviços tecnológicos (T-KIBS), bem como o impacto que estas tecnologias e alterações operacionais podem causar no Desempenho Operacional. O referencial teórico foca no processo de desenvolvimento de Capacidades Operacionais a partir de alterações nas Práticas Operacionais. Como metodologia qualitativa para coleta de dados, utilizou-se o estudo de casos, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Assim, foram pesquisadas 73 empresas e dois grupos focais, pertencentes a 17 elos, de três Cadeias de Suprimentos Agroindustriais, de dois países. Como condicionante, estava o uso de tecnologias, transferidas por empresa externa à cadeia, utilizadas como recursos operacionais, indutoras de alterações operacionais. Os resultados foram verificados de acordo com alterações que as tecnologias induziram nos Parâmetros Operacionais (Práticas, Capacidades e Desempenho), tanto para os elos quanto para as Cadeias de Suprimentos. Ao final, são apresentadas proposições de pesquisa sobre as influências que a implementação de tecnologias advindas de T-KIBS podem causar nos Parâmetros Operacionais dos elos e das Cadeias de Suprimento, sofrendo variações de acordo com as estratégias operacionais das empresas, da posição dos elos adotantes em relação às Cadeias (montante ou jusante), bem como do nível de estruturação das Cadeias, o tempo que as tecnologias foram adotadas e a necessidade de criação de novos elos em decorrência do uso das tecnologias. / This research aims to verify how Supply Chain Operational Capabilities are developed from technologies (resources) of an external agent. For this, we intended to analyze the changes or improvements in Practices and Operational Capabilities in the links of the Supply Chain, from the use of technologies, transferred by technological knowledge business services (T-KIBS), as well as the impact that these technologies and operational changes may result in Operational Performance. The theoretical framework focuses on the process of developing Operational Capabilities based on changes in Operational Practices. As qualitative metolodigy for data collection, the case study was used, through semi-structured interviews. Thus, 73 companies and two focus groups, belonging to 17 links, from three Agroindustrial Supply Chains from two countries were researched. As a conditioning, was the use of technologies, transferred by an external company to the Supply Chain, used as operational resources, inducing operational changes. The results were verified according to changes that the technologies induced in the Operational Parameters (Practices, Capacities and Performance), both for the links and for the Supply Chains. Finally, we present research propositions about the influences that the implementation of T-KIBS technologies can cause in the Operational Parameters of the links and Supply Chains, varying according to the operational strategies of the companies, the position of adopting links in relation to the Chains (upstream or downstream), as well as the level of structuring of the chains, the time the technologies were adopted and the need to create new links due to the use of the technologies.

This dissertation focuses on Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS). It aims to understand what these businesses are and to examine variety among them. In seeking to understand their diversity, I focus especially on the ‘knowledge bases’ at the core of their activities. The dissertation is based on three complementary studies. The first is a systematic review of the literature on KIBS. This is based primarily on a review of 130 carefully selected, relevant articles, and focuses on three questions: how are KIBS defined? how do KIBS compete? and how do KIBS innovate? The review shows that: (i) the literature is fragmented; most research does not build substantially on previous methods or findings; and (ii) while evidently heterogeneous, most of the literature has overlooked variety among KIBS. I also highlight what still needs to be known about KIBS.The second and third papers then focus on variety among KIBS, by classifying them according to their ‘knowledge bases’. In the first of these papers, I classify KIBS according to their primary knowledge bases, following the SAS Model, which identifies three: ‘analytical knowledge’, ‘synthetic knowledge’ and ‘symbolic knowledge’. Firms in three KIBS sectors: ‘architecture and engineering consultancy’; ‘specialist design’; and ‘computer and IT services’ are classified by their primary knowledge base according to information drawn from company websites. I then relate this classification to firm behaviour with respect to innovation, finding differences by primary knowledge base in the nature of the investments firms make to innovate, and in their propensities to innovate. In the second of the papers which relates ‘knowledge bases’ to KIBS, I develop the ‘knowledge bases’ approach conceptually, methodologically and empirically. Conceptually, I identify a hitherto unrecognised knowledge base: ‘compliance knowledge’. This relates to the knowledge of, and to interpretations of, laws and regulations. This knowledge base does not fit with any of the existing SAS types. Methodologically, I extract fuller information from company websites, and develop more sophisticated approaches to measurement, which allows multiple knowledge bases to be present in any one firm. Empirically, I successfully identify ‘compliance knowledge’, alongside ‘analytical’ and ‘symbolic knowledge’. I show that these are unevenly distributed across KIBS industries, including ‘advertising and design’, ‘architecture’, ‘engineering consultancy’ and ‘market research’, but importantly there is no one-to-one mapping between knowledge bases and industries. I discuss the implications of this, including for understanding the diversification of KIBS. This dissertation therefore contributes conceptually, methodologically and empirically to both understanding variety among KIBS and to the ‘knowledge bases’ literature.

Esta tesis doctoral tiene por objetivo el estudio de la actividad innovadora de los sectores económicos desde la perspectiva de los vínculos tecno-productivos que se establecen entre ellos. Dentro de este objetivo general, cobra una destacada importancia el territorio en el cual se encuentran estos sectores, siendo España y la Comunidad Valenciana los casos analizados. Ante estos objetivos, se plantean las siguientes preguntas que guían la investigación: a) ¿Qué rol desempeñan los servicios empresariales intensivos en conocimiento en la generación y difusión de innovación en el sistema económico? ¿Qué contribución cuantitativa realizan tales sectores al sistema de creación y generación de conocimiento? b) ¿Cuáles son los patrones de innovación de sectores menos intensivos en conocimiento, clasificados típicamente como tradicionales, pero con gran arraigo e influencia territorial (en particular el sector agroalimentario)? ¿A qué fuentes recurren con mayor intensidad cuando el territorio presenta también bajas intensidades tecnológicas o baja capacidad de absorción (la Comunidad Valenciana)? c) ¿Qué patrones de innovación se corresponden con distintas capacidades sectoriales para crear nuevas empresas? O en otras palabras, ¿el patrón de generación/absorción de conocimiento de cada sector afecta a su capacidad para crear nuevas empresas? Para dar respuesta a estas preguntas se ha utilizado el enfoque del "embodied knowledge". Esta aproximación permite mensurar el conocimiento "incorporado" en los productos y servicios que cada sector utiliza como inputs en sus procesos productivos y que indirectamente contribuyen a su propia intensidad o esfuerzo tecnológico y de innovación. La metodología implementada puede sintetizarse en la idea de que el mayor o menor grado de esfuerzo innovador en un sector no solo estará determinado por su propio gasto en actividades innovadoras, sino también por el gasto que sus proveedores realizan en estas actividades. / Alba, MF. (2012). CONOCIMIENTO INCORPORADO Y VÍNCULOS INTERSECTORIALES. APROXIMACIONES MEDIANTE EL ANÁLISIS INPUT-OTPUT [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/15181

全球的經濟發展階段已進入知識經濟與服務經濟時代，在知識經濟與服務經濟的交錯發展下，服務業當中依賴專業知識或是特定技術或特定功能領域，並具有高附加價值之知識密集服務業，成為下一波的經濟成長動力。有鑑於知識是知識密集服務業創新的基本要素，知識密集服務業如何透過有效的知識管理提升組織知識的價值，進而不斷的產生創新性的產品或服務，以形成企業的競爭優勢，為企業在經營管理上的重要課題。 本研究將知識密集服務業之知識管理與服務創新模式相結合，探討當企業將知識管理作為策略性工具來實現服務創新的目標時，兩者之關聯性。同時，本研究並深入分析知識密集服務業之知識管理促動因子、知識管理活動以及服務創新的重要影響因素。本研究之研究對象是以一家在國內已推行知識管理多年，且服務創新相當成功的法律事務所作為代表性個案進行研究，並經由學理驗證得出以下研究結論： 在知識管理促動因子與知識管理之關聯性得出以下結論： 1.領導者的態度與明確的知識管理策略是知識管理成功的關鍵因素。 2.企業的團隊合作文化與信任文化越盛行，知識創造與擴散活動越容易進行。 3.資訊科技的選擇性導入，有助於提升組織知識吸收、蓄積與擴散的速度。 4.企業是否提供員工長期性的獎勵措施，會影響員工對知識吸收、創造與擴散活動的參與意願及貢獻程度。 在知識密集服務業之知識管理活動方面得出以下結論： 1.在知識密集服務業的公司，輸入及吸收外部知識是組織能持續進行知識創造的重要方式。 2.基於知識密集服務業之高專業性、高知識密集性的特性，人員的知識與技能是公司知識蓄積的主要載體。 3.知識密集服務業的公司採取以師徒制度為主，教育訓練為輔的人員訓練方式，對知識擴散活動有正面的影響。 在知識密集服務業之服務創新方面得出以下結論： 1.知識密集服務業的公司會根據市場變化與客戶需求來創新服務概念，以提升核心競爭力。 2.知識密集服務業之新客戶介面的重要創新因素，在於能依據實際及潛在客戶的需求特性，建立具有附加價值的服務平台，以提升顧客滿意度。 3.在知識密集服務業的公司，完善的人員教育訓練與人才培育是新服務傳遞系統的重要創新因素。 4.成功創新的知識密集服務業者，於新服務概念、新客戶介面、新服務傳遞系統三構面間的相互配合程度相當良好。 在知識密集服務業之知識管理與服務創新的關聯性得出以下結論： 1.知識密集服務業之知識吸收與創造活動，有助於加速新服務概念的形成。 2.知識密集服務業與客戶間的知識吸收與創造活動，有助於建構符合客戶需求之新客戶介面，並降低創新過程中不確定的風險。 3.知識密集服務業之知識蓄積與擴散活動，對新服務傳遞系統的進行有顯著的正面影響。 4.知識密集服務業將知識管理作為創新服務的策略性工具時，有助於加速實現服務創新的目標。 / In the 21st century, the world economy has two highly important developments: the rise of the service sectors and the growing role of knowledge. Especially, the service sectors have increased dramatically in recent years and they occupy a large share of the economy of advanced industrial societies. Among the service sectors, knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) is strong momentum of the economic growth. As “knowledge” is a basic element of KIBS’s innovation, how to implement knowledge management effectively to enhance the value of organizational knowledge and make KIBS continually produce innovative products or services as well as create a competitive advantage is an important issue on business management for enterprises. This research aims to combine knowledge management with service innovation and to analyze when KIBS firms adopt knowledge management as a strategy to achieve the objective of service innovation, the relationships between knowledge management and service innovation. This research also describes the issues of knowledge management enablers, knowledge management activities and service innovation implemented in KIBS firms. Additionally, this research, through a case study conducted on a successful law firm in Taiwan, further explored the relationships between knowledge management and service innovation. The conclusion of this research may include in four aspects: 1.The findings of the research regarding relationships between knowledge management enablers and knowledge management in KIBS are as follows: (1)Leadership and clear knowledge management strategy are critical success factors in knowledge management. (2)The more teamwork culture and trust culture existed in KIBS firms, the easier knowledge creation and diffusion activities implemented. (3)Application of appropriate information technology in KIBS firms can enhance the speed of organizational knowledge absorption, accumulation and diffusion. (4)Whether enterprises can offer long-tem incentives to employees will affect employees’ participation willingness and contribution degree for knowledge absorption, creation and diffusion activities thereof. 2.The findings of the research regarding knowledge management activities in KIBS are as follows: (1)In KIBS firms, input and absorb knowledge from external sources is an important manner of continually facilitating knowledge creation. (2)Based on KIBS’s characteristics of high professional and high knowledge-intensive, personnel’s knowledge and skills are main carriers of knowledge accumulation in KIBS firms. (3)In KIBS firms, adoption of “mentoring-based, education and training-supplemented” as staff training methods will make positive impact on knowledge diffusion activities. 3.The findings of the research regarding service innovation in KIBS are as follows: (1)To enhance the core competitiveness, KIBS firms will create “new service concept” in accordance with market changes and customers’ needs. (2)In KIBS firms, a critical innovation factor of “new client interface” is whether they can build a value-added service platform in accordance with actual and potential customers’ needs so as to enhance customer satisfaction. (3)Successful education and training on employees is a critical innovation factor of “new services delivery system” in KIBS firms. (4)In successful KIBS firms, organizational interaction and coordination between “new service concept”, “new customer interface” and “new service delivery system” would be excellent. 4.The findings of the research regarding relationships between knowledge management and service innovation in KIBS are as follows: (1)In KIBS firms, through knowledge absorption and creation activities, it can speed up the formation of “new service concept”. (2)Through Knowledge absorption and creation activities between KIBS firms and their clients, it can assist KIBS firms in building “new client interface” and reducing potential risk in the innovation process. (3)In KIBS firms, knowledge accumulation and diffusion activities may make a significant positive impact on “new service delivery system”. (4)When KIBS firms adopt knowledge management as a strategy to innovate services, it can speed up to achieve the objective of service innovation.

La tesi si prepone di analizzare il significato di design nel contesto dell’industria agro-alimentare in Italia, con particolare riferimento alle teorie dell’innovazione tramite servizi (Miles et al., 1995; Tether et al., 2001). Precedenti studi sulla professionalizzazione di una disciplina hanno supportato una prima fase di ricerca, durante la quale si è cercato di valutare se si sta sviluppando una disciplina del design agro-alimentare (Hodgson, 2002). Successivamente, la ricerca ha analizzato come le imprese del settore abbiano sviluppato ed integrato specifiche competenze mirate a fare del design uno strumento di crescita innovativa (Jennings e Wood, 1994, Meroni, 2000, Miele e Murdoch, 2002). La metodologia si basa su casi studio tratti da dati di fonte primaria e secondaria. Un primo risultato ha evidenziato l’importanza dell’innovazione di tipo organizzativo, in particolare il lavoro di progetto ed un rapporto frequente con il cliente. Lo studio enfatizza inoltre che le aziende agro-alimentari debbano considerare aspetti legati all’innovazione in concomitanza a quelli legati all’estetica. Nei casi in cui il prodotto non rappresenti l'unica interfaccia col cliente (es. settore vinicolo), la ricerca suggerisce che la funzione di servizio del design emerge come preminente. / This thesis unveils the meaning of design in the context of the agro-food industry in Italy from a service innovation perspective (Miles et al., 1995; Tether et al., 2001). Different theoretical underpinnings have been called: previous studies on the professionalisation of a discipline have helped to assess the extent to which a discipline of agro-food design is emerging (Hodgson, 2002). Additional insight is provided by the analysis of firms and sectors that have integrated design-related expertise into their activities and, consequently, contributed to further our understanding on this matter (Jennings and Wood, 1994, Meroni, 2000, Miele and Murdoch, 2002). A qualitative approach has combined both primary- and secondary-source data. The study indicates that organisational innovations are crucial for the competitiveness of Italian design firms, project-based activity and close relationship with client firms in particular. Case studies on medium and large agro-food firms point to a blurring line between design and marketing. The study emphasises that both the innovation and aesthetic components must be considered. In cases where the product is not the only interface with the client (e.g. winemaking sector), the research suggests that the service trait of the design activity is becoming increasingly relevant.

This is a study of innovation in Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) and the impact innovation has on employment. The thesis relies on theories within the fields of "innovation in services", in particular KIBS, and "innovation and employment", taking as its point of departure the taxonomy of product and process innovation. The thesis is based on a discussion of innovation in services with a focus on how innovation in services may be understood and delineated. A long discussion is dedicated to the taxonomy of product and process innovation and the extent to which these concepts may be applicable to innovation in services. The thesis also scrutinises the concept of KIBS and how this can be defined. It further discusses features commonly associated with KIBS firms. The thesis is also rooted in the broader issue of innovation as a creator and destroyer of employment and makes a contribution in applying these issues to service sectors. The empirical part of the thesis builds on a database compiled for the research project, comprised of 967 Swedish KIBS firms. The database covers issues of innovation, employment and characteristics of the firm. The findings indicate that innovation was common in Swedish KIBS firms and that innovations often had an impact on employment. However, the thesis did not detect a straightforward relation between type of innovation (technological process innovation, organisational process innovation, goods product innovation and service product innovation) and the impact on employment. Explanations other than type of innovation have to be considered to analyse the impact of innovation on employment. The thesis further suggests that although innovation in KIBS is common, innovation itself is difficult to conceptualise and delineate.

No description available.