As transformações no capitalismo mundial nos últimos 30 anos geraram condições significativas para o crescimento de atividades de serviços, principalmente aquelas voltadas às empresas e em especial as chamadas intensivas em conhecimento. O objetivo geral do trabalho é contribuir para o estabelecimento do debate sobre knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) ou serviços empresariais intensivos em conhecimento (SEIC) no Brasil. Trata-se de enquadrar a discussão da literatura internacional em uma economia periférica e avaliar sua pertinência. A hipótese é que este grupo de atividades se torna necessário para o desenvolvimento dos países nesta nova era do capitalismo, especialmente por sua atuação na difusão de conhecimento e sua participação positiva em processos de inovação. Neste sentido, os propósitos do texto são: 1) fazer uma revisão da literatura sobre KIBS; 2) definir os KIBS no Brasil em comparação com os outros setores da economia, mostrando sua participação significativa em termos de geração de receita, sua dinâmica de crescimento acima da média nos últimos anos e sua capacidade de empregar mão-de-obra de mais alta qualificação; 3) investigar em que medida este grupo é importante na difusão de conhecimento e em processos de inovação; 4) discutir a concentração destas atividades em áreas metropolitanas. Pelo fato de atuarem como difusores de conhecimento e pelo seu enredamento vasto na cadeia produtiva, os KIBS podem representar uma tendência analítica promissora, especialmente em um momento em que atores públicos têm pensado políticas de desenvolvimento de escopo transversal, nas quais a inovação é elemento central. / The changes in capitalism in the last thirty years created conditions to service industries growth, especially those ones related to knowledge-intensive activities. The main objective of this master thesis is to contribute to build a knowledge-intensive business services debate in Brazil. It means that this thesis tries to bring an important debate from the developed countries academia to a developing country in order to analyze if it could be applied in other context. The hypothesis is that KIBS are necessary to increase economic development in Brazil in the new era of capitalism, also known as knowledge-based economy or informational society. The relevance of these activities is due to their role as sources, carriers and diffusers of knowledge that can generate externalities to innovation processes. The aims of this text are: 1) make a literature review of KIBS debate; 2) define KIBS in Brazil comparing to the rest of service sector, showing how important they are in terms of growth in the last years, high value added generation, and qualified labor force employment; 3) investigate how these industries are important to knowledge diffusion and to innovation processes; 4) discuss the reasons why KIBS are agglomerated in metropolitan regions. Once KIBS are known as sources, carriers and diffusers of knowledge and as they are connected to many of others activities, I assume that they can be an interesting and promising approach. This becomes even more important nowadays, in a context in which innovation takes place as a central issue of the development policies debate.

La connaissance étant au coeur de la création et du développement d’un avantage concurrentiel à travers l’innovation, la capacité des organisations à absorber les connaissances en provenance de l’extérieur est aujourd’hui devenue critique. Cette recherche soutient que le déclenchement et le développement d’un processus d’absorption ne peuvent résulter des seuls efforts organisationnels internes. Elle vise à comprendre la façon dont les services marchands à forte intensité de connaissances (Knowledge-Intensive Business, KIBS) peuvent améliorer le processus d’absorption de leurs clients.En se basant sur l’approche par les capacités dynamiques, cette recherche met en évidence la nécessité de prendre en compte : (1) les conditions d’émergence et du développement de la capacité d’absorption ; (2) le rôle des organisations externes dans le processus d’absorption. Cette thèse sur travaux repose sur un article théorique et trois articles empiriques qui s’appuient sur une méthodologie qualitative d’études de cas multiples dans le secteur du conseil en conception innovante.Cette thèse donne lieu à trois contributions majeures en faisant émerger : (1) la notion de « capacité d’insémination » du KIBS qui adopte, sélectionne,contextualise et préserve les connaissances afin de faciliter le déclenchement et le développement d’un processus d’absorption de la part de son client ; (2) les correspondances entre la capacité d’insémination des KIBS et la capacité d’absorption de leurs clients ; (3) l’accompagnement par le KIBS des activités de co-production du client, critiques en conception innovante. Au final, cette recherche contribue à la littérature en sciences de gestion et en management stratégique sur la capacité d’absorption et l’innovation. Les résultats débouchent sur des recommandations managériales visant à développer la capacité d’absorption des entreprises au travers de la relation de service et de conseil. / With knowledge at the heart of the creation and maintenance of competitive advantage through innovation, an organization’s ability to absorb external knowledge is critical. This research supports the idea that the initiation and perpetuation of a knowledge absorption process are not only the result of internal organizational efforts. It aims to improve understanding of how Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS) can enhance their clients’ absorption process. Based on the dynamic capabilities approach, this research highlights the need to take into account: (1) the conditions that will enable the initiation and perpetuation of a knowledge absorption process; (2) the role of external organizations into absorption process. This Multi-Monograph Thesis is composed of one theoretical article and three empirical articles utilizing qualitative multiple-case study methodology in the field of innovative design consulting. This thesis leads to three major contributions: (1) the notion of the “insemination capacity” of KIBS, which is the ability to adopt, select, contextualize and preserve knowledge so as to initiate and perpetuate a knowledge absorption process; (2) the connections between absorptive and insemination capacities; (3) the guidance provided to a client’s co-production activities in the context of innovative design. Ultimately, this research contributes to Management Sciences and Strategic Management literature on absorptive capacity and innovation. It also provides recommendations to managers on how to develop absorptive capacity through the service and consulting relationship.

The following research examines current approaches to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the knowledge intensive services sector of industry. The primary aim of this research is the development of a conceptual framework that informs the development and continuous review of the CSR process for businesses that operate in these sectors. It is anticipated that the framework can also play a role in facilitating compliance with section 172 of the Companies Act in the United Kingdom. To enhance the prospect of achieving the primary research aim the following supplementary objectives were also identified: 1) To critically evaluate current approaches to CSR in the knowledge intensive services sector. 2) To determine the appetite and expectation for stakeholder focused governance in the knowledge intensive services sector. 3) To evaluate responses to constraining and enabling characteristics of CSR in the knowledge intensive services sector. 4) To explore the potential role and implications of a CSR guidance framework for the knowledge intensive services sector. This research utilises a multiple case study approach with a focus on three case study subjects, each of whom are market leaders in their respective (knowledge intensive services) sectors of industry and each of whom have demonstrated significant investment and success in their approaches to CSR to date. Qualitative methodology was employed to collect the primary data whilst quantitative methods were employed for the collection of supplementary data for the purposes of triangulation. Using grounded theory methodology, the qualitative data was analysed and the findings conceptualised and coded. This resulted in four key categories being identified and linked to a core category and forms the basis of the ultimate framework. Grounded theory analysis also accounts for the compilation of the supplementary propositions which accompany the framework. This research evidences an acceptance of the need for a more stakeholder focused approach to corporate governance in the knowledge intensive services sector and the resultant framework provides a pathway through which this can be achieved.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo investigar as externalidades positivas geradas pelas regiões diversificadas através de uma análise dos serviços de Tecnologia da Informação (TI) presentes na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP). Ou seja, busca apresentar os elementos da diversificação e evidenciar as formas como essas vantagens se manifestam no ambiente. Essa análise se fundamenta no pressuposto de que tais espaços devem ser entendidos de forma distinta dos ambientes especializados, já estudados no Brasil. Nos ambientes diversificados as formas mais importantes de transferência de conhecimento estão fora da indústria. Nessas localidades, a heterogeneidade promove benefícios que incluem: oportunidades para imitar, compartilhar e recombinar ideias e práticas através da indústria e a possibilidade de troca e fertilização cruzada de ideias. Além disso, o melhor funcionamento da infraestrutura, a proximidade dos mercados, o acesso aos serviços especializados são fatores adicionais que geram benefícios para os agentes. Dentro desses ambientes o contato face a face é um dos elementos fundamentais para o entendimento dessas regiões. O contato face a face é uma forma de tecnologia de comunicação que resolve problemas de incentivos, confiança e socialização. Esse contato, além de transferir conhecimento, permite observar e selecionar indivíduos. Adicionalmente, um fenômeno importante da análise das regiões diversificadas são as buzz cities. Estas são cidades com grande diversidade produtiva e social, altamente urbanizadas. Essas cidades colocam indivíduos qualificados em contato uns com os outros. Dessa forma, para atingir o objetivo proposto dois passos foram realizados. Em primeiro lugar, foi apresentada uma revisão sobre as principais características de formação e desenvolvimento das atividades de serviços de TI no Brasil, conjuntamente com um levantamento de informações e dados sobre o setor. Essa análise permitiu observar uma forte concentração das atividades na microrregião de São Paulo. A concentração das atividades de TI é entendida como parte do processo de formação histórica da indústria. No Brasil, as atividades de TI se desenvolveram a partir da associação com os setores econômicos que demandavam capacitações tecnológicas cada vez mais complexas de seus fornecedores. Em segundo lugar, foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo com o propósito de evidenciar algumas das principais vantagens da diversificação industrial. A partir dos resultados alcançados observa-se a presença de externalidades próprias da diversificação industrial, que envolvem trocas de conhecimento entre diferentes agentes e possuem importantes implicações para empresas, como as oportunidades de acesso à mão de obra especializada e altamente concentrada na região e as redes de relacionamentos geradas entre as empresas de TI, os usuários e os fornecedores de tecnologia. Nesses ambientes, o contato face a face é um dos fatores fundamentais para a consolidação das empresas em um mercado altamente pulverizado, que envolve conhecimentos complexos. Além disso, percebe-se que as buzz cities geram importantes elos para a consolidação das empresas, fazendo com que as forças de aglomerações sejam reforçadas pela transmissão de conhecimento intersetoriais. / This master dissertation aims to investigate the positive externalities generated by the diversified regions through an analysis of the Information Technology Services (IT) in Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP). In other words, it seeks to present the elements of diversification and highlight the ways in which these advantages are manifested in the environment. This analysis is based on the assumption that such spaces must be understood differently of specialized environments, already studied in Brazil. In diverse environments, there is the idea that the most important forms of knowledge spillovers are outside the industry. In these locations, the heterogeneity promotes benefits that include: opportunities to imitate, to share and to recombine ideas and practices across the industry, and the possibility of exchange and cross-fertilization of ideas. Moreover, the better functioning of infrastructure, proximity to markets, and access to specialized services are additional factors that generate benefits for agents. Within these environments, face to face contact is a key element for the understanding of these regions. Face to face contact is a form of communication technology that solves problems of incentives, confidence and socialization. This contact, beyond transferring knowledge, allows to observe and to select individuals. Additionally, an important phenomenon of analysis of diversified regions is the buzz cities. These are cities with large production and social diversity, highly urbanized. These cities places qualified individuals in contact with each other. Thus, to achieve the proposed goal two steps were performed. Firstly, a review of the main features of formation and development of IT in Brazil, together with a data about the sector was presented. This analysis allowed us to observe a large concentration of activities in the microregion of Sao Paulo. The concentration of IT activity is understood as part of the industrial formation historical process. In Brazil, the IT activities were developed from the association with economic sectors that demand increasingly complex technological capabilities. Secondly, a field research was performed, in order to highlight some of the major advantages of industrial diversification. From the results obtained it is possible to observe the presence of externalities diversification, involving knowledge exchange between different agents and important implications for businesses, such as the opportunities for access to skilled labor highly concentrated in the region and the networks generated between IT companies, users and technology providers. In these environments, the face to face contact is one of the key factors for the consolidation of IT companies in a highly fragmented market, which involves complex knowledge. Furthermore, in the buzz cities are produced important links to the consolidation of companies, strengthening the forces of clusters through inter-industry knowledge spillovers.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo investigar as externalidades positivas geradas pelas regiões diversificadas através de uma análise dos serviços de Tecnologia da Informação (TI) presentes na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP). Ou seja, busca apresentar os elementos da diversificação e evidenciar as formas como essas vantagens se manifestam no ambiente. Essa análise se fundamenta no pressuposto de que tais espaços devem ser entendidos de forma distinta dos ambientes especializados, já estudados no Brasil. Nos ambientes diversificados as formas mais importantes de transferência de conhecimento estão fora da indústria. Nessas localidades, a heterogeneidade promove benefícios que incluem: oportunidades para imitar, compartilhar e recombinar ideias e práticas através da indústria e a possibilidade de troca e fertilização cruzada de ideias. Além disso, o melhor funcionamento da infraestrutura, a proximidade dos mercados, o acesso aos serviços especializados são fatores adicionais que geram benefícios para os agentes. Dentro desses ambientes o contato face a face é um dos elementos fundamentais para o entendimento dessas regiões. O contato face a face é uma forma de tecnologia de comunicação que resolve problemas de incentivos, confiança e socialização. Esse contato, além de transferir conhecimento, permite observar e selecionar indivíduos. Adicionalmente, um fenômeno importante da análise das regiões diversificadas são as buzz cities. Estas são cidades com grande diversidade produtiva e social, altamente urbanizadas. Essas cidades colocam indivíduos qualificados em contato uns com os outros. Dessa forma, para atingir o objetivo proposto dois passos foram realizados. Em primeiro lugar, foi apresentada uma revisão sobre as principais características de formação e desenvolvimento das atividades de serviços de TI no Brasil, conjuntamente com um levantamento de informações e dados sobre o setor. Essa análise permitiu observar uma forte concentração das atividades na microrregião de São Paulo. A concentração das atividades de TI é entendida como parte do processo de formação histórica da indústria. No Brasil, as atividades de TI se desenvolveram a partir da associação com os setores econômicos que demandavam capacitações tecnológicas cada vez mais complexas de seus fornecedores. Em segundo lugar, foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo com o propósito de evidenciar algumas das principais vantagens da diversificação industrial. A partir dos resultados alcançados observa-se a presença de externalidades próprias da diversificação industrial, que envolvem trocas de conhecimento entre diferentes agentes e possuem importantes implicações para empresas, como as oportunidades de acesso à mão de obra especializada e altamente concentrada na região e as redes de relacionamentos geradas entre as empresas de TI, os usuários e os fornecedores de tecnologia. Nesses ambientes, o contato face a face é um dos fatores fundamentais para a consolidação das empresas em um mercado altamente pulverizado, que envolve conhecimentos complexos. Além disso, percebe-se que as buzz cities geram importantes elos para a consolidação das empresas, fazendo com que as forças de aglomerações sejam reforçadas pela transmissão de conhecimento intersetoriais. / This master dissertation aims to investigate the positive externalities generated by the diversified regions through an analysis of the Information Technology Services (IT) in Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP). In other words, it seeks to present the elements of diversification and highlight the ways in which these advantages are manifested in the environment. This analysis is based on the assumption that such spaces must be understood differently of specialized environments, already studied in Brazil. In diverse environments, there is the idea that the most important forms of knowledge spillovers are outside the industry. In these locations, the heterogeneity promotes benefits that include: opportunities to imitate, to share and to recombine ideas and practices across the industry, and the possibility of exchange and cross-fertilization of ideas. Moreover, the better functioning of infrastructure, proximity to markets, and access to specialized services are additional factors that generate benefits for agents. Within these environments, face to face contact is a key element for the understanding of these regions. Face to face contact is a form of communication technology that solves problems of incentives, confidence and socialization. This contact, beyond transferring knowledge, allows to observe and to select individuals. Additionally, an important phenomenon of analysis of diversified regions is the buzz cities. These are cities with large production and social diversity, highly urbanized. These cities places qualified individuals in contact with each other. Thus, to achieve the proposed goal two steps were performed. Firstly, a review of the main features of formation and development of IT in Brazil, together with a data about the sector was presented. This analysis allowed us to observe a large concentration of activities in the microregion of Sao Paulo. The concentration of IT activity is understood as part of the industrial formation historical process. In Brazil, the IT activities were developed from the association with economic sectors that demand increasingly complex technological capabilities. Secondly, a field research was performed, in order to highlight some of the major advantages of industrial diversification. From the results obtained it is possible to observe the presence of externalities diversification, involving knowledge exchange between different agents and important implications for businesses, such as the opportunities for access to skilled labor highly concentrated in the region and the networks generated between IT companies, users and technology providers. In these environments, the face to face contact is one of the key factors for the consolidation of IT companies in a highly fragmented market, which involves complex knowledge. Furthermore, in the buzz cities are produced important links to the consolidation of companies, strengthening the forces of clusters through inter-industry knowledge spillovers.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Understanding factors that enhance or diminish performance levels of individuals is instrumental for achieving individual (low level) and organisational (high level) goals. In this study, the effect of social network structure, position, ties and information and communication technologies (ICT) use on performance attitudes of knowledge intensive workers in dispersed occupational communities is investigated. Based on social network theories of strength of weak ties and structural holes, and the social influence model of technology use, a theoretical framework is developed. In conjunction with qualitative interviews conducted with subject matter experts, the framework is used to further develop and refine a valid and reliable survey instrument. Secondly, network measures of degree centrality, density, structural holes (constraint and efficiency), tie strength and tie diversity are applied for exploring the association with ICT use and performance from a sample of 110 rural general practitioners. Empirical results suggest that network structure, position and ties of knowledge workers play a crucial role in individual performance and ICT use. In particular, degree centrality and task-level ICT use was found to be positively associated with performance while ego-network constraint was found to be negatively correlated with performance. In terms of ICT use, functional diversity and degree centrality were positively associated with task-level ICT use whereas ego-network efficiency was found to be negatively correlated with ICT use at the communication-structure level. Among the variables that showed significance, degree centrality best explained overall variance for performance, and functional diversity best explained overall variance for task-level ICT use, although professional accreditations remains a potent indicator also. The results from this study resonate with findings from past literature and extend traditional theory of social networks and performance within the micro level to include geographically dispersed individuals involved in knowledge intensive work. For individuals in such non-competitive settings, traditional network theories such as structural holes theory still apply. However, a key finding is that network structure is a much more potent predictor of performance although network position is important. The second key finding addresses a major gap in the literature concerning understanding social processes that influence ICT use. As the technology acceptance and the social influence models lack empirical evidence from a social networks perspective, this research shows that rather than the strength of ties which functions as a conduit of novel ideas and information, it is the functional tie diversity within individual professionals networks that increase ICT use at the task-level. Methodologically, the study contributes towards a triangulation approach that utilises both qualitative and quantitative methods for operationalising the study. The quantitative method includes a non-traditional “networks” method of data collection and analysis to serve as a fine complement to traditional research methods in behavioural studies. The outcome is a valid and reliable survey instrument that allows collection of both individual attribute and social network data. The instrument is theoretically driven, practically feasible to implement, time-efficient and easily replicable for other similar studies. At the domain level, key findings from this study contradict previous literature which suggests that professionals in occupational communities such as general practitioners decline in performance as they age. In fact, findings from this study suggest that age and experience do not affect for performance; rather, there is a negative relationship between experience and task-level ICT use, and that task-level ICT use is positively associated with performance in terms of attitudes to interpersonal care. Furthermore, degree centrality is also positively associated with professional accreditations, such as fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, which is conducive to performance in terms of attitudes to interpersonal and technical care. The contextual implication from the quantitative and qualitative evidence of this study is that while contemplating strategies for optimising ICT use or for improving attitudes to quality of care at the technical and interpersonal level, the importance of social structure, position and relations in the practitioner’s professional network needs to be considered carefully as part of the overall individual and organisation-level goals.

<p>Background: The forthcoming shortage of labor, due amongst other things to demographical issues and the increasing mobility of people on the labor market, will affect the possibilities to attract and retain employees with valuable key competencies. To win the talent war employer branding has arisen to become a strategy to overcome this threat. </p><p>Purpose: To investigate and analyze the outside perspective of employer branding – the employer image – of a knowledge intensive organization through a study of AstraZeneca. Course of action: An approach based on critical theory has been used to generate results, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. </p><p>Results: The workforce is at risk of becoming a scarce resource and the situation seems to be most alarming in areas related to natural sciences, and the pharmaceutical industry in particular. The employer image of AstraZeneca has been found to be very positive, showing high ratings of brand recognition and employer of choice, but the underlying reasons for these results have not been proven. Attraction between employer and employee could occur if the individual is able to see how to reach self-fulfillment through contributing to the company purpose.</p>

Background: The forthcoming shortage of labor, due amongst other things to demographical issues and the increasing mobility of people on the labor market, will affect the possibilities to attract and retain employees with valuable key competencies. To win the talent war employer branding has arisen to become a strategy to overcome this threat. Purpose: To investigate and analyze the outside perspective of employer branding – the employer image – of a knowledge intensive organization through a study of AstraZeneca. Course of action: An approach based on critical theory has been used to generate results, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: The workforce is at risk of becoming a scarce resource and the situation seems to be most alarming in areas related to natural sciences, and the pharmaceutical industry in particular. The employer image of AstraZeneca has been found to be very positive, showing high ratings of brand recognition and employer of choice, but the underlying reasons for these results have not been proven. Attraction between employer and employee could occur if the individual is able to see how to reach self-fulfillment through contributing to the company purpose.

Syftet med denna kandidatuppsats är att undersöka vilka förutsättningar som finns för kunskapsöverföring i ett specifikt kunskapsintensivt företag. I en organisation vars lönsamhet är beroende av att kunskap överförs, finns det hinder som beror på individens egenintressen att utöva makt inom organisationen? En analysmodell, som utarbetats efter den teoretiska referensramen, används för att avgöra hur kunskapsmakten påverkar överföringen av kunskap genom att studera förutsättningar för kunskapsöverföring. Ur modellen kan eventuella hinder för överföringen analyseras och därigenom kan resonemang föras kring om det finns en ovilja eller oförmåga att dela med sig av kunskap. En kvalitativ studie har utförts genom intervjuer med utvalda representanter från ett kunskapsintensivt företag. Resultat från undersökningen visar att kunskap är en viktig källa till makt inom företaget och att organisationen arbetar aktivt med kunskapsöverföring. Förutsättningarna för att kunskap skulle kunna överföras var uppfyllda, i alla fall till stor del. Några direkta hinder för kunskapsöverföring i det specifika fall som studerats har alltså inte identifierats. / The purpose of this thesis is to examine the current conditions around knowledge transfer in a specific knowledge-intensive company. In an organization that is dependent on knowledge transfer, are there any obstructions due to an individual's self-interest in retaining power that affect how knowledge is transferred internally? To determine if employees hoard their knowledge in order to stay in a power position, the transfer process is analyzed in depth to see if it is lacking due to the employees disinclination towards the transfering of knowledge or an inability to do so. A qualitative study was conducted through interviews with representatives from this specific knowledge-intensive company. The results from the interviews suggest that knowledge is in fact a source of power in this specific organization and the interviewees showed an awareness of the fact that knowledge transfer is crucial in order to stay successful. The conditions for knowledge transfer were greatly met and the results did not indicate any explicit evidence of individuals hoarding their knowledge in order to remain in a power position.

Background Incubators are important facilities for economic growth in society. The main purpose of incubators is to accelerate knowledge intensive firms onto their market by both providing resources and an entrepreneurial environment. Problem Companies within incubators are encouraged to share knowledge and experience with each other with the goal to stimulate development and invention of new technology. This exchange involves interaction on an inter-personal and inter-organizational level. Incubators need to create an open and transparent environment in order to enable this exchange on both levels. Purpose The purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of how knowledge and experience exchange occurs within the context of incubator systems. By understanding how incubators can capture knowledge and learn from the incubator process, this study can contribute by insights of how the incubator process can be further improved. Method This bachelor thesis is written from an abductive approach and is based on a qualitative case study of Ideon Innovation in Lund. Five interviews contributed to the collection of empirical data where companies within incubator systems and the CEO of an incubator were included. Conclusion Knowledge exchange does not occur to the extent that theory and the management of Ideon Innovation suggests. Knowledge intensive firms constitutes each other’s networks and social environments where we have found new incubator effects such as motivation and the ability to talk out their anxiety related to their business. The match between companies close to each other within incubators can be controlled through managerial activities by the incubator to, in some degree, achieve more favorable market structures and a local environment that enables exchange of knowledge spillover. / Bakgrund                          Inkubatorer är viktiga faciliteter för ekonomisk tillväxt i dagen samhälle. Det huvudsakliga syftet för inkubatorer är att accelerera inkubatorföretag in på marknaden genom att erbjuda resurser och en entreprenöriell miljö. Problem                             Inom inkubatorer uppmuntras företag till dela med sig av sina kunskaper och erfarenheter till varandra med syfte till att stimulera utvecklingen och skapandet av ny innovation. Utbytet involverar interaktioner på interpersonell och interorganisatorisk nivå. Inkubatorer behöver därmed skapa en öppen och transparent miljö för att utbytet ska kunna ske på båda nivåerna. Syfte                                   Syftet med studien är att förbättra förståelsen för hur kunskap- och erfarenhetsutbyte sker inom inkubatorsystem. Genom en förståelse för hur inkubatorer kan ta åt sig kunskap och lära sig ifrån inkubatorprocessen, kan studien bidra med insikter om hur inkubatorprocessen ytterligare kan förbättras. Metod                                 Kandidatuppsatsen är skriven utifrån en abduktiv ansats och är baserade på en kvalitativ fallstudie på Ideon Innovation i Lund. Den empiriska insamlingen av data genomfördes genom fem intervjuer med företag inom inkubatorsystem och Vd:n för inkubatorn. Slutsats                               Kunskapsutbyte sker inte till den grad som teorin eller vad ledningen för Ideon Innovation förespråkar. Kunskapsintensiva företag utgör varandras nätverk och sociala miljö, och vi har funnit nya inkubatoreffekter som motivation och att företagen kan prata av sig ångest som relaterar till sin verksamhet. Genom manageriella aktiviter kan inkubatorn matcha rätt företag till att sitta nära varandra inom inkubatorn och därmed till viss grad nå mer eftertraktade konkurrenssituationer.