Die rapide voranschreitende Globalisierung der Weltwirtschaft wird letztlich getragen von der zunehmenden Anzahl international aktiver Unternehmen. Diese Prozesse der verstärkten Involvierung von Unternehmen in internationale Aktivitäten, bzw. die Anpassung von Strategien, Strukturen und Ressourcen von Unternehmen an internationale Umgebungen werden als ‚betriebliche Internationalisierungsprozesse‘ definiert. Aus Sicht der Betriebswirtschaftslehre als einer gestaltungsorientierten Disziplin erwachsen aus betrieblichen Internationalisierungsprozessen neue Anforderungen an das Management von Unternehmen. Diese bestehen darin, Internationalisierungsprozesse aktiv zu gestalten und so das Überleben des Unternehmens in einer zunehmend globalisierten Wettbewerbsumwelt nachhaltig zu sichern. Ziel der Arbeit ist es erstens, einen Vorschlag für ein integratives Prozessverständnis von betrieblicher Internationalisierung auszuarbeiten, indem eine konzeptionelle Brücke zwischen Stufenmodellen, Netzwerkmodellen und International-New-Venture Modellen der Internationalisierung geschlagen wird. Zweitens wird dieses integrative Prozessverständnis dazu genutzt, wesentliche Gestaltungsfelder eines betrieblichen Internationalisierungsmanagement aufzuzeigen. Für die Entwicklung eines integrativen Prozessverständnisses und damit verbunden für ein Managementmodell der Internationalisierung erschließt die Arbeit das Konzept der Absorptionsfähigkeit von Unternehmen.

In this research, our main goal rests in the analysis of the main determinants and the features of output performance of firms. First, we will investigate the direct and the indirect effects (spillovers) of Research and Development (R&D) investments on firms’ total factor productivity growth. To that end, we begin by estimating the returns to R&D by using international micro level data, as first proposed in Griliches (1979). We quantify the effects on firms’ productivity of exogenous variations in the state of technology and of the R&D of other firms (R&D spillovers, Jaffe, 1986). Second, we will try to take into account the firms’ ability to identify, assimilate and exploit existing information, that is their absorptive capacity (Cohen, Levinthal 1989). We assume that the elasticity of output (or value added) to national or foreign stock of spillovers depend on the chosen measure of Absorptive Capacity, which generally is represented by own R&D capital. The positive effect of the interaction between own R&D capital and the spillover pool term indicates the firm ability to absorb new ideas from outside, while its negative effect gives evidence of necessity to invest more in own R&D. Third, we will explore the question whether geographic and technological proximities affect the knowledge flows, proxied by patent citations for large international firms and how these effects change over time. We expect that the geographical proximity impact on knowledge flows is decreasing over time, since information travels at lower communication costs over time (Coyle, 1997 and Friedman, 2005). Yet, according to Evans and Harringan (2005), distance is still relevant in some technological sectors, where face-to-face interaction is fundamental and knowledge is tacit and hard to codify. Then, it is also interesting to analyse the impact of technological proximity on knowledge flows over time. / Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Companies are increasingly motivated to deal with the issue of sustainability not just from a moral standpoint, but also because these issues may be a major root of innovation. To achieve these sustainable innovations, the number of manufacturers who invest in specific resources has been increasing. Supplier contributions to manufacturing company sustainable innovations are influenced by particular investments and specially the human capital investments, which emphasizes the supplier's role in supporting the producer with sustainable innovations. The precise investments might help suppliers contribute to sustainable innovation. However, if a company invests too much in certain resources, such as human capital, the beneficial impacts of such investments may diminish, and the supplier's participation in sustainable innovation may be hampered. Various internal contingency variables can moderate the relationship between the specific investments and sustainable innovation contribution of suppliers. Thus, this study aims at this research gap. This research aimed to study the relationship between human capital specific investments and supplier sustainable innovation contribution in developed markets considering the role of learning and absorptive capacity, and market orientation. This research can be considered as the deductive, quantitative and field research in which the researchers collected the primary data by using a structured questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire confirmed through different quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research sample was chosen by using the convenience sampling. In order to respond to the questionnaire surveys, top- and middle-level managers from 355 Swedish corporations in which suppliers have been incorporated in the corporation’s sustainable innovation activities addressed. Finally, A total of 960 questionnaires for 355 companies handed out, and 102 being returned and analysed. The regression curve estimation method revealed that there is a linear relationship between human capital specific investments and supplier sustainable innovation contribution. Besides, through the hierarchical multiple linear regression, the researchers demonstrated that absorptive capacity and market orientation can play the moderating role in this relationship, while the learning capacity can partially play such role in this relationship. Eventually, the theoretical, managerial and sustainability implications discussed and the limitations of the research in addition to the future research possibilities addressed.

How can we understand the innovativeness of firms or organizations in general, and how should we assess it in terms of nontechnological innovation? My paper deals with these two questions. The “ability” of companies to adapt to new circumstances, to create new products, processes and new knowledge, has been conceptualized in many approaches. Some of them simply define a list of “(critical) success factors” or “(key) performance indica-tors”, as tools for ranking and evaluation, without any theoretical reference. Others, like the resource-based or capability-based approach(es), work with theoretical references, but are still very weak in operationalizing of what they call “capability”. My paper gives a critical description of this situation and offers a new proposal to classify and to measure the “inclination” of organizations to innovate in all dimensions. This proposal roots in pragmatistic thinking as represented in the theory of reflexive modernization and in the pragmatist version of organizational learning theory. Empirically, it has been applied merely in case studies yet. A survey project is in preparation.

No description available.

Emerging technologies are reshaping the digital landscape and competitive environment of highly technological companies with the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI). Firms are reacting by implementing digital transformation (DT) strategies aligning the organizational and technological factors towards leveraging AI-generated information. This thesis sheds new light on the topics of knowledge management (KM), DT, and AI in organizational practices with an emphasis on AI-enhanced software-as-a-service (SaaS). The research results in a conceptual framework, designed from the literature on AI, DT, KM, and dynamic capability view (DCV) uncovering three overarching concepts (internal capabilities, absorptive capacity, and technological competitiveness). This conceptual framework was then complemented by empirical data featuring primary data gathered from a single case study and secondary data from an internet-mediated data collection. The interviews in the case study were focused on managers with extensive experience in the semiconductor industry and operators working with the AI-enhanced SaaS tool. The analysis concludes in an updated conceptual framework, highlighting the interplay of a firm’s internal capabilities and an AI-enhanced absorptive capacity indicating three pathways toward achieving technological competitiveness in a highly technological environment. Additionally, a proposed solution is presented featuring an AI-enhanced tool operator as a new role, responsible for supporting organization-wide activities with AI-generated information.

Disruptions due to either natural or anthropogenic hazards significantly impact the operation of critical infrastructure networks because they may instigate network-level cascade (i.e., systemic) risks. Therefore, quantifying and enhancing the resilience of such complex dynamically evolving networks ensure minimizing the possibility and consequences of systemic risks. Focusing only on robustness, as one of the key resilience attributes, and on transportation networks, key critical infrastructure, the current study develops a hybrid complex network theoretic-genetic algorithms analysis approach. To demonstrate the developed approach, the robustness of a city transportation network is quantified by integrating complex network theoretic topology measures with a dynamic flow redistribution model. The network robustness is subsequently investigated under different operational measures and the corresponding absorptive capacity thresholds are quantified. Finally, the robustness of the network under different failure scenarios is evaluated using genetic algorithms coupled with k-means clustering to classify the different network components. The hybrid approach developed in the current study is expected to facilitate optimizing potential systemic risk mitigation strategies for critical infrastructure networks under disruptive events. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

No description available.

近年來網路產業快速成長，本研究希望以網路產業中的「APP行動應用程式產業」出發，探討這些提供行動應用服務的新創團隊，在各創建階段時期的資源取得與內化，透過創業者給予的建議以及資料整理與分析，提供未來欲創業的網路創業家參考。由於新創事業的團隊人數較為精煉，公司規模也尚未建立，初期所探討的資源具有人身依附性，資源與知識主要專屬在員工身上。本研究透過實證研究，在新創事業成長的各個不同的階段，探討隨著組織的調整，公司要如何將員工自身的能力與資源有效地傳遞給團隊其他成員，並且最終內化成為組織內部所屬的資源。 為了深入了解轉換過程進而獲得實證結果，本研究採取個案分析方法，針對網路產業的創業家進行一對一訪談為主，從創辦人與合夥人，分別就公司不同資源應用上一一詢問。完整訪談過後經由整理、比較，以吸收能耐理論的獲取、吸收、轉換、應用為架構，以求歸納出各資源轉換成組織資源過程以及後續應用創新 研究結果顯示，在將上述無形資源轉換成組織所擁有的過程中，新創公司最先採取的都是資料庫的建立，然而形式化的歸檔動作只是一種初期的手段，只有真正讓這些「資源」，針對其獨特性有效地流動於組織中，才可能後續為公司帶來真正的創新與應用。新創事業應該把握此時組織靈活的優勢，越快找到適合公司的商業模式，越能快速的從生存期進到成功期，而研究中也針對不同的資源屬性，深入探討其轉換與應用中的不同之處。

Thesis (PhD (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation presents a synthesis method for broadband high-power absorptive microwave lters by cascading a wide stop-band wa e-iron lter with an absorptive harmonic pad. The classical image impedance synthesis methods for wa e-iron lters are updated to allow for non-uniform boss patterns, which enable control over both the stop-band attenuation and pass-band re ection of the lter. By optimising an accurate circuit model equivalent, computationally intensive numerical EM optimisation are avoided. The nonuniform wa e-iron lter achieves the same electrical speci cation as similar lters in literature, but in a smaller form factor. The prototype presented displays less than -21 dB in-band re ection over 8.5 - 10.5 GHz, with stop-band attenuation in excess of 50 dB over the harmonic bands 17 - 31.5 GHz and 30 dB over the 34 - 42 GHz. The prototype is designed to handling 4 kW peak power incident in the transmitted band, and is 130 mm in length. Minimal full-wave tuning is required post-synthesis, and good agreement is found between synthesised and measured responses. Additionally, a completely novel oblique wa e-iron boss pattern is proposed. For the absorptive harmonic pad, transversal broadwall slots in rectangular waveguide, coupling to an absorptive auxiliary guide, are investigated in the presence of standing wave surface current distributions. An accurate circuit model description of the cascaded structure is developed, and optimised to provide a required level of input match in the presence of an arbitrary re ective lter. Using numerical port parameter data of the wa eiron lter, a harmonic pad is developed that provides -12.5 dB input re ection match across the band 17 - 21 GHz with up to 1 kW peak incident power handling capability, yet is only 33 mm in length. Again, good agreement is found between synthesised and measured responses of the cascaded structure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif stel 'n sintesetegniek voor vir wyeband, ho edrywing absorberende mikrogol lters deur 'n kaskade kombinasie van 'n verlieslose wafelyster lter met 'n wye stopband, en 'n absorberende harmoniekdemper. Die klassieke sintesemetodes vir wafelyster lters word aangepas om nie-uniforme tandpatrone toe te laat, wat beheer oor beide die lter se stopband attenuasie en deurlaatband weerkaatsing moontlik maak. Deur die optimering van 'n akkurate stroombaanmodel van die lter kan berekeningsintensiewe numeriese EM optimering vermy word. Die nieuniforme wafelyster lter behaal dieselfde spesi kasies as soortgelyke gepubliseerde lters, maar is meer kompak. Die vervaardigingsprototipe handhaaf minder as -21 dB intreeweerkaatsing oor die deurlaatband van 8.5 - 10.5 GHz, asook attenuasie van meer as 50 dB oor die stopband 17 - 31.5 GHz en 30 dB oor 34 - 42 GHz. Die prototipe is ontwerp om 4 kW intree kruindrywing te hanteer in die deurlaatband, en is 130 mm lank. Die metode vereis minimale verstellings tydens volgolf simulasie, en die meetresultate stem goed ooreen met die gesintetiseerde gedrag. 'n Nuwe skuinstandpatroon word ook voorgestel vir wafelyster lters. Vir die harmoniekdemper word transversale bre ewandgleuwe in reghoekige gol eier wat koppel na 'n absorberende newegol eier ondersoek in die teenwoordigheid van staandegolfpatrone in oppervlakstroom. 'n Akkurate stroombaanmodel van 'n gleufkaskade word ontwikkel, en geoptimeer om 'n vereiste intreeweerkaatsing te bewerkstellig in samewerking met 'n arbitr^ere weerkaatsende lter. Deur gebruik te maak van poortparameterdata van die wafelyster lter word 'n 33 mm lange hamoniekdemper ontwikkel wat 'n maksimum intreeweerkaatsing van -12.5 dB oor die band 17 - 21 GHz handhaaf vir kruindrywingsvlakke van tot 1 kW. Goeie ooreenstemming tussen gesintetiseerde en gemete resultate word weereens waargeneem vir die volledige saamgestelde struktuur.