The attitude of the building sector towards innovation and its intellectual and organizational preparedness for dealing with the issues of innovation is the aim of this study. The core question can be formulated as follows: Why does a building company accept certain innovations but not others? The fundamental ideas of the study are rooted in the central European tradition of the historico-qualitiative school of thought. Another basic idea for the thesis is Dewcy’s and Bcntley's theory of transactional cognition introduced in Sweden by Hanssen under the term ""field concept" according to which the content and object of knowledge are seen as an entirety. The reason for approaching the problem qualitatively. that is through not highly structured interviews based on the author's long personal experience in the sector, is its compound and many face ted nature a long with the fact that verbal discussion is firmly grounded in building sector tradition. Innovations has to pass trough three different filters. These filters are at the point where the innovation enters the company, during the bid preparation process and upon the absorption of the innovation into the project. Important factors influencing the passage through these filters arc papyrophobia, the old boy network (OBN) and the structure of the production system. Papyrophobia is expressed in a general reluctance to deal with theoretical issues and documentation. OBN denotes an informal communication network. Production is run by and within project organizations. i.e. repetitive ad hoc aggregates independent of the parent organization. These factors in combination with time and financial pressure obstruct the possibility of creating a research tradition. Characteristic features of the socio-cultural tradition of the sector are that it is male dominated, that the educational system classifies those working in the field according to trade and profession, and that the strong position of production aspects have brought to the forefront the energetic practitioner. His values are strictly professional. Information is to a great extent transmitted orally. There is strength in the ability of Swedish construction firms to plan and improvise within an established frame. However, a certain streak of marginalism with the potential of inhibiting innovation does exist in their pattern of action. Also typical of the tradition is the ideal of the free entrepreneur and the organization of large companies as confederations of a number of small and medium size firms. Finally, a fundamental cultural feature of the construction industry is openness. News spreads rapidly to a competitor. Innovations are disseminated in several ways, but one dominant pattern persists that cannot be seen in other industries. While the projects are important for testing and diffusion of innovations, the companies arc more intrumental in propagating information of innovations. The building materials industry's R&amp;D work follows a pattern similar to that of production companies in other sectors. The building sector's readiness to follow and work with innovation issues can generally be rated as low. The confinement of interest to production aspects combined with the marked open· ness provides ample room for the materials manufacturers and companies outside the sector to introduce new products and materials. In the long run, it is the gradual change in this assortment that will transform building techniques and technology. Change is generated by other sectors. / <p>Felaktigt ISBN <em>91-7870-087</em> är angivet i avhandling. ISBN är korrigerat till <em>91-7870-087-6</em>.</p>

Magistro baigiamajame darbe nagrinėjama Lietuvos įmonių inovacinė veikla, inovacijų išlaidų dinamika, palyginami inovatyvių įmonių produktyvumo ir darbo našumo duomenys, bei aptariamos inovacijų finansavimo šaltinių tendencijos. Siekiant įvertinti inovacijų diegimo Lietuvose įmonėse proceso plėtrą bei ekonominį jo aspektą, pateikiama statistinių skaičiavimų bei teorinių prielaidų, nusakančių netiesioginį inovacijų poveikį šalies ekonomikos konkurencingumui, bendram šalies inovatyvumo potencialui. Siekiama pateikti situacijos analizę ne tik Lietuvoje, bet ir palyginti Lietuvą Europos Sąjungos šalių kontekste. Tam tikrų rodiklių (apyvartos, darbo našumo, finansavimo šaltinių ir pan.) išskyrimas įgalina plačiau įžvelgti priežastis bei veiksnius įtakojančius šalies įmonių inovatyvumo laipsnį. Magistro baigiamasis darbas susideda iš trijų dalių. Teorinėje darbo dalyje yra nagrinėjami inovacijų sąvokų ir inovacinės veiklos teoriniai aspektai, galimos inovacijų rizikos, konkurencingumo didinimo prielaidos, palankių inovatyviam verslui sąlygų sukūrimas. Tiriamojoje darbo dalyje yra atliktas Lietuvos įmonių inovacinės veiklos bei plėtros galimybių vertinimas, nustatyta inovacijų įtaka atskiriems rodikliams, jų dydis bei svarba, taip pat santykinai palyginami Lietuvos atskiri inovatyvumo indeksai su ES šalimis. Trečiojoje darbo dalyje pateikiamas Lietuvos inovacinės veiklos modelis ES šalių pavyzdžiu, kuriame nurodomas naujas modifikuotas Inovatyvumo indeksas. / The aim of the master thesis is analysis of Lithuanian companies innovative activities, dynamics of innovation costs, comparing innovative companies‘ and labour productivity, also discussing about finance support tendencies of innovations. To rate process development and establishment of innovations in Lithuanian companies, likewise economical it aspect, it is shown by using statistical methods and theoretical tendencies analysis, which proves indirect innovations impact into country‘s competitiveness, also overal innovations potential in the country. Furthermore, it is done with a showing situation context not only in Lithuania, but also compares it with Europe Union countries. Certain indicators exclusion (like turnover, labour productivity, sources of finance support) helps to enlarge a view of the reasons, likewise enabling factors for innovation degree of country companies. Master Final Work consists of three parts. In theoretic part there is researching of innovation concept and innovative activity theoretical aspects, possible risks for innovations, suggestions for competitiveness improving. In practise part of the work, there are established estimation of innovative Lithuanian companies’ activities and development opportunities, determined innovation influence over certain indicators, their sizes and interests, either comparison of distinct innovative indexes of Lithuania and Europe Union countries. On the third part of the work there is composed Lithuanian... [to full text]

En innovation handlar i grund och botten om en förståelse och inkorporation av den komplexa kreativiteten i en innovationsprocess. I denna studie har sex centrala kärnvärden kring den upplevda kreativiteten tagits fram med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer från tio respondenter. Utifrån en fenomenologisk ansats har dessa kärnvärden utvecklats från begreppen kreativitet och innovation. Inom kreativitet var – relatera, förändra och kommunicera – centrala begrepp för respondenterna. Inom innovation var det istället – mening, kvalitet och tillväxt. Genom att anta en tydlig och provocerande syn på kreativitet och innovation har dessa kärnvärden använts som redskap för att utmana den svenska innovationsstrategin N2012.27 i vilken svenska Regeringen vill utveckla det svenska innovationsklimatet till år 2020. Studiens resultat visar att denna satsning är missriktad och otydlig. Det är inte det innovativa Sverige som i första hand bör eftersträvas, det är den kreativa medborgaren. / Innovation is all about the understanding and implementation of the complex creativity in a innovation process. This study delivers six central themes regarding the experienced creativity. These themes is a product out of interviews from ten participants. With a phenomenological approach these themes has been made representive of the concepts innovation and creativity. The themes within creativity were – relate, change and communicate. Within innovation the themes were – meaning, quality and growth. By adopting a provocative approach these themes has been used as tools to challenge the Swedish innovation strategy N2012.27 in which the Swedish Goverment wishes to elaborate the national innovation climate until the year of 2020. The result of this study shows that this investment is misguided and vague. The pursuit of the innovative Sweden shouldn’t be the primary target. It should rather be in the pursuit of the creative citizen.

Teorinėje darbo dalyje analizuojamos mokslinėje literatūroje pateiktos inovacijų sampratos ir inovacijų klasifikacija bei sklaida, įsisavinimo modeliai ir barjerai, trukdantys įsisavinimo procesui, bei aptariami inovacijų paradoksai. Pateikiamos vartotojų elgesio strategijos, susidūrus su inovacija. Analitinėje baigiamojo darbo dalyje pateikiami ir analizuojami rezultatai tyrimo, atlikto anketinės apklausos būdu apklausiant fotografijos įrangos vartotojus. Nustatomi pagrindinai veiksniai, darantys įtaką vartotojų elgsenai įsisavinant technologinę inovaciją. Projektinėje darbo dalyje pateiktas įtakos darymo vartotojams planas, padėsiantis skatinti vartotojus įsisavinti fotografijos įrangą. / The theoretical part of the scientific literature examines the concept of innovation and classification, including innovation diffusion, adoption models and barriers that interfere in the adoption process. Also discusses innovation paradoxes and consumer behavior strategies. The final analytical section provides an analysis of the results obtained from a questionnaire completed by consumers of photographic equipment. Also determines the key factors affecting consumer behavior while adopting technological innovation. The project results are: a plan to influence a consumer behavior in the technological innovation adoption process.

This thesis presents the groundwork development of an Internet-based idea assessment tool to guide innovators through the design process and educate them on the ‘best practices’ of transforming creative ideas into marketable products. The system triages registered users based on their knowledge, assesses the most suitable level of technical terminology and completes a pre-assessment of ideas. The outputs of the developed system are an idea outline, a product requirements list, a basic opportunity summary and an opportunity score for the idea being assessed. An extensive literature review on popular product development methodologies was conducted to identify which methodology would be robust enough to be used as part of an online process to assess ideas. A review of 3,600 Internet websites on product innovation and product development indicated a lack of guidance offered on the many product design processes available and mixed messages regarding which to use. The Internet search identified a lack of structure for innovators as well as a lack of coordinated educational resources to guide innovators. Combining the results of the literature review and the information gathered during the Internet search, an online system was developed using several programming languages to complete the pre-assessment tasks. A series of tests were conducted using volunteers to establish the viability of the assessment process developed and test the features developed to improve user/website interaction. Suggestions for further development of the model and method will be made at the conclusion of the thesis. The work presented in this thesis provides an excellent foundation for future development of an Internet-based idea assessment tool to guide innovators through the design process.

Diss. Univ. Münster.

The thesis is submitted under the alternative format, comprising three papers. The key theoretical contribution of the thesis can be found in each of these papers. First, the thesis explores the relationship between national and sectoral systems of innovation, and emphasises the need for governmental policies at each level to be both coordinated and complementary. Second, it offers an examination of the emerging role of universities in innovation systems, which far exceeds the traditional perspective of universities as ‘knowledge suppliers’ and the more recent notion of the ‘entrepreneurial university’. Finally, it offers insight into the strategies of foreign MNEs under the context of industry clusters. The thesis discusses the development of the Brazilian petroleum innovation system following one of the largest oil and gas discoveries in the Americas for decades. The pre-salt oil reserves were discovered in 2007 and are estimated to amount to at least the 60 billion barrels of oil in the North Sea. They are located off the south-eastern coast of Brazil in ultra-deep water (i.e. depths greater than 1500m) and are named as such because they reside under a thick layer of salt (up to two kilometres in depth). The location of the reserves adds great complexity to the challenge of their extraction. It also offers opportunities for competitive advantage to those actors within the innovation system who successfully innovate in addressing this challenge. The study draws upon an empirical investigation that included forty-two in-depth interviews, conducted in 2014 and 2015, and is supplemented by documentary analysis. These interviews were largely held with governmental agencies, public universities and petroleum-focussed enterprises (both domestic SMEs and global MNEs). Each group of actors are discussed in a different empirical paper: the efforts of governmental regulatory agencies in creating innovation in Brazil’s national petroleum industry; the evolving role of public universities in pursuit of technology transfer and academic entrepreneurship; and the R&D strategies of several global oil and gas MNEs that have taken residence in the recently-established industry cluster in Rio de Janeiro. The thesis also offers much to practitioners: guidance for the enactors of innovation policy following a large natural resource discovery; a model for universities wishing to develop a portfolio of entrepreneurial support, which has been shown to greatly support a university’s own technology transfer objectives; and direction for foreign MNEs in how to adapt to changes in industry clusters. The need for and challenge of achieving cooperation between diverse actors in an innovation system are apparent throughout the thesis. This cooperation is even more important in emerging economies such of Brazil, which often suffer from a lack of coordination between actors.

An increase in societal challenges is creating more pressure for the public service to meet the needs of its citizens and from the society in general. The greatest challenges that Piteå kommun face are the ageing population and the need of competence provision. This essay aims to examine how Piteå kommun utilizes social innovation. The empiric material has been collected through a series of semi-structured interviews conducted with key figures in Piteå kommun who are well versed in the use of social innovation. The theoretical framework, from which the analysis is based on, is based on Murray, Caulier-Grice och Mulgan’s (2010) theory of the social innovation process. The main results show that the informants share aconsistent view of what an innovation friendly climate should consist of, but how to get there is blurry and difficult to put in to words. The result also show that a politically governed organization faces a challenge when it comes to long-term efforts of social innovation since systematic change is dependent of a stable innovation process to get substantial effect. Among the informants, and in earlier research, social innovation is attributed a wide meaning which can either leads to boosted creativity and ideas or create uncertainty and a disinclination to make use of social innovation in different workplaces since the term seems unfamiliar. Suggestions for further research is examining and comparison of the utilization of social innovation in other municipalities. Another area that can be researched further is how the social innovation process is featured in the nonprofit sector and the private sector, which can lead to insights in how the sectors can collaborate between each other more easily. / De ökade samhällsutmaningarna ställer större krav på offentlig sektor att möta medborgarnas och samhällets behov. De största utmaningarna som Piteå kommun står inför är den åldrande befolkningen och behovet av kompetensförsörjning. Den här uppsatsen har som syfte att undersöka arbetet med social innovation i Piteå kommun. Det empiriska materialet har samlats in genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer med nyckelpersoner inom Piteå kommun som har insyn i innovationsarbetet. Den teoretiska utgångspunkten som utgör grund för analysenär Murray, Caulier-Grice och Mulgans (2010) teori om den sociala innovationsprocessen. De huvudsakliga resultaten visar att informanterna delar en överensstämmande bild över vad ett innovationsvänligt klimat bör innehålla, men att vägen dit är diffus och svårt att beskriva.Resultatet visar även att en politiskt styrd organisation har en utmaning då det gäller att satsa långsiktigt på social innovation, då systematiska förändringar är beroende av en stabil innovationsprocess för att få reell effekt. Bland informanterna och i tidigare forskning finns det en bred tolkning av termen social innovation, vilket antingen kan sporra kreativitet och idérikedom eller skapa osäkerhet och ovilja att jobba med social innovation i olika verksamheter då begreppet är främmande. Förslag till vidare forskning är undersökning och jämförelse av andra kommuners arbete med social innovation för att analysera hur den sociala innovationsprocessen ser ut i andra kommuners organisationer. Ett annat område som kan undersökas ytterligare är hur den sociala innovationsprocessen ser ut i idéburen sektor och privata sektorn, för att på så sätt lättare kunna se vilka samverkansmöjligheter som finns mellan sektorerna.

Atualmente é destaque o crescimento e a importância das organizações cooperativas agropecuárias paranaenses no agronegócio e no contexto econômico-social brasileiro. No entanto, nas décadas de 1980 e 1990 algumas das cooperativas agropecuárias paranaenses não suportaram as adversidades do mercado. Foram incorporadas por outras cooperativas. Suas estruturas físicas foram vendidas para outras empresas ou simplesmente não cresceram. Nesse contexto, procurou-se saber como se expressa a natureza das inovações (dimensões e tipos) em cooperativas agropecuárias paranaenses nos períodos de até 1990 e de 2000 a 2008. Considerando-se a questão de pesquisa apresentada e o reconhecimento da complexidade das atividades empresariais, nas quais as inovações podem ser vistas como atividades que abrangem uma multiplicidade de circunstâncias, configurações, novos modelos de negócios, novos usos para produtos, novos mercados, novas fontes provedoras de matérias-primas e novos métodos de produção e que, estudos do tema inovação focados apenas na área tecnológica (processo e produto) não refletem a realidade dos negócios e das sociedades do mundo atual, elaborou-se, à luz da Teoria Evolucionária da Mudança Econômica e na Perspectiva do Processo Interativo da Inovação, uma estrutura conceitual para análise da natureza das inovações em organizações. Para isso, este estudo adotou, inicialmente, a classificação da natureza das inovações proposta pelo Manual de Oslo (OECD, 2005) e a complementou com outros três tipos de inovações não-tecnológicas (interorganizacional, ambiental e social) na taxionomia proposta pelo Manual de Oslo (processo, produto, marketing e organizacional). Para realização do estudo empírico, de cunho comparativo da natureza das inovações entre dois grupos de cooperativas agropecuárias paranaenses (grandes e pequenas), foram apresentadas características (conceitos e indicadores) para os sete tipos de inovações. Nessa fase do estudo, foram selecionadas onze cooperativas agropecuárias com sede administrativa no Estado do Paraná, sendo cinco classificadas como cooperativas grandes e seis classificadas como cooperativas pequenas. Com os dados coletados nos dois grupos (404 questionários), verificou-se por meio de testes de hipóteses, a existência de diferenças nos tipos de inovações adotados entre os grupos e foram identificados quais tipos de inovações contribuíram para que algumas se tornassem competitivas em seus mercados de atuação. Também, como resultado dessa fase, e à luz das técnicas estatísticas denominadas de MANOVA e Análise de Regressão Logística (ARL), sugeriu-se uma equação matemática para classificação de cooperativas agropecuárias paranaenses. / Currently it is well-known the growth and the importance of the agricultural cooperative organizations in Parana in agribusiness field and the social economic-social Brazilian context. However, by the ages of 1980 and 1990, some agricultural cooperatives in Parana didn’t stand the market adversity. They were incorporated by other cooperatives. Their physical structures were sold by other companies or simply didn`t grew up. In this context, we tried to know how to express the nature of innovation (dimension and types) in agricultural cooperatives in Parana periods of up to 1990 and from 2000 to 2008. Considering the question expressed and recognize the complexity of business activities, in which innovations can be seen as activities that taking in a multiplicity of circumstances, configurations, new business models, new uses for the products, new markets, new providing of raw material sources and new methods of production and studies focused only on technological area in process and product don’t show the business reality and the current world society, this study was suggested, in the light of Evolutionary Theory of the Economic Change, in the Perspective on Innovation Interactive Process, a framework for analysis of the nature of innovations in organizations. Thus, this study adopted initially classified the nature of the innovations proposed by the Oslo Manual (OECD, 2005) and added three other types of innovation non-technology (interorganizational, environmental and social) in the taxonomy proposed by the Oslo Manual (process, product, marketing and organizational). To realize an empirical study, of characteristic comparative of nature of innovations between two groups of agricultural cooperatives in Parana (large and small), were submitted features (concepts and indicators) for the seven types of innovation. In this phase of the study were selected eleven agricultural cooperatives with management headquarters in State of Parana, in fact five were classified as large cooperatives and six as small ones. With the data collected in the two groups (404 questionnaires) was tested through hypothesis testing, the differences in the types of innovations adopted between the groups and cooperatives have been identified which types of innovations have helped some become competitive in their markets. Also, as a result of this stage, in the light of statistic techniques named of MANOVA and Analysis of Logistic Regression (ARL), were suggested a mathematical equation for the classification of agricultural cooperatives in Parana.

A Open Innovation (OI) é uma abordagem emergente que têm despertado cada vez mais o interesse de especialistas e de estudos acadêmicos na área de inovação. Entretanto, a implemen-tação dessa estratégia ainda é desafiadora, especialmente para as Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs). A carência de métodos e processos documentados e estruturados para implementar a OI, também são fatores que causam resistências e desestimulam muitas vezes as empresas. Ou-tro fato é que poucas pesquisas e trabalhos empíricos têm explorado o potencial e influência dos Sistemas Regionais de Inovação (SRIs) na implementação da OI nas empresas. Frente a essa problemática de pesquisa, esta Tese tem como objetivo geral desenvolver um processo de implementação da estratégia Open Innovation voltado para empresas de SRIs. O produto final da Tese é um framework que representa o Processo para Implementação da OI (PIOI). É uma ferramenta gerencial que visa auxiliar e orientar os gestores quanto as etapas, documentos, e forma mais apropriada para conduzir a implementação. Sobretudo, permite a compreensão dos elementos e Fatores Críticos de Sucesso (FCS) que interferem na melhoria da capacidade de inovação em PMEs. Este trabalho de Tese está estruturado em sete capítulos, com cinco artigos propostos. O artigo 1 busca identificar os fatores determinantes para a implementação da OI em SRIs. O artigo 2 apresenta uma revisão sistemática da literatura para identificar os FCS para implementação da OI no âmbito das empresas. No artigo 3, desenvolve-se uma pesquisa apli-cada com 50 empresas de um SRI para diagnosticar as estratégias de inovação e os FCS para implementação da OI. No artigo 4, propõe-se um framework para implementação da OI em PMEs de SRIs. No artigo 5, o framework é testado e avaliado empiricamente através de um estudo de caso de uma empresa. A estrutura metodológica geral da Tese está fundamentada no método de pesquisa construtivista (Design Science Research – DSR). Os artigos abrangem le-vantamento bibliográfico, survey, estudo de caso e pesquisa-ação, e empregam ambos os mé-todos, quantitativo e qualitativo, conforme seus objetivos. A Tese oferece importantes contri-buições acadêmicas e práticas ao abordar os FCS que interferem na implementação da OI, e ao desenvolver um processo para implementação dessa estratégia em PMEs de SRI’s. Além disso, representa uma oportunidade para que as empresas possam transformar e melhorar o seu pro-cesso de desenvolvimento da inovação, implementando mudanças de estratégia e introduzindo estruturas mais colaborativas que suportem novos modelos de negócios. / Open Innovation (OI) is an emerging approach that has increasingly attracted the interest of experts and academic studies in the area of innovation. However, implementing this strategy is still challenging, especially for Small and Medium Companies (PMEs). The lack of documen-ted and structured methods and processes to implement OI are factors that cause resistance and often discourage companies, besides the fact that few empirical studies and research have ex-plored the potential and influence of the Regional Innovation Systems (SRIs) in the implemen-tation of OI in companies. Faced with this research problem, this thesis has as general objective to develop a process of implementation of the Open Innovation strategy directed at SRIs com-panies. The final product is a framework that represents the Process for Implementing OI (PIOI). It is a managerial tool that aims to help and guide managers on the stages, documents, and the most appropriate way to carry out the implementation. Above all, it allows the unders-tanding of the elements and Critical Factors of Success (FCS) that affect the improvement of the innovation capacity of PMEs. The thesis is structured in seven chapters, with five proposed articles. Article 1 seeks to identify the determining factors for the implementation of OI in SRIs. Article 2 presents a systematic review of the literature to identify the FCS for implementing OI in companies. In Article 3 we carry out an applied research with 50 companies in a SRI, in order to diagnose their innovation strategies and the FCS to implement OI. In Article 4, we propose a framework for the implementation of OI in PMEs of SRIs. In Article 5, the framework is empirically tested and evaluated through a company’s case study. The general methodological structure of the thesis is based on the constructivist research method (Design Science Research - DSR). The articles cover literature review, survey, case study and action research, and use both quantitative and qualitative methods, according to their goals. The thesis offers important academic and practical contributions by addressing FCS that affect the implementation of OI, and by developing a process to establish that strategy in PMEs of SRIs. In addition, it represents an opportunity for companies to change and improve their innovation development process by implementing strategy shifts and introducing more collaborative structures that support new business models.