The resource-based view (RBV) approach bases the strengths of firms on two concepts; resources and capabilities. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2008.

The use of 'ethnographic research' to solve problems in the relationship between technology and culture has resulted in a simplification of the role of 'design' in product development, especially in the design and diffusion of technological innovations. Norman (1990, 1998, 2004) decries the popular 'focus group' design research method as misleading and inappropriate, preferring instead a model for 'rapid ethnography' which may lead designers to understand product uses within their social environment. In the same vein, the 'product semantics' of Krippendorff and Butter (1984), and the 'high design' approach of various industry professionals, aim to enhance the designer's understanding of the consumer's individual 'needs' and 'desires.' / However, these approaches often result in an oversimplification of the relationship between design, production and consumption. In many cases this is an interactive and reflexive relationship, as can be seen by examining the consumption practices of certain subcultures. In contrast to the 'rapid ethnography' of Norman, Miller (1988) suggests a view of consumption in which 'design' is not the only means through which artefacts acquire cultural 'relevance' (a view supported by Forty [1986], Julier [2000], and Clark [1999]. Whilst the intent of this thesis is not to formulate a universal model for 'design research' that may be applied to all categories of product design (and it is acknowledged that in many product categories 'reflexive' design is neither feasible nor required), this thesis provides insights for designers in the often - difficult area of the diffusion of technological innovations. In the 'leisure' community of Local-Area Network (LAN) gaming culture, for example, technological innovations (both hardware and software) form a platform upon which the 'group values' of the culture are formed. This is evidenced by the modification, customisation and improvement of computer equipment within a community setting. Furthermore, these subcultural 'signifying practices' are not in essence opposed to systems of design and production for the 'mainstream.' On the contrary, such practices may be effectively utilised in the 'pre-critical mass' development and validation of new technologies and their social contexts. As this suggests, design, production and consumption continuously inform and influence one other in a continual and interactive process. / Thesis (MDes(Architecture))--University of South Australia, 2005.

This thesis examines how raw materials manufacturers can meet the needs of the Semiconductor Industry for immediate support and continuing innovation, while maintaining service to their customers in other industries like petrol-chemical, steel and other non-high tech industries. It documents research on the possibility of leveraging E-business to help these industrial organizations. Based on the challenge briefly alluded to, the core research questions are whether raw material companies in the semiconductor industry use E-business as leverage for corporate strategy and to what extent this is successful. / The industrial raw (core) materials production companies traditionally have been serving mainly the petrochemical, steel, wood, and other base material industries. With the proliferation of technologies, the semiconductor industry prospers and requires more sophisticated materials from these raw materials producers. As semiconductor devices become more sophisticated, the manufacturing process consumes huge amounts of specialty gases, other chemicals and many other core materials. And this Semiconductor Industry applies technologies that are in many ways the most advanced of any sector. Semiconductor Industry product requirements and service expectations are completely different from those of the conventional customers these raw materials producing companies used largely to serve. The areas emphasized are quality, speed, innovation, culture, follow-up procedures and style of business approaches and processes. / The primary nature of knowledge within this research paradigm rests on the subjective, perceptions, experiences and reflections of a large number of people intimately involved in the global Semiconductor Industry as leaders and managers, all of whom have considerable inside knowledge. The work of theoretical researches like Michael E. Porter (on corporate and competitive strategy) and Jay R. Galbraith (on organizational structure) were also reviewed to help obtain research objectivity and form a basis for the research process. / An important finding of the research from the sixty-three industry professionals surveyed is that only those with entrepreneurial strategy and controlled decentralized structured organizations adopted E-business strategies. And most multinational organizations producing raw materials do not use such strategies and structure, being more traditional in their thought process - they are more likely to practice a well-planned strategy and are usually centralized controlled. There are synergies between corporate strategy and structure on the one hand and E-business strategies on the other. A business model paradigm leveraging E-business is developed for multinational industrial organization and recommendation is provided to incorporate this paradigm so that they can serve the semiconductor industry more effectively. / The thesis argues that mapping strategy and structure should be a continuous process and that to incorporate E-business strategies would help the raw materials manufacturers serving the Semiconductor Industry. It considers the future of many established businesses: non-traditional competitors, armed with new technology and skills, traverse industry, geographical and cultural borders to solicit their customers with alternative products and service offerings. Such is the phenomenon that is beginning to occur as a result of innovations in technology, greater accessibility to information and more sophisticated consumers. Thus, for companies to gain competitiveness, a new approach of encompassing E-business is needed to plan strategically in rapidly changing environments. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2004.

In recent years, industrial finance has experienced and is continuing to experience significant changes brought about by the development of venture or risk capital. Venture capital is now well-known as a means of providing good financial backup for innovative enterprises, in particular for information technology and communications technology. The technology-based venture capital enterprise, focusing on communication technology and the cellular market in China, is the primary focus of this research. / PhD Doctorate

The Theory of Disruptive Technologies put forward by Clayton Christensen in 1997 has attracted significant attention. This case study tests the hypothesis that the theory is generalisable to new situations. It uses datasource triangulation by using document, statistical and interview analyses (including investigator triangulation) to apply the Theory to Australian Digital Theses Program (ADT) and finds that the Program may indeed be a disruptive technology in relation to academic libraries, universities and to the publishing industry. However, it has greater potential to be disruptive in the latter, and to be a sustaining technology, as defined by the Theory, in relation to libraries and universities.

No description available.

This thesis analyses the material and ideological dimensions of the knowledge economy with particular reference to New Zealand. The emergence of the new information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the context of transnational capitalism precipitates the co modification of information, communication and knowledge. This process is obscured by the ideological construction of techno-futurism. Techno-futurism is a combination of technological determinism and futurism that appropriates notions of progress. In the pages which follow, historical analyses of this ideology inform the subsequent critique of knowledge economy discourse. In New Zealand knowledge economy discourse contained techno-futurist elements and deflected attention from the global absorption of national capitalism. In this context the Catching the Knowledge Wave Conference (KWC), held in Auckland in the first days of August 2001, is examined. I argue that the instigators and organisers of the conference were enmeshed within the business culture of finance capital and ICTs. Textual analysis of keynote addresses reveals the ideological dimensions to knowledge wave and knowledge economy talk. These dimensions are; entrepreneurialism, knowledge as (economic) progress, and globalism.

Doctor of Philosophy / Since the 1950s, economic growth has been one of the main topics of economic discipline. In this context, the sources of economic growth have been analysed by different economic theories. These theories can be decomposed into two groups, namely modern neoclassical theory and evolutionary economic theory. In the modern neoclassical economic theory, the technological progress is considered as the main determinant of the long-run economic growth. In this regard, the sources of economic growth differences among countries are analyzed by using various types of models. In the earliest studies, it is assumed that technological progress is exogenous (Solow-Swan model). Constant returns to scale and perfectly competitive market structure assumptions are the main characteristics of these studies. After the developments in the economic theory, technological progress has been taken into account in a different way by a new line of models, namely endogenous growth models. More specifically, technological progress is endogenously determined process in these models. Contrary to the previous models, increasing returns to scale, which stem from externality and the monopolistic market structure, play a significant role in endogenous growth models. We have reached to the conclusion that, although it suffers from some weaknesses, endogenous growth model proposes a more realistic explanation for the economic growth process. In the evolutionary economic theory, technological progress is also considered as the main determinant of economic growth. However, this theory deals with empirical issues by focusing on observed facts instead of constructing theoretical models, and provides both guidance and interpretation regarding technological progress. In this theory, variables and relationships that are considered have many practical implications. In that respect, its structure is very much realistic and it avoids certain logical gaps and inconsistencies. One of the aims of this thesis is to examine developments in economic theory by focusing on technological progress. For this purpose, we compare formal and evolutionary theories. Our theoretical review reveals that both the endogenous growth models in the tradition of modern neoclassical theory, and the important insights of the evolutionary economic theory help to analyze technological progress and/or economic growth. Furthermore, this thesis aims to measure technological progress. The measurement of technological progress is vital for the nations’ development strategies and the firms’ innovation policies. In this regard, we use patent statistics as a proxy of technological progress. The empirical parts of the thesis involve a number of applications of endogenous growth theory by taking into account the propositions of modern neoclassical economic theory. In this regard, the growth rate differences across countries are examined by using the frameworks of both the modern neoclassical and evolutionary theories. The results show that both theories have reasonable power to explain why growth rate differs across countries. In addition, we conclude that patenting activities rather than R&D activities more suitably represent innovative activities. Moreover, this thesis empirically tests the knowledge generation process in the framework of endogenous growth approach. We employ the knowledge production approach for this purpose. It is found that both domestic and international stocks of knowledge as measured by granted patent statistics, R&D activities, human capital and openness measures are significant factors in explaining productivity growth. Furthermore, product variety and quality improvement dimensions of technological progress are empirically analyzed by using patent statistics. It is found that both dimensions of technological progress significantly affect creation of new technologies. Finally, the findings indicate that technological capability of Turkey is far away from other developed countries covered by this study.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan Technological University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2007. / Title from file title page. Jennifer L. Bowie, committee chair; George Pullman, Elizabeth Lopez, committee members. Electronic text (160 p. : col. ill.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed Mar. 27, 2008 . Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-152).