The Paradox of Knowledge-Intensive Entrepreneurship in Low-Tech Industries [electronic resource] : Evidence from Case Studies of the German Textile Industry /
Schwinge, Isabel.author.
This book presents the first multidimensional investigation of KIE in the context of low-tech industries and gives insights in paradox conditions and specific mechanisms, using the example of the German textile industry. Therefore, the author solves conceptual inconsistencies and develops an alternative framework referring to systemic concepts of sectoral innovation systems and KIE as well as to the concept of institutional entrepreneurs. As a result, the deviation of willful actors from a restricting institutional environment and sources of entrepreneurial opportunities can be investigated more comprehensively.  Contents • The Sectoral Innovation System of the German Textile Industry • The German Textile Industry as an Example The Emergence of Knowledge-Intensive Entrepreneurship in Low-Tech Industries Target Groups • Students and lecturers of economic sociology and economics • Decision makers in industrial policies and economic promotion  The Author During her PhD, Isabel Schwinge researched and lectured at the Chair of Economic and Industrial Sociology, TU Dortmund University.
Description based upon print version of record.
Foreword; Preface; Table of contents; List of figures; List of tables; List of abbreviations; 1 Introduction - matching two strands of research; 1.1 Low-tech industries; 1.1.1 Definition and business conditions of low-tech industries; 1.1.2 Sources of knowledge and innovation in low-tech industries; 1.1.3 Prospective trends of low-tech industries; 1.2 Knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship (KIE); 1.2.1 Definitions and empirical relevance of KIE; 1.2.2 Sources of KIE; 1.2.3 Environmental conditions and institutional influences; 1.3 The paradox of KIE in low-tech industries
1.4 Approaching KIE in low-tech industries1.4.1 Broadening the understanding of innovation; 1.4.2 Widening the understanding of entrepreneurship; 1.4.3 Specifying KIE; 1.5 Objectives of the thesis; 2 Conceptual frame of reference; 2.1 The concept of sectoral innovation systems; 2.1.1 The knowledge dimension; 2.1.2 The actor dimension; 2.1.3 The institutional dimension; 2.2 The concept of systemic KIE; 2.2.1 Systemic entrepreneurial opportunities; 2.2.2 The entrepreneurial propensity of innovation systems; 2.3 The concept of institutional entrepreneurship
2.3.1 Extending the understanding of institutions2.3.2 The institutional process of entrepreneurship; 2.3.3 Institutional mechanisms; 2.3.4 Institutional entrepreneurs' characteristics; 2.3.5 Environmental conditions; 2.4 Conclusions from conceptual framing; 3 Methodological approach; 3.1 The approach to implementation; 3.2 The approach to analysis; 4 The sectoral innovation system of the German textile industry; 4.1 The knowledge dimension; 4.2 The actor dimension; 4.3 The institutional dimension; 4.4 Results from the analysis of the German TIS
5 Knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship in the German textile industry 5.1 The case of FuncFiber; 5.1.1 Sectoral knowledge base and technological opportunities; 5.1.2 Market conditions and market opportunities; 5.1.3 Institutional environment and institutional opportunities; 5.1.4 Interim conclusion; 5.1.5 Entrepreneurs; 5.1.6 The KIE process; 5.1.7 Conclusions from the case of FuncFiber; 5.2 The case of E-Thread; 5.2.1 Sectoral knowledge base and technological opportunities; 5.2.2 Market conditions and market opportunities; 5.2.3 Institutional environment and institutional opportunities
5.2.4 Interim conclusion5.2.5 Corporate conditions and corporate opportunities; 5.2.6 The entrepreneur; 5.2.7 The KIE process; 5.2.8 Conclusions from the case of E-Thread; 5.3 The case of MultiTex; 5.3.1 Sectoral knowledge base and technological opportunities; 5.3.2 Market conditions and market opportunities; 5.3.3 Institutional environment and institutional opportunities; 5.3.4 Interim conclusion; 5.3.5 Corporate conditions and corporate opportunities; 5.3.6 The entrepreneur; 5.3.7 The KIE process; 5.3.8 Conclusions from the case of MultiTex; 5.4 Results from cross-case study analysis
6 Discussion
Includes bibliographical references.
This book presents the first multidimensional investigation of KIE in the context of low-tech industries and gives insights in paradox conditions and specific mechanisms, using the example of the German textile industry. Therefore, the author solves conceptual inconsistencies and develops an alternative framework referring to systemic concepts of sectoral innovation systems and KIE as well as to the concept of institutional entrepreneurs. As a result, the deviation of willful actors from a restricting institutional environment and sources of entrepreneurial opportunities can be investigated more comprehensively.  Contents • The Sectoral Innovation System of the German Textile Industry • The German Textile Industry as an Example The Emergence of Knowledge-Intensive Entrepreneurship in Low-Tech Industries Target Groups • Students and lecturers of economic sociology and economics • Decision makers in industrial policies and economic promotion  The Author During her PhD, Isabel Schwinge researched and lectured at the Chair of Economic and Industrial Sociology, TU Dortmund University.

Economic sociology.
Political economy.
Sociology.
Organizational Studies, Economic Sociology.
International Political Economy.
Knowledge - Discourse.