bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Business Strategy, R&D Management and Environmental Imperatives
Authors: Roome Nigel 
Published: May 2007

AbstractEnvironmental imperatives are seen by many business leaders to represent a major issue for the 1990's and beyond. The debate about the environmental sustainability of economic activity has important implications for the development of business and places considerable emphasis on the need for planned corporate change. The strategic significance of the environment is particularly critical to R&D as this is characterised by long planning horizons and provides the setting for the development of future products and processes.The purpose of this paper is to examine the connections between environmental imperatives, strategic change and R&D management. To this end the paper reviews the strategic nature of environmental pressures on business. From this base, consideration is given to the responses required by business, in meeting these pressures. The paper concludes by suggesting that the application of management techniques in concert with organisational change is needed for R&D management to build environmental considerations effectively into innovation. These suggestions can be used to gauge how far individual businesses have developed the systems and structures to enable them to move towards sustainability. The implication of the paper is that R&D management will not only need to apply new management techniques but will have to play a leading role in innovative organisational structures in order to fulfil the full potential of environmentally sensitive products and processes.
Technology foresight using a Delphi approach: a Japanese‐German co‐operation
Authors: Breiner Sibylle , Cuhls Kerstin , Grupp Hariolf 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThis article describes a joint project conducted from 1991 until 1993 by the Japanese National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) and the German Fraunhofer institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI). Some first outcomes, and different alternatives on how to use the data for trend interpretation and priority setting, are described.The Japanese Delphi survey is conducted every five years and was first undertaken in 1971. In 1992, NISTEP and ISI agreed on a joint project. About 3000 Japanese experts were asked to answer more than 1000 questions based on 16 different technological areas. With financial aid from the Federal German Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFT) the Japanese fifth Delphi survey was replicated in Germany. The Japanese questions were translated and more than 1000 German experts responded to the questionnaires and judged the possible technological development within the next 20 to 30 years. The aim of this joint project is to compare the Japanese and the German answers in order to analyse possible differences and to understand the cultural influences on technology assessment.
The internationalisation of research and development by Japanese enterprises
Authors: Papanastassiou Marina , Pearce Robert 
Published: May 2007

AbstractEvidence indicates that Japanese Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) have established a large number of R&D labs outside of Japan in recent years. It is suggested that these units play particular roles in global‐innovation strategies, which are themselves a key element in global competition. The first role played by such overseas units is to provide basic research inputs, that help the Japanese parent companies to derive the basis for a new generation of products. It appears that this role is especially prominent in Japanese MNEs, who are notably responsive to the high‐quality science‐base in certain countries. The second role of overseas R&D in global‐innovation strategies is to develop specific variants of new products that fully respond to distinctive consumer needs, and production conditions, in important national (or regional, e.g. European) markets.
Synthetic diamond developments: perspectives from technology analysis
Authors: Japp Stephen Glen 
Published: May 2007

AbstractSynthetic diamond technology appears to have the capability of significantly changing the future technological landscape. Accordingly, The Institute for the Management of Technology regards it as a ‘marker’ technology. This paper suggests that there is a need to review expectations concerning synthetic diamond developments. Technology analysis is used as a method to understand and communicate the expectations. The history trends and applications are presented. Two challenges are revealed: First, High Pressure and High Temperature is being challenged by Chemical Vapour Deposition as the dominant manufacturing technology, suggesting that the latter should be monitored for breakthroughs. Second, the distinction between synthetic and natural gems is becoming harder to determine. This threat to the gem industry, in combination with the expanding industrial use, suggests that efforts should be pursued to establish the uniqueness of natural gems and to prevent the name ‘diamond’ from being ubiquitously used.
Establishing the determinants of internal reputation: the case of R&D scientists
Authors: Jones O. , Sullivan T. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThis paper discusses the factors which determine the human resource reputations of science‐based organisations. Reputation, in this context, refers to the extent to which scientists regard the department in which they work as a good employer, and implicitly, a good place to practise science. As a consequence, this study is concerned with internal rather than external reputation. The R&D departments of ten science‐based organisations employing approximately 1500 scientists were included in the study. The sample of 402 respondents was representative, in terms of age, sex, qualifications and experience, of the population of scientists in the organizations included in the research. All employees were educated to at least the level of a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) and in many cases had obtained a higher degree, Master of Science (7.0%), or Doctor of Philosophy (35.6%). The perceptions of employees are reported; it was beyond the scope of the research to examine the managerial views on reputation.
Managing technology and innovation: a review
Authors: Berry M. M. J. , Taggart J. H. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThis paper reports the first phase of a major study into the linkages between technology and strategy, with particular reference to smaller firms. As a preliminary step, a wide review of relevant literature was undertaken.Two main strands of knowledge have been identified. First, a number of high profile issues have dominated the field of technology management starting with Schumpeter's ‘creative destruction’. This seminal work has been refined, notably by Pavitt and Porter, culminating in the view that technology has become one of the principal determinants of competition. Second, a number of models were examined that assess development of technology within the firm over time.The principal implication for R&D managers is the authors' conclusion that the various constructs must be used pro‐actively in formulating technology strategy, thus providing a basis for better assessing acquisitions and disposals of technology‐intensive operations.
Technology transactions: networks over markets
Authors: Bidault Francis , Fischer William A. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThere is a widespread belief in the business community that firms can rely on the market for buying and selling technological opportunities. The argument is: with so much technology development going on in the world, ‘there must be somebody somewhere who has the technology we need.’ According to this belief, acquiring new technology just boils down to finding the supplier, possibly with the help of a specialized intermediary. Several large firms have indeed developed ambitious mechanisms for acquiring the needed technological know‐how as they proceed to make and market a new product.We contend that this concept of the technology transfer process is erroneous, as it conflicts with actual practice. The very high transaction costs entailed leave considerable room for opportunistic behavior and are more likely to occur when the parties do not know each other. An effective way to reduce transaction costs, therefore, is to limit technology transfers to the firm's partners, i.e. organizations with which the firm has already interacted in the past. Our research provides evidence that successful technology transfers typically take place between suppliers and buyers who had business relationships before considering a technology agreement. In addition, we report findings that companies using intermediaries (technological opportunities catalogues, databases, fairs, etc.) have been disappointed in their attempts to find new technologies from unknown sources.Because of the high risk of opportunistic behavior, it is practically impossible to assess the value of a technology without knowing who sells it. Similarly, the technology transfer capabilities of a company are difficult to appraise without prior knowledge through business interaction. To a certain extent, it may be better to buy any technology from a partner that one knows well than to buy a supposedly good technology from a firm with which one has had no experience. To put it bluntly: the identity of the partner may actually matter more than the technology being traded!Consequently, the relevant framework for technology transfer is built on a ‘network concept’ rather than the ‘market concept’. Firms wishing to acquire new technology should turn first to their network of trusted business partners, looking for available technological opportunities instead of trying to buy technology from unrelated organizations.
Strategies for best practice in research and technology institutes: an overview of a benchmarking exercise
Authors: Rush Howard , Hobday Mike , Bessant John , Arnold Erik 
Published: May 2007

AbstractMany technology institutes have been criticised for their dislocation from, or lack of relevance to, industry. This paper provides an overview of a major benchmaking study which analyzed in depth the most successful technology institutes from eight nations (four in Europe and four in East Asia). Institutes selected for study met a criterion which included a combination of dynamism, relevance to industry, contribution to the national science and technology infrastructure, independent fund‐raising capability, innovative organizational structures, and effective management. The paper examines the activities engaged in by the eight institutes, the principal challenges they face, and identifies the main success factors underlying their achievements. The paper attempts to illustrate practical, best practice strategies by showing how leading technology institutes have successfully contributed to their national system of innovation. To this end, success factors have been categorized into those factors which are under the direct control of the institutes (internal), which are outside of their influence (external), and those which can be affected to a lesser or greater extent.
Book Reviews
Authors: GARDINER PAUL , SKYRME DAVID J. 
Published: May 2007

Globalization, Technology and Competition: The Fusion of Computers and Telecommunications in the 1990s Globalization, Technology and Competition: The Fusion of Computers and Telecommuni‐ cations in the 1990s High‐Tech for Industrial Development: Lessons from the Brazilian Experience in Electronics and Automation Science and Technology Management Bibliography Intelligent Enterprise: A Knowledge and Service Based Paradigm for Industry
Career paths, technological obsolescence and skill formation: R&D staff in Britain and Japan
Authors: McCormick Kevin 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThis paper examines how scientists and engineers working in industrial R&D cope with the pressures of business and technological change and develop their careers. The data is drawn from a survey of nearly 1000 R&D staff working in large industrial corporations in Britain and Japan. Cross national comparisons are used to explore similarities and differences in coping strategies and in the human resource management challenges for companies. Particular attention is given to the problems of potential mismatch between RBD staff career orientations and available career opportunities.
Performance monitoring in R&D projects
Authors: Pillai A. Sivathanu , Rao K. Srinivasa 
Published: May 2007

AbstractProject Management Systems can use a variety of tools to model and visualise project status. This paper discusses the application of an integrated approach for project modeling and proposes a new graphic tool called PACT for evaluation of project status. An integrated performance monitoring system comprising many tools, including PACT, was used successfully with multiple advanced technology projects within the Indian Guided Missiles Development Programme. The approach provided a better insight into the status and problems of projects, and enabled management to initiate the most appropriate actions towards better performance.
Galileo used to live here.: Tuscany Hi Tech: the network and its poles
Authors: Bianchi Giuliano 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe paper outlines how networking between smaller companies and larger companies is evolving and how these changes need to be incorporated into policies for regional economic development. The strengths and weaknesses of the Tuscan region are outlined and on the basis of this situation a strategy was devised to exploit its scientific and technological resources. A particular feature of the strategy is the establishment of a new optical fibre communications system linking three university centres, Pisa, Florence and Siena.
Using ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ technologies for global new product development
Authors: McDon Edward F. ough , Kahn Kenneth B. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThis paper reports on a study of the use of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ technologies as tools for managing global new product teams. ‘Hard’ technologies consist of electronic mail, teleconferencing, fax, video conferencing, and other electronic means of facilitating communication. ‘Soft’ technologies, on the other hand, reflect managerial behaviors that are necessary to deal with the social and behavioral aspects of global new product development. Our study suggests that:The frequency of use of hard technologies is greater for higher versus lower performing global teams.The set of hard technologies perceived to be important is different for higher versus lower performing global teams.How well soft technologies are used is greater for higher performing global teams.Soft technologies are seen as more important than hard technologies.Implications of these findings for managers and future research are discussed.
UK biotechnology: institutional linkages, technology transfer and the role of intermediaries
Authors: Shohet Simon , Prevezer Martha 
Published: May 2007

AbstractOne prominent feature of biotechnology in the UK is the close relationship between the public‐sector science base and industry. Using information from interviews, the system for technology transfer is examined and four main institutional actors are identified: sponsors (both public and private, which fund research), hosts (which provide an environment in which research takes place), users (which commercialize research) and intermediaries (which act as agents in the technology transfer process). Models of the process of technology transfer are developed which incorporate knowledge flows between these institutions and the accompanying contractual, and financial/ economic relations. The direction, scale and formality of these interactions is examined and it is suggested that institutional approaches can capture important feedbacks and relationships which are overlooked in traditional stage and activity models of innovation.In particular, intermediaries are highlighted, and it is suggested that they play an important role in contractual and financial/economic linkages in three ways: (i) by acting as agents between institutions in the presence of an imperfect knowledge market, (ii) by performing a liaison function for firms sourcing external know‐how, and (iii) by providing access to complementary assets for development of technologies internally.In the conclusion, we argue that institutional models can (a) help to define optimal linkage structures for specific technological areas at national and supranational levels (e.g. between members of the European Union) and (b) highlight the presence of inter‐agency tensions and help identify the appropriate management options for resolving these.
Information asymmetries and technological innovation in large engineering construction projects
Authors: Lampel Joseph , Miller Roger , Floricel Serghei 
Published: May 2007

AbstractResearch on technological innovation shows that information asymmetries between suppliers and buyers constitute a major barrier to the successful introduction of new products. Most of this research, however, puts the burden of overcoming these asymmetries on producers of new products. In the case of large engineering construction projects innovation is often the result of joint problem solving by owners, prime contractors, consultants, and equipment suppliers. In this paper we examine the relationship between innovativeness of large engineering construction projects and internal owner capabilities, degree of control over project, and dependence on external organizations, We use data on power plant construction projects to test hypotheses derived from agency and organization theories of innovation. Our results indicate that organization theories of innovation are on the whole better predictors of the impact on innovativeness of owner's capabilities and relationship to external organizations.
Models of Disability, Work and Welfare in Australia
Authors: Humpage Louise 
Published: May 2007

Abstract In discourse around disability there has been a shift away from a ‘medical model’, which perceives disability as an individual problem to be ‘cured’ or contained, towards a ‘social model’. The latter focuses on the relationship between people with disabilities and their social environment, locating the required interventions within the realm of social policy and institutional practice. Drawing upon a small qualitative study conducted in Melbourne, this article argues that recent plans by the Australian government to introduce mutual obligation requirements for recipients of the Disability Support Pension (DSP) sit in tension with this shift from the medical to the social models of disability. Mutual obligation is based on the assumption that income support recipients need to be taught how to be more ‘self‐reliant’, to ‘participate’ in society more fully and to become ‘active’, rather than ‘passive’, citizens. This language appears to overlap with that used to articulate a social model, which places emphasis on participation in the community and attempts a shift away from reliance on the medical profession. However, examples from interviews conducted with current and former DSP recipients demonstrate that, in practice, mutual obligation is likely to reinforce a medical model of disability, frame DSP recipients as ‘conditional’ citizens and ignore the obligations of the state and society regarding access and inclusiveness for people with disabilities.
Situational Crime Prevention and its Discontents: Rational Choice Theory versus the ‘Culture of Now’
Authors: Hayward Keith 
Published: May 2007

Abstract The rational choice theory of crime and its cognate field of study, situational crime prevention, have exerted a considerable influence in criminal justice policy and criminology. This article argues that, while undeniably useful as a means of reducing property or acquisitive crime, rational choice‐inspired situational crime prevention initiatives are limited when it comes to offering protection against a growing number of so‐called ‘expressive crimes’. Developing this critique, the article will criticize the sociologically hollow narrative associated with rational choice theories of crime by drawing on recent research in social theory and consumer studies. It argues that the growing tendency among many young individuals to engage in certain forms of criminal decision‐making ‘strategies’ may simply be the by‐product of a series of subjectivities and emotions that reflect the material values and cultural logic associated with late modern consumerism.
The Unfinished Chomskyan Revolution
Authors: KATZ JERROLD J. 
Published: May 2007

Abstract:Chomsky's criticism of Bloomfieldian structuralism's conception of linguistic reality applies equally to his own conception of linguistic reality. There are too many sentences in a natural language for them to have either concrete acoustic reality or concrete psychological or neural reality. Sentences have to be types, which, by Peirce's generally accepted definition, means that they are abstract objects.Given that sentences are abstract objects, Chomsky's generativism as well as his psychologism have to be given up. Langendoen and Postal's argument inThe Vastness of Natural Languagesto show that there are more than denumerably many sentences is flawed. But, with the view that sentences are abstract objects, the flaws can be corrected. Once psychologism and generativism are abandoned, the revolution against Bloomfieldian structuralism can be brought to completion and linguistics can be put on a sound philosophical basis.
Expert systems and the man–machine interface
Authors: BERRY DIANNE C. , BROADBENT DONALD E. 
Published: May 2007

Abstract: This is a two part report. It looks at expert systems and the man–machine interface (mmi). We use the term mmi in a fairly broad sense. Specifically, we interpret the ‘man’ half of the interaction in two very different ways. Firstly, we look at man in terms of the ‘expert’ and consider the problem of how to get his or her knowledge into an expert system. Part One of the report therefore looks at what is currently happening in the area of knowledge acquisition in Britain and asks whether it really is the major bottleneck in the production of expert systems. Secondly, we look at man in terms of the ‘user’ and consider the best ways of making use of the knowledge once it is in an expert system. Part two of the report looks at cognitive aspects of the user interface, including dialogue control, explanation facilities, user models, natural language processing and the effects of new technology. It also considers the very important question of evaluation. Again we are concerned with what is actually happening in these areas in Britain today.
The problem of implicit knowledge
Authors: BERRY DIANNE C. 
Published: May 2007

Abstract: Recognising the existence of different forms of knowledge is a first step towards effective knowledge elicitation. This article takes a brief look at some of the different types of knowledge which human experts possess and then focusses on the problem of implicit knowledge.The fact that much of an expert's knowledge is implicit or tacit in nature is a major problem for those working in the area of knowledge elicitation. Despite this, the topic has attracted little discussion or research. The present article reviews some of the limited literature on the topic and attempts to settle some of the confusion over what implicit knowledge is, or might be. Relevant experiments from the psychological literature are discussed. The paper also looks at possible ways of assessing implicit knowledge and makes recommendations for future research in this area.