Strategic Management Policy Commons^™

Technology Strategy And China's Technology Capacity Building, Arnoud De Meyer

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

China has the potential to become a major source of innovation for the world. The scientific investment is in place and rapidly growing. But in order to reap the benefits of this investment its organisations will have to become better at managing innovation. One of the key elements of innovation management is the determination and implementation of a sound technology strategy. The purpose of this paper is to offer a framework and a detailed overview of what it entails to develop and implement a technology strategy. The paper emphasizes the alignment of the strategy with the organisational competencies and the …

Commercialization Of Science: A Longitudinal Study Of Knowledge Distance, Firm Capabilities, And The Structure Of Licensing Contracts, Reddi Kotha, Gerard George

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Though the popularity of research on technology transfer offices (TTOs) has vastly increased, there is little empirical evidence of how the potential value for a technology is estimated and negotiated in a license. Limited qualitative work and empirical work (e.g., Owen-Smith, 2005) tap into the underlying decisions before a technology can be licensed. Consequently, we know very little on how a particular technology is valued and its impact on contract design. In this study, we analyze the content, design, and performance of 847 licensing contracts between university technology transfer offices and firms.

Corporate Governance Reform As Institutional Innovation: The Case Of Japan, Toru Yoshikawa, Lai Si Tsui-Auch, Jean Mcguire

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

To address the convergence-divergence debate in corporate governance, we conduct a multiple-case, multiple-level study to analyze the diffusion of governance innovation in Japan. We argue that Japanese systems of corporate governance neither fully converge to, nor completely diverge from, the Anglo-American model. Rather, Sony-the pioneer of corporate governance reforms-and its followers selectively adopted features from this model, decoupled them from the original context, and tailored them to fit to their own situations to generate governance innovation. However, we find that the spread of innovation across firms and institutional levels is far from linear and straightforward, and that other well-regarded firms …

Analysis Of Competition In The Defense Industrial Base: An F/A-22 Case Study, David R. King, John Driessnack

Management Faculty Research and Publications

Consolidation of the defense industrial base has led to concerns about whether enough competition exists between remaining firms to maintain needed cost reduction and innovation. We examine competition in the U.S. defense industrial base by performing an in-depth case study of Lockheed Martin and the F-22 program that considers multiple tiers of the industrial base. We find that defense firm specialization has led to outsourcing practices and arguably a more robust U.S. defense industrial base. Implications for government policy are identified.

The Puzzle Of Insular Domains: A Longitudinal Study Of Knowledge Structuration And Innovation In Biotechnology Firms, Gerald George, Reddi Kotha, Yanfeng Zheng

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In this study we explain the puzzle of insular domains: insular domains are niches where new innovation is built on the knowledge within the domain. Given the nature of knowledge needed for new innovation in an insular domain the puzzle is why do new firms enter these niches? In a longitudinal sample of 128 biotechnology start-ups founded from 1980 to 1999 we explain why start-ups enter insular domains and how the start-ups develop technology capabilities.

Realizing The Potential Of The Ambidextrous Firm, James Arthur Robins

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Sustaining innovation in the face of pressures to be cost-competitive and make effective use of existing resources is not a new challenge, but recent acceleration of competition has pushed this issue high on the agenda for managers and researchers. Organizing and managing the “ambidextrous” company – a firm that excel in exploring new areas of productive knowledge and exploiting existing capabilities – has emerged as a major concern of strategic management. In this paper, we explore coordination problems that make it difficult for firms to realize their potential as ambidextrous competitors. Organizations may possess superior skills for both exploration and …

Giving It Away : Free Technology Transfer To The Irish Sme Sector, Peter Kavanagh, Andy Maguire, James J. Casey

Articles

One of Europe’s major weaknesses lies in its inferiority in terms of transforming the results of technological research and skills into innovations and competitive advantages. (European Commission, 1995, p. 8.)

Technology transfer is a key aspect of economic development and research administration. These concerns are shared equally between academia and industry on both sides of the Atlantic. As technology is developed at a greater rate, concerns about the technology transfer will heighten. This article focuses on technology transfer in Ireland, particularly in the SME (Small and Medium size Enterprises, under 250 employees) sector. As the main Lisbon Objective has not …

Overview Of Electronic Payment Systems In Nigeria: Strategic And Technical Issues., Margaret J. Hilili

Bullion

The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of electronic payment system as it currently exists in Nigeria, discuss the strategic and technical issues as well as the monetary policy implications of the system, with focus on the needs of consumers. The paper is structured into five sections. Following the introduction, section II discusses the motivation for electronic payment system. Section III presents an overview and development of electronic payment system in Nigeria. Section IV analyzes the various strategic and technical issues in electronic payment systems as well as the monetary policy implications, while section V highlights the …

Public Policy And Industrialization In Nigeria., A. J. Adam

Bullion

This paper is concerned with evaluation of government policies on industrial development in Nigeria with specific reference to the effects of public policy on Nigeria's industrialization. Following an introduction is section two which examines conceptual and theoretical issues. Section three is the review of public policy in Nigeria. Section four focuses on policy evaluation and comparative analysis of experience of other countries. Section five provides the concluding remarks and recommendations. The paper observes that government has a role to play in the industrialisation process by providing infrastructures; help overcome market failures; assist develop money and capital markets; make economic information, …

The Singapore Edge In India's Silicon Valley: New Insights?, Caroline Yeoh, David David

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

No abstract provided.

Intelligence Strategy: The Evolution And Co-Evolution Dynamics Of Intelligent Human Organizations And Their Interacting Agents, Thow Yick Liang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In the knowledge economy, the human minds are the most vital center of analysis. They are the complex adaptive systems capable of processing information, establishing knowledge structure, conceptualizing idea, and making decision. The intrinsic intelligence of the individual minds, as well as the organizational/ collective intelligence, drives the dynamic of all human systems. Primarily, the local self-enrichment processes of the interacting agents are autopoietic. In addition, global forces are also present in all human organizations. The global forces are constructive only if they support the elementary processes. The global forces originate from the orgmind of the organization. A complex relationship …

Obesity, Educational Attainment, And State Economic Welfare, Martin W. Sivula Ph.D.

MBA Faculty Conference Papers & Journal Articles

For the first time in history, estimates of the overweight people in the world rival estimates of those malnourished. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2002) ranked obesity among the top 10 risks to human health worldwide. In the early 1960s, nearly half of the Americans were overweight and 13% were obese. Today some 64% of U.S. adults are overweight and 30.5% are obese. Even more alarming, twice as many U.S. children are overweight than were twenty years ago, a 66% increase. Non-communicable diseases impose a heavy economic burden on already strained health systems. Health is a key determinant of development …

Developmental Financial Institutions As Technology Policy Instruments: Implications For Innovation And Entrepreneurship In Emerging Economies, Gerard George, Ganesh N. Prabhu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Developmental financial institutions (DFIs) in emerging economies regularly assess new technology platforms to support their investments in new ventures, established firms, and technology institutions (TIs). Their financing decisions are guided by national priorities such as achieving technological self-reliance. By providing attractive financing options and related support, DFIs are well placed to consciously channel finance into designated priority technology areas. To better understand DFI roles, we conducted multiple interviews with participants affiliated with DFIs, firms and TIs in India. From data gathered from these interviews and secondary data on DFIs in emerging economies, we develop a preliminary framework to suggest that …

The Effects Of Business-University Alliances On Innovative Output And Financial Performance: A Study Of Publicly Traded Biotechnology Companies, Gerard George, Shaker A. Zahra, D. Robley Wood

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Companies in the biotechnology industry face major challenges in developing and commercializing new products. Focusing on publicly traded biotechnology firms that are not members of university incubators or research parks, this paper argues that the links these companies develop with universities can have beneficial effects on a company's operations. Analysis of 2457 alliances undertaken by 147 biotechnology firms shows that companies with university linkages have lower research and development (R&D) expenses while having higher levels of innovative output. However, the results do not support the proposition that companies with university linkages achieve higher financial performance than similar firms without such …

Culture And Its Consequences For Entrepreneurship, Gerard George, Shaker A Zahra

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This special issue of the Journal "Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice" focuses on the relationship between culture and entrepreneurship. It adopts a broad definition of both culture and entrepreneurship. Culture is used to refer to the enduring set of values of a nation, a region, or an organization. Entrepreneurship is defined as the act and process by which societies, regions, organizations, or individuals identify and pursue business opportunities to create wealth. The articles in this special issue highlight opportunities for future research, both theoretical and empirical. These studies offer a preliminary roadmap for conducting influential and insightful research that can enrich …

R&D Management : Issues And Challenges, Shikha Suman

IIMB Management Review

Before the 60s, there was neither literature nor explicit focus on R&D management. The ‘linear model of innovation’1 prevailed, both in the public and the private sector. It was believed that investments in R&D eventually would pay off when research-based products and processes reached production and/or the market. R&D units of companies were generally left to themselves, managed by the unit’s most distinguished scientists. They set their goals and their priorities based largely on scientific criteria alone, albeit within the frames of the company’s current operations and future strategies.

Success Parameters For Technology Companies In The It Arena - An Indian Perspective, M Chandrasekaran

IIMB Management Review

The very word ‘technology’ in the context of the IT industry conjures up visions of radically different products that are made possible by esoteric and futuristic technology implemented through pure hardware or pure software or increasingly hardware/ software combinations. It is also clear that the evolutionary change to increasingly software intensive solutions is here to stay. In the context of this article, ‘technology companies’ will refer only to companies that are pure software or software / hardware plays that operate in the area of emerging technologies. Such companies will typically develop Intellectual Property( IP), license this IP, and use it …

Sampling Concepts, Paul Boyd, Ph.D.

MBA Faculty Conference Papers & Journal Articles

The usefulness of any research is dependent upon how well the group studied represents the group about which decisions are to be made or conclusions drawn. That is, it depends upon how well the sample reflects relevant characteristics of the population. When it is possible to study every member of that group there is no problem, for on these occasions we can easily calculate the exact attribute (parameter) of interest for our population.

For example, if we were interested in determining the average number of gallons of gasoline sold to customers at our service station yesterday, we …

Scaling Up Information Services For Development: A Framework Of Increasing Returns For Telecenters, Ted Tschang, Mathurot Chuladul, Thuy Thu Le

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Telecentres are an important type of information and communication technology (ICT) system particularly assisting rural and urban communities in developing countries, but the focus is often put on social development, sometimes on static economic returns, and rarely on dynamic economic aspects. This paper develops a basis for understanding the factors behind financial success in a dynamic setting based on the concept of increasing returns. This is applied to telecentres according to the stage of maturity of their information services. The framework is illustrated with literature- and interview-based cases, and will help an understanding of ways in which telecentres can scale-up …

Organisational Diagnostics And Planned Organisational Change : A Case On Pharmaceutical Firm, Chee Meng Kok

Student Works (2000-2009)

A case study has been conducted on a pharmaceutical firm based in Malaysia. The framework of this study was constructed based on the adapted version of Checkland's Soft System Methodology (SSM). The organisation that under­studied was being tested on its viability towards a planned change. A set of diagnostics tools was applied to calibrate the organisation's operating system. In the inquiry stage for the real world, the six level organisational diagnostics, self-actuation diagnostic, organisation dissipativeness diagnostic and the actor system diagnostic (Yusef Omar, 2001) was used. The ISO 9001 :2000 standard criteria are used for the system thinking inquiry. Observation …

Ebay Strategic Analysis And Recommendation, Jerry Compton, Aaron Freier, Archie Patdu, Nantachai Phuvasate, Farhad Rostami

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

The Internet has seen its share of success and failures as businesses try to understand how this new medium is going to be used in the 21st century. The eBay corporation has defined itself as not only a player on the Internet but as founders of a new business concept: online bidding and selling for the masses.

Being first to market gives eBay some of the key strengths to make the most of this new medium. The key success factors such as a large customer base and a compelling environment online are allowing eBay to be profitable and be seen …

The Effects Of Alliance Portfolio Characteristics And Absorptive Capacity On Performance: A Study Of Biotechnology Firms, Gerard George, Shaker A. Zahra, Kathleen K. Wheatley, Raihan Khan

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In many high technology industries, strategic alliances have become important for improving a firm's financial performance by providing knowledge that can be used to develop the capabilities needed to introduce new products. Therefore, researchers have examined those characteristics of alliances that can contribute to the performance of high technology companies. There is agreement that the structure and knowledge flows within alliances can affect a firm's innovativeness. However, to date, researchers have studied alliances as individual events or transactions, failing to recognize their synergistic effects as a coherent portfolio. Viewing alliances as a portfolio of strategic agreements, we suggest that portfolio …

Transnational Strategy At Nestle : A Focus On Nestle Malaysia, Pin Tat Keh

Student Works (2000-2009)

Nestle is one of the few multinational companies that adopts the transnational strategy to pursue its global competitiveness. In Nestle Malaysia, it is no different with great focus on product innovation and cost leadership a real challenge to the management. With the advent of trade liberalisation upon the implementation of AFTA and WTO, it is inevitable that Nestle Malaysia should focus on its core competencies and build on its strengths as designated by the Asian Zone Management, that is to be a regional player of Milo and infant cereals In order to consolidate and build on its dominant market share …

The Future Of Payphones Industry In Malaysia, Kamarul Shah Azman Mohd Hussin

Student Works (2000-2009)

With rapid technological advancement especially in telecommunications sector, today's payphones industry seems irrelevant and facing difficulties to survive in the current business environment. This paper presents an insight into the present and future of payphones industry in Malaysia by considering external environmental impacts and the industry competitiveness effects. Looking into the external environmental impact, it will be seen that payphones industry is in declining stage in term of its market share due to the existence of surrounding threats in the industry. In deeper perspective, this paper discusses on the contributing factors that causes Malaysian payphones market to decline, specifically in …

Research And Development Practices Of Malaysian Companies : Current Perceptions Of The Directors, Ervina Alfan

Student Works (2000-2009)

Short-termistic perception; according to a study done in U.K is the main cause for declining UK companies competitiveness in the international market. Because of this perception, companies are less involved in R&D activities. This scenario could be detrimental to their survival in the long run. This paper tries to explore this issue from the Malaysian perspective. It attempts to determine the perceptions of the Finance Directors of Malaysian companies and to obtain an understanding behind their perceptions.

Industri Kecil Dan Sederhana Malaysia Dalam Ekonomi Global, Abdul Jabbar Abdullah

Student Works (2000-2009)

Ekonomi dunia masa kini telah memperlihatkan pelbagai perkembangan yang menarik. Era ledakan teknologi maklumat liberalisasi dan globalisasi serta K­ ekonomi memberikan cabaran baru kepada sektor pemiagaan dan industri. Jelas transfonnasi dan perubahan struktur ekonomi tersebut menjadikan tekanan persaingan pemiagaan tennasuk sektor industri bertambah sengit. Hanya industri yang mempunyai daya saing yang kukuh mampu bertahan. Bagaimanapun, sektor perkilangan terutarnanya sektor industri kecil dan sederhana (IKS) di Malaysia terus dilingkari oleh masalah tradisi yang seolah-olah tiada penghujung. Masalah kewangan, penggunaan teknologi yang minimum dengan kualiti keluaran yang rendah sentiasa menjadi isu utama yang menjcjaskan perkembangan sektor tersebut. Justeru, kemampuan IKS dalam mengharungi …

Knowledge Management System : A Case Study On Msc Companies, Noor Ismawati Jaafar

Student Works (2000-2009)

Malaysia en route to achieve Vision 2020 and become a knowledge-based economy has accepted the paradigm shift through its creation of the National Information Technology Agenda (NITA) and the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC). These initiatives are geared towards leveraging information, communication and technology (ICT) to create a knowledge-based society and economy. Further, the emergence of Knowledge Management field, economy based on knowledge (K-Economy), Knowledge Management System, Information Technology and the various accompanying hardwares and softwares have put tremendous pressures on organisations. This ls to implement a system that systematically captures, stores and disseminates information in the form of knowledge throughout …

Reform In The Electricity Supply Industry And Implementation Of A Competitive Electricity Market In Malaysia, William Kim Cheong Leong, Simon Pick Pak Seong

Student Works (2000-2009)

Over the past decade, a number of nations have restructured their electricity industries. Several nations have also significantly reduced the government's role in the ownership and management of the electricity industries both at the state and national level. The wave of changes is driven by the forces of competition; the need to make the industry more efficient and allowing customers to have choices in deciding their electricity supplier, the package of services and the associated prices that best meet their needs. A crucial element of the deregulation and reform in the electric industry is the creation of a wholesale electricity …

Taking On The Goliaths, S R Madhavan

IIMB Management Review

After thirteen years in a technology-led multinational in the UK, together with six of his colleagues, S R Madhavan started a business to explore the modifications that were possible to polymeric materials. Starting initially on a blue-sky basis, they went on to convert the knowledge that they acquired into novel products and, finally, into profits. After a roller-coaster ride lasting almost a decade, the company created a world leader in a niche marketplace, as also unique and desirable technologies that were in corporate into products by major multinationals, and were awarded two Queens Awards for Industry in the UK. Madhavan. …

The Impact Of Electronic Commerce On Business-Level Strategies, Ann L. Fruhling, Lester A. Digman

Interdisciplinary Informatics Faculty Publications

This paper examines the impact of electronic commerce on business-level strategies. The paper examines electronic commerce (E.C) from the perspective of intra-business E.C., business-to-business E.C., business-to-consumer E.C., and value/supply chain management. Business-level strategies are considered to include: added-value, differentiation, cost leadership, focus, and growth source. The paper concludes that E-commerce will have significant impacts on each of the business-level strategic areas.