The Impact of Corporatisation and National Competition Policy: An Exploratory Study of Organisational Change and Leadership Style

Category Research Paper Purpose This study surveys managers of an Australian government owned enterprise undergoing organisational change as a result of public sector reform, specifically, National Competition Policy and Corporatisation. The purpose of the study is to examine the extent/type of organisational change and leadership style adopted to implement this change. Approach To understand the effect of reforms, the researcher explored the extent of change and leadership style through the use of an intraorganisational survey in a government owned Electricity Supply Corporation in Queensland, Australia. The instrument also included qualitatitive components to enable the researcher to qualify the statistical results. Findings Within the public sector, there is an uneasy tension between the need for a revolution of outdated bureaucracies in order to enhance flexibility and innovation on the one hand, and the desire to maintain the standards and procedures that are necessary for quality civic service for a broad range of stakeholders on the other. The results of this study indicate that there was significant organisational change and, according to responses, a change of leadership style indicative of this dilemma. Research limitations/implications The implications for reform setters, managers and politicians suggest the consideration of embedded factors whilst determining the processes and directions of change. Furthermore, it is necessary to choose a leadership style that is indicative of the type of change to be implemented. Additionally, greater participation by organisational members can increase the success of organisational change. The limitations of the study include the measurement of organisational change and leadership style. This instrument was originally used in structured interviews, however, measures were taken validate the instrument in its altered setting. Further, the study is confined to a single electricity organisation. Fertile fields for future research projects could include a larger quantitative study conducted with multiple States or nation wide electricity distribution companies. Originality/Value The study provides empirical evidence of the extent of change as a result of public sector reform. In doing so the study utilises organisational change and leadership style models within a public sector environment

Linking Policy Research and Practice in 'STIG Systems': Many Obstacles, but Some Ways Forward

This paper reflects on the relevance of systems thinking about the interdependent policy issues bearing on the dynamics of science, technology and innovation in their relationship to economic growth. Considering the approach that characterizes much of the current economics literatures treatment of technology and growth policies, we pose the critical question: what kind of systems paradigm is likely to prove particularly fruitful in that particular problem-domain: Evolutionary, neo-Schumpeterian, and complex system dynamics approaches are conceptually attractive and we analyze their respective virtues while also acknowledging their more serious problematic features. Those become visible quickly when trying connect systems-relevant research with practical policy-making in this field. Not content to have simply identified some significant obstructions in the path toward that goal, the paper also suggests some potentially feasible ways forward.Techonological Change, systems paradigm, STIG systems,

THE ROLE OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI) IN SERVICE INNOVATION: AN AMBIDEXTERITY PERSPECTIVE

Advancement in information and communication technologies has been a key driver of the transition from a goods-basedeconomy to a services-based economy where significant changes are occurring in the way that services are produced andconsumed. There is tremendous opportunity to realize business value from service innovation by using the knowledge aboutservices to develop and deliver new information services and business services. Organizations can seize this opportunity touse service innovation initiatives to set themselves apart from competitors. One of the means for organizations to achieveservice innovation is to incorporate business intelligence (BI) both at the strategic and operational levels. A review of extantIS literature on service innovation and BI revealed that the strategic and operational role of BI in fostering service innovationfrom an organizational ambidexterity perspective is one that has not been explored. We address this gap in research bydeveloping a theoretical model and hypotheses to examine the role of BI in service innovation. Our literature review revealedthat firms use BI strategically and operationally for exploration and exploitation respectively to create opportunities forservice innovations which have the potential to impact organizational performance

Scotland's Independent Expert Commission on Oil and Gas : Maximising the Total Value Added

Publisher PD

Complex Incremental Product Innovation in Established Service Firms: A Micro Institutional Perspective

Many product innovation studies have described key determinants that should lead to successful incremental product innovation. Despite numerous studies suggesting how incremental product innovation should be successfully undertaken, many firms still struggle with this type of innovation. In this paper, we use an institutional perspective to investigate why established firms in the financial services industry struggle with their complex incremental product innovation efforts. We argue that although the impact of micro institutional forces is often overlooked in innovation studies, these forces matter for innovation success. Our study complements the existing innovation literature and provides an additional explanation why incremental product innovation is highly complex and suffers from several liabilities in established firms. Using qualitative data from the Dutch financial services sector collected over the period 1997-2002, the paper illustrates how micro institutional forces at the business unit level affect complex incremental product innovation and how the interaction of these forces delivers their impact.Financial Services Sector;Micro Institutional Forces;Neo-Institutional Theory;Complex Incremental Product Innovation

Complex Incremental Product Innovation in Established Service Firms: A Micro Institutional Perspective

Many product innovation studies have described key determinants that should lead to successful incremental product innovation. Despite numerous studies suggesting how incremental product innovation should be successfully undertaken, many firms still struggle with this type of innovation. In this paper, we use an institutional perspective to investigate why established firms in the financial services industry struggle with their complex incremental product innovation efforts. We argue that although the impact of micro institutional forces is often overlooked in innovation studies, these forces matter for innovation success. Our study complements the existing innovation literature and provides an additional explanation why incremental product innovation is highly complex and suffers from several liabilities in established firms. Using qualitative data from the Dutch financial services sector collected over the period 1997-2002, the paper illustrates how micro institutional forces at the business unit level affect complex incremental product innovation and how the interaction of these forces delivers their impact.complex incremental product innovation;financial services sector;micro institutional forces;neo-institutional theory

Leadership as a determinant of innovative behaviour

In knowledge-intensive services innovative behaviour of co-workers is a critical success factor. In sectors like consultancy, research and architecture the nature of the work implies that projects are never alike. Innovative behaviour means that co-workers generate ideas for better and/or different products, services or working methods, and strive for implementing such changes. By carrying out certain leadership styles, entrepreneurs are able to boost innovative behaviour of their employees. This study presents an overview of innovation-enhancing leadership styles.

Inter-Firm Knowledge Transfer And Innovation In SMEs:A Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis

This study investigates the conditions leading to higher levels of innovation using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). More specifically, using fsQCA, this study explores the impact of inter-organisational knowledge transfer networks and organisations’ internal capabilities on different types of innovation in Small to Medium size Enterprises (SMEs) in the high-tech sector. A survey was used to collect data from a sample of UK SMEs. The findings show that although individual factors are important, there is no need for a company to perform well in all the areas to improve innovation performance. The fsQCA method, using different combinations of the key factors, revealed that there are many paths to achieve better incremental and radical innovation performance and companies need to choose the one that better matches to their abilities and fits with their resources

Systems of Innovation

We review the literature on national innovation systems. We first focus on the emergence of the concept of innovation systems, reviewing its historical origins and three main flavours (associated to three "founding fathers" of the concept). After this, we discuss how the notion of innovation systems filled a need for providing a broader basis for innovation policy. We conclude with some perspectives on the future of the innovation systems literature.national innovation systems, innovation policy