The knowledge needs of innovating organisations

The sustainable management of innovation is perhaps the single most vital element of executive work in today's business environment. This has driven knowledge management theorists to revitalise interest in the concept of 'competency'. However, this theoretical domain continues to be fragmented by definitional debate. At a micro-level of analysis, Human Resources Management theorists have embraced the idea of managerial competencies, resulting in the elaboration of frameworks and standards of performance for the targeted development of individual knowledge. By contrast, at the macrolevel the Strategic Management literature has focussed on developing new concepts of competition and cooperation that emphasise organisational knowledge as the driver of strategic change. In this context, competence-based competition implies that competitive advantage is bestowed by an organisation's unique combination of core competencies. This definitional debate is a major obstacle to the development of an integrated perspective on competency and the knowledge needs of innovating organisations. This conceptual article asserts that, since innovation involves a learning process, it is necessary to develop process-based theory rather than the static categorisations that currently dominate thinking in this area. Drawing on theories from the field of learning, the article proposes a three-dimensional framework of knowledge-based competencies that are interlinked and meaningful across levels of analysis

Study on the feasibility of a tool to measure the macroeconomic impact of structural reforms

The main aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of empirical tools to study the impact of structural reforms on the macroeconomic performance in the member countries of the European Union (EU). This report presents the results of the project "Study on the feasibility of a tool to measure the macroeconomic impact of structural reforms" (ECFIN-E/2005/001) and amalgamates the findings of the two previous interim reports and the main conclusions of the workshop held in Brussels on May 11th. The main goal of the project is to determine the most reliable and robust methods to investigate the impacts of economy-wide structural reforms as well as reforms in individual markets or sectors, and to make suggestions as to how they best to implement them and possible improvements of the institutional dataset. In addition, a roadmap has been created which includes the main steps in the model-developing process, and solutions feasible even in the short term are discussed.The most relevant conclusion to be drawn from the study is that the most appropriate tool that can be developed in the short term is the integration of a DSGE model (preferably QUEST due to its in-house availability) with different satellite models, to be developed.structural reforms, product markets, labour markets, financial markets, Dreger, Art�s, Moreno, Ramos, Suri�ach

Frames We Can Believe In: Official Framing and Ideology in the CCP’s Quest for Legitimacy

In the debate on authoritarian resilience, the importance of persuasion to regime legitimacy has been widely acknowledged, yet a conceptual framework explaining the role of persuasion is still lacking. Against this backdrop, we argue that the framing perspective (Benford and Snow 2000) provides a useful basis for such a framework. Drawing on Beetham’s (1991) model of legitimacy, we contend that the ruling elites in authoritarian regimes propagate official frames in a continuous effort to reproduce the belief of the populace in the elites’ leadership qualities and their determination to serve the common interest. In the empirical part of our paper we look at the case of China, where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has in recent years reemphasized persuasion as a means of reproducing legitimacy. We then apply our theory in an analysis of the conceptual shifts in the CCP’s frames and ideology, as propagated under its secretary general, Hu Jintao.China, authoritarianism , legitimacy, ideology

From Transformation to Revitalization: A New Research Agenda for a Contested Global Economy

[Excerpt] The revitalization perspective is hardly new. With deep roots in both labor movement history and industrial relations research, such work was marginalized for much of the postwar period both in union strategy and in the field of industrial relations. What is new is the rather sudden arrival of revitalization research in the mainstream of industrial relations along with a broader literature on contentious politics in a global economy (e.g., Klein, 2002; Delia Porta & Tarrow, 2004). This introductory article offers an overview of the revitalization perspective, deepened in relevance by contemporary struggles for democratic representation in the modern workplace and beyond

Towards technological rules for designing innovation networks: a dynamic capabilities view.

Inter-organizational innovation networks provide opportunities to exploit complementary resources that reside beyond the boundary of the firm. The shifting locus of innovation and value creation away from the “sole firm as innovator” poses important questions about the nature of these resources and the capabilities needed to leverage them for competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to describe research into producing design-oriented knowledge, for configuring inter-organizational networks as a means of accessing such resources for innovation

Against Amnesia: Re-Imagining Central Banking

The purpose of the present paper is to identify and challenge contemporary adherence to the core of the prevailing monetary policy consensus. This consensus consists of what we call the holy trinity of the inflation targeting paradigm: price stability as the primary goal of the central bank; central bank independence as the institutional arrangement; and the short-term interest rate as the operational target. Drawing on the literature on the history and political economy of central banking, we argue that the inability to think beyond this holy trinity stems from a severe case of collective institutional amnesia and comes at a heavy cost. We highlight that monetary policy can be deployed towards social purposes other than controlling inflation, in institutional configurations other than isolation from the rest of the government and with instruments other than interest rate manipulation. One central message is that whereas central banks are commonly portrayed as commanding only one instrument, in reality they have a battery of instruments at their disposal. We should think of central banking not as a hammer – a tool to hit inflation where it rears its ugly head – but as a Swiss army knife – a multi-purpose tool with many instruments. Doing so will help overcome the collective amnesia that stands in the way of an enlightened debate about how the power of central banking can – and perhaps should – be harnessed in the pursuit of collective social goals.1 Introduction 2 The Holy Trinity 3 Historical Specificity 3.1 Pre-War 3.2 Post-War, Pre-Inflation 3.3 Holy Trinity 3.4 Shoring up the Holy Trinity: The Tinbergen Rule 4 Beyond the Tinbergen Rule: A Swiss Army Knife Theory of Central Banking 4.1 Lender of Last Resort 4.2 Financial Market-Shaping I: Monetary Policy Implementation 4.3 Financial Market-Shaping II: Monetary Policy Transmission 5 Conclusion Reference

Artificial and Natural Genetic Information Processing

Conventional methods of genetic engineering and more recent genome editing techniques focus on identifying genetic target sequences for manipulation. This is a result of historical concept of the gene which was also the main assumption of the ENCODE project designed to identify all functional elements in the human genome sequence. However, the theoretical core concept changed dramatically. The old concept of genetic sequences which can be assembled and manipulated like molecular bricks has problems in explaining the natural genome-editing competences of viruses and RNA consortia that are able to insert or delete, combine and recombine genetic sequences more precisely than random-like into cellular host organisms according to adaptational needs or even generate sequences de novo. Increasing knowledge about natural genome editing questions the traditional narrative of mutations (error replications) as essential for generating genetic diversity and genetic content arrangements in biological systems. This may have far-reaching consequences for our understanding of artificial genome editing

Governing network evolution in the quest for identity

This paper provides a managerial account of network governance by exploring how initially non-powerful agents, driven by the quest for distinctive identity, shape the governance of their networks over time. The research design is that of a longitudinal comparative case study of the trajectories of three renowned, Oscar-winning Spanish filmmakers. It scrutinizes data coming from original interviews, as well as from multiple secondary data sources, in order to illustrate the propositions advanced. The paper's contribution is sought: 1) in proposing a micro-level framework for systematic thinking about network governance evolution, distinguishing four dimensions (co-governance, structure, strategy, and pace) and their respective sub-categories; 2) in advancing three peculiar identity profiles with different implications for the evolution of network governance (i.e., a maverick, an integrated professional, and a broker); 3) in bringing together two bodies of literature that have not conversed frequently (i.e., network governance and identity) in a largely overlooked cultural and historical context, that of Spain after the transition to democracy in 1975.Network governance; Management

Comment développer la créativité des études utilisant la théorie enracinée ? Choix épistémologiques et stratégies pratiques dans la quête de créativité.

La théorie enracinée a été initialement développée pour proposer une alternative aux méthodes hypothético-déductives, qui formaient le courant majeur de la sociologie des années 1960, en visant à créer de nouvelles connaissances en se fondant sur les pratiques sociales. Face à l’ambition de vouloir créer de nouvelles connaissances au travers de l’utilisation de la théorie enracinée, de nombreux chercheurs mentionnent les difficultés inhérentes à cette méthode dans le développement de théories innovantes (Fendt & Sachs, 2008; Guillemette, 2006; Shalley, Gilson, & Blum, 2000). Cependant, la créativité reste une notion sous évaluée dans la littérature associée à la théorie enracinée. Les commentaires à propos de la créativité sont soit diffus(Charmaz, 2000 ; Glaser & Strauss, 1967 ; Strauss & Corbin, 1990) , soit limités (Dey, 1999 ; Douglas, 2003 ; Fendt & Sachs, 2008 ; Goulding, 2001 ; Locke, 2001 ; Wells, 1995). Ce papier cherche à clarifier dans quelles mesures la créativité joue un rôle dans le développement d’une théorie enracinée, ainsi que comment atteindre un certain niveau de créativité. Nous discutons d’abord les implications des choix épistémologiques dans les différentes versions de la théorie enracinée sur les potentialités de créativité dans le processus de recherche. Nous montrons que la place de la créativité diffère selon les approches utilisées : orthodoxe (Glaser and Strauss, 1967), pragmatique (Corbin & Strauss, 1990, 2008 ; Strauss & Corbin, 1990, 1998)ou constructiviste (Charmaz, 2000, 2006). Nous proposons trois stratégies de recherche permettant d’aider le chercheur dans sa quête de créativité. Nous nous appuyons sur près de dix années de pratique et d’enseignement de la théorie enracinée pour montrer comment les pratiques mentionnées peuvent aboutir à une meilleure créativité du chercheur. Nous ne proposons pas une liste exhaustive des techniques et stratégies mais mettons l’accent sur trois d’entre elles : le travail en groupe, les connaissances en art et la créativité in vivo.Grounded Theory (GT) methodology was originally proposed as an alternative to hypothetic deductive methods, aiming at creating new knowledge on the basis of the emergence of latent social patterns. While this ambition of creating fresh knowledge seems appropriate, there are difficulties inherent to the development of innovative and creative grounded theories (Fendt & Sachs, 2008 ; Guillemette, 2006 ; Shalley et al., 2000). However, creativity is an under evoked issue in the literature on GT. Mentions of creativity in GT literature is either diffuse (Charmaz, 2000 ; Glaser & Strauss, 1967 ; Strauss & Corbin, 1990) or scant (Dey, 1999 ; Douglas, 2003 ; Fendt & Sachs, 2008 ; Goulding, 2001 ; Locke, 2001 ; Wells, 1995). Our communication contributes to clarify to what extent creativity has a place in GT as well as how to enhance it. We first discuss the implications of epistemological choices underlying different versions of GT on the role of creativity in the research process. From early works of the pioneers (Glaser and Strauss, 1967), new GT versions have been developed, either focusing on the tactics to develop grounded theories in a practical way (Corbin & Strauss, 1990, 2008 ; Strauss & Corbin, 1990, 1998) or on its epistemological background (Charmaz, 2000, 2006). We show that the quest for creativity differs among these existing GT approaches. We also present three creativity-enhancing strategies to help researchers in their quest for creativity. We derive from our almost 10-year experience of developing GT as researchers and instructors to show how these strategies lead to creativity. We do not ambition to give an exhaustive set of techniques and strategies, but we focus on three of them, namely the collective work, the use of art knowledge, and in vivo creativity.méthode de recherche; épistémologie; théorie enracinée; créativité; sensibilité théorique; Management Research; Epistemology; Theoretical Sensitivity; Creativity; Grounded Theory;