Integrating R&D and marketing in new product development

R&D - marketing integration is considered to be a critical activity within New Product Development (NPD). A theoretical framework for the study of R&D - marketing integration levels developed by Gupta et al (1986) is one of the most widely cited R&D - marketing integration frameworks in scientific literature. It is based on the presumption that strategy, environmental, organizational and individual factors are those determining R&D - marketing integration levels and consequently NPD success. Several empirical studies have been conducted to test this framework, however most of them have dealt only with portions of Gupta et al (1986)'s model. This paper is an attempt to put forward and test an integrated research protocol for the study of R&D - marketing integration, based on this theoretical framework. Empirical evidence gained from a questionnaire survey and two company case studies show, that people active within the R&D - marketing interface perceive the studied constructs as relevant for R&D - marketing integration, thus giving confirmation to Gupta et al (1986)’s model. The presented research protocol can therefore be considered as a valid start into R&D - marketing integration research within an integrated framework

Scottish space sector and innovation: a PERIpatetic study of an emerging innovation system and the roles of innovation intermediaries

This thesis seeks a more effective understanding of Open Innovation (OI) and the available strategies for its development within (geographically–bound) sectoral systems of innovation (GSSIs). Theoretically, it draws upon the competing intellectual traditions (from innovation studies and from science and technology studies) with their different presumptions, which alternatively favour either macro-level positivist or micro-level interpretativist perspectives. These divides prevent a more holistic theoretical understanding of OI, and present a challenge to practitioners, who struggle to operationalise the theories’ insights. Hence, this thesis proposes a novel Practical Epistemology for Researching Innovation, i.e. the PERIpatetic Approach, which aims to integrate multiple theoretical and empirical perspectives for a flexible, problem-driven academic enquiry. This new framework for participatory action research is based on “abductive” theory development, which uses bottom-up empirical engagement to identify emergent challenges to state-of-the-art understanding. The research methodology put forward for this approach is centred on strategic ethnography of innovation, which combines multi-sited mixed-method research design, with constructive embeddedness in the field. The empirical focus of this thesis is on the emergence of the (New) Space Sector in Scotland - mainly made up of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Here, miniaturisation and cheapening of core technologies and increased access to space data has been driving significant sectoral growth and diversification – which is of interest to entrepreneurs and politicians alike. I approached the field by being embedded within an active intermediary, which wanted to understand and respond to these trends and opportunities. Consequently, this thesis analyses the modelling of OI between macro-level trends and micro-level practices, through a focus on the activities and organisational behaviour of a network of SMEs and opportunities to support them through the work of innovation intermediaries. In its first part, the thesis analyses the UK/Scottish innovation policy in the Space Sector, exposing the dispersion of public investment, which is creating divergent clusters. These clusters attempt to integrate through the concept of “Agile Space” into a collaborative “Living Laboratory”, constructing new markets and developing products. Applying social network analysis and outlining a new concept of innovation moments, I focus on the structures at play within this integrative framing, identifying processes of organisational learning which develop structural absorptive capacity. Thus, I form an integrated multi-level perspective on a (geographically–bound) sectoral system of innovation (MLP-GSSI), which can be applied to other OI contexts and can be adapted for analysing other aspects of complex innovation systems. In the thesis’ second part, the analysis seeks to redress the lack of systemic understanding of the central role of innovation intermediaries, by developing new classification and prototypology of their interventions. To validate and operationalise this new model, I apply it to the network of innovation intermediaries in the Scottish (New) Space Sector. I further contextualise this insight through a detailed case study of two large investments in innovation intermediation in similarly positioned Space Sectors - examining the tension between business development and R&D support for OI-driven smart specialisation

The appraisal of Facebook online community: An exposition of mobile commerce in social media reviews

Peer reviewe

Ethics and taxation : a cross-national comparison of UK and Turkish firms

This paper investigates responses to tax related ethical issues facing busines

Information Management in Supply Chain Partnering: Improving Maintenance Processes in Dutch Housing Associations

From the article: "Abstract Maintenance processes of Dutch housing associations are often still organized in a traditional manner. Contracts are based on lowest price instead of ‘best quality for lowest price’ considering users’ demands. Dutch housing associations acknowledge the need to improve their maintenance processes in order to lower maintenance cost, but are not sure how. In this research, this problem is addressed by investigating different supply chain partnering principles and the role of information management. The main question is “How can the organisation of maintenance processes of Dutch housing associations, in different supply chain partnering principles and the related information management, be improved?” The answer is sought through case study research.

Developing market-oriented and value-added products for Irish seafood SMEs

The fisheries sector in Ireland is worth approximately €1.15 billion a year and is characterised by a high proportion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). A strong market orientation and a consumer driven new product development (NPD) process are critical NPD success factors. Successful NPD requires knowledge exchange between the food related organisations, supply chain partners and the consumer. The Irish seafood industry lacks a market-oriented approach to its NPD activities. The Irish seafood industry is not in a position to capitalise on global trends as there are too many SMEs working in isolation. As a result, there is a lack of coordination and cooperation between supplier, producers and a lack of connection with the consumer and customer. This study aims to examine the use of consumer insights in the development by SMEs, of more sustainable and value-added, new seafood product concepts. Including products with unfamiliar ingredients, this process aims to increase consumer acceptance. The methodology employed was both qualitative and quantitative. Interviews with seafood SMEs and focus groups, conjoint questionnaire and sensory acceptability testing with consumers of seafood were utilised. The interviews conducted with Irish seafood related SMEs suggest that innovation and data collection is occurring, however, it is not being captured and utilised correctly in order to ensure successful product development and ultimately competitive advantage. If this innovation, data and other information gathered is managed correctly, in a formal process, then there is a significant opportunity for Irish seafood SMEs to capitalise on the value-added market. This research highlights appropriate methods of gathering and managing customer insights during the NPD process, specifically the initial stages and applying it to the development of a seafood concept that uses a species of fish, which is currently unavailable on the Irish market, and unfamiliar to consumers i.e. boarfish, via advanced concept optimisation research techniques. These insights through conjoint analysis allowed for the analysis of the products attributes and provided an insightful understanding of customer`s choice motives, which assists organisations in the process of market segmentation and new product design of new seafood products. The research revealed that consumer integration techniques which include the consumer at the early stages of the NPD process can increase consumer acceptance of new seafood products; including those that contain unfamiliar ingredients without a significant strain on the resources of SMEs

International R&D collaboration among entrepreneurial firms: strategic and policy perspectives

This study aims to identify the distinguishing characteristics of successful international R&D collaboration among Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). For this purpose, I used survey and interview data on Korean SMEs. First, investigating the overall patterns of international technology collaboration involving SMEs, I found that the most observed and desired type of collaboration was R&D collaboration among SMEs, but it produced the lowest level of satisfaction and thus needed further investigation. Consequently, I focused only on one particular type of collaboration, that is, “international R&D collaboration among SMEs”. Then, I examined the main motivations behind such collaboration and motivation specific features of the collaboration in terms of collective strength, partner selection criteria, and project management practices. An attention was paid on the diversity of motivation, where resource based theory was adopted to develop a theoretical framework. I also analysed the benefits and costs of international R&D collaboration for SMEs compared to domestic R&D collaboration, where resource based theory with transaction cost theory were integrated. Finally, I suggested a framework to measure the performance of international R&D collaboration from the SME perspective. A logic model was adopted to identify feasible measures to assess the performance of R&D collaboration, from which the most significant measures for SMEs, considering that the collaboration is across firms in different nations, were investigated. This study represents one of the few attempts to explain the mechanisms through which how international R&D collaborations in SMEs are initiated, managed and produce benefits, and to suggest the conditions that can offer SMEs a greater value from international collaboration than domestic collaboration. Practically, the research findings are expected to help establish an R&D strategy at the firm level and will also provide valuable knowledge to develop innovation policies for SMEs at the national level