Board control and corporate innovation: an empirical study of small technology-based firms

This paper follows a behavioural perspective on boards and governance in exploring the influence of board control on corporate innovation in small technology-based firms. An analysis of 135 Swedish technology-based firms suggests that board involvement in decision control may influence corporate innovation. The empirical results show that board involvement in strategic decision control is positively associated with process innovation, while board involvement in financial decision control is positively associated with organizational innovation. No association is found between board involvement in decision control and product innovation. Overall, the findings suggest that board involvement in decision control may promote corporate innovation but that different kinds of decision control influence different forms of innovation.boards of directors; corporate innovation; decision control; technology-based firms; small firms

Managerial learning and development in small firms: implications based on observations of managerial

In this study we set out to examine the conditions for managerial learning in small firms and the implications it gives for how to facilitate and support work-based management development in this context. Empirically, we conduct structured observations of the daily work activities performed by small business managers. A framework based on experiential learning theory is developed and used as an analytical tool to assess the extent to which these work activities provide them with opportunities for work-based learning and development. In short, the results show that small business managers experience a fragmented working day with frequent and different forms of interruptions and unexpected problems during the course of their working day. These interruptions and unexpected problems are something that leaves little time for engaging in reflective observation to effectively learn from their daily work practices. We discuss the implications of our results for theory and research on managerial learning in small firms as well as for the design of university-led management development programs aimed at supporting the experiential learning process of small business managers.academic Experiential learning; managerial learning; managerial work; management development; small firms; structured observations

University professors and research commercialization: An empirical test of the “knowledge corridor” thesis

There has been an increasing interest in the determinants and outcomes of successful technology transfer and commercialization of research results. In this study we test the validity of the “knowledge corridor” thesis for explaining the involvement of university professors’ in the early stages of research commercialization. Statistical analysis on a sample of 86 respondents from engineering, natural science and medical faculties in a large Swedish university shows that both entrepreneurial and private industry experience significantly influence their ability to spot and generate business ideas in their research. Moreover, we find that research based business idea generation increase at a faster rate for professors with private sector work experience who have more time for research in their positions. The article ends with a discussion of our empirical findings together with its implications for support activities related to technology transfer and commercialization of research results.academic entrepreneurship; knowledge corridor; research commercialization

Tissue-Specific Increases in 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 in Normal Weight Postmenopausal Women

With age and menopause there is a shift in adipose distribution from gluteo-femoral to abdominal depots in women. Associated with this redistribution of fat are increased risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Glucocorticoids influence body composition, and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) which converts inert cortisone to active cortisol is a putative key mediator of metabolic complications in obesity. Increased 11βHSD1 in adipose tissue may contribute to postmenopausal central obesity. We hypothesized that tissue-specific 11βHSD1 gene expression and activity are up-regulated in the older, postmenopausal women compared to young, premenopausal women. Twenty-three pre- and 23 postmenopausal, healthy, normal weight women were recruited. The participants underwent a urine collection, a subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsy and the hepatic 11βHSD1 activity was estimated by the serum cortisol response after an oral dose of cortisone. Urinary (5α-tetrahydrocortisol+5β-tetrahydrocortisol)/tetrahydrocortisone ratios were higher in postmenopausal women versus premenopausal women in luteal phase (P<0.05), indicating an increased whole-body 11βHSD1 activity. Postmenopausal women had higher 11βHSD1 gene expression in subcutaneous fat (P<0.05). Hepatic first pass conversion of oral cortisone to cortisol was also increased in postmenopausal women versus premenopausal women in follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (P<0.01, at 30 min post cortisone ingestion), suggesting higher hepatic 11βHSD1 activity. In conclusion, our results indicate that postmenopausal normal weight women have increased 11βHSD1 activity in adipose tissue and liver. This may contribute to metabolic dysfunctions with menopause and ageing in women

Does board independence influence financial performance in IPO firms? The moderating role of the national business system

Prior evidence suggests that board independence may enhance financial performance, but this relationship has been tested almost exclusively for Anglo-American countries. To explore the boundary conditions of this prominent governance mechanism, we examine the impact of the formal and information institutions of 18 national business systems on the board independence-financial performance relationship. Our results show that while the direct effect of independence is weak, national-level institutions significantly moderate the independence-performance relationship. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of board structures is likely to be contingent on the specific national context, but the type of legal system is insignificant

Boards of directors and entrepreneurial posture in medium-size companies: Putting the board demography approach to a test

A growing body of research suggests that a strong and vigilant board can have a significant influence on the value-creating potential of medium-size companies by favouring change and innovation in strategic decision-making. Yet how best to conceptualize this relationship remains controversial in scholarly circles. The mainstream approach has been to argue for a direct relationship between board demography and company performance. In opposition stands a small but growing number of scholars who argue for a “behavioural approach” where boards’ ability to perform board tasks effectively – their actual behaviour – should be taken into account. Empirical studies comparing the two approaches are however surprisingly scarce. Based on this observation, the aim of the study is to test the mainstream board demography approach by examining the influence of boards of directors on CEOs’ commitment to take an entrepreneurial posture (EP). Both demographic and behavioural board measures are included in the model. Statistical analysis on a sample of 175 medium-size companies in the manufacturing sector gives ample support for the behavioural approach. The behavioural board measure – boards’ actual involvement in decision control – shows a positive and significant relationship with EP. On the other hand, neither board size nor the representation of non-executive directors, both commonly used measures in the demography approach, shows any significant association with EP. The study ends with a discussion of the results and presents suggestions for further research

Correlates of board empowerment in small companies

This study seeks to advance the understanding of board empowerment in small companies. Predictions based on agency and resource dependency theories were used to examine how contingency factors correlate with board empowerment, in this study conceptualized as a larger number of board members, a higher representation of outside directors, and separate CEO and board chair positions. Statistical analyses on a sample of 135 small companies gave ample support for the agency-theoretic prediction that board empowerment in small companies is a response to satisfy the demands from owners not directly involved in managing the company. Other factors influencing board empowerment were younger CEOs, high degree of exports, and past poor company performance. The influence of these contingency factors, however, was not as strong and extensive as the presence of outside owners. The article ends with a discussion of the findings and their implications for understanding boards and governance in small companies

Hacking your drone data

The last couple of years has seen a rapid growth in smart devices. The smart devices are exponentially gaining more popularity both as a complement to our daily lives in the form of IoT products aiding in our everyday tasks and as a way we communicate and work. An estimation of 75.44 billion devices will be connected to the internet by 2025. With the rapid development and normalization of IoT devices, questions regarding privacy has never been more important. This thesis focuses on privacy in relation to one of the most emerging technologies, drones.  Drones have been discussed frequently in both governmental and commercial sectors for its inevitable normalization in the airspace. Previously privacy and drones has been researched and discussed from the point of view of which drones are used to infringe on people’s privacy. This thesis explores privacy from another point of view, the view of the drone owner. By exploring privacy from the drone users’ point of view, this thesis shows the importance of better privacy measurements by proposing a conceptual model to existing popular privacy definitions. To investigate privacy in this context, a case has been conducted which proved and validated what kind of data is at risk of being hijacked. The thesis provides a conceptual model that aims to help commercial drone owners to analyze how privacy infringements can occur, why they could occur and how to account for them in the future. Furthermore, the thesis highlights the vulnerability that WIFI dependent devices poses with DDoS attacks. The findings of this thesis show that an infringement of privacy regarding commercial drones requires more clear privacy regulations and definitions, as well as highlighting privacy vulnerabilities in commercial drones.