Mixing methods in innovation research: studying the process-culture-link in innovation management

"Der Literatur zum Innovationsmanagement kann man unschwer zwei populäre Trends entnehmen. Der eine beruht auf der Annahme, dass Innovation ein linearer Prozess sei, der entsprechend gemanagt werden könne. Der zweite Trend unterstreicht, dass eine entsprechende Kultur die Innovationsfähigkeit von Unternehmen beflügelt. Diese beiden Ansätze widersprechen sich zum Teil. Der konkrete Zusammenhang zwischen Innovationskultur und Innovationsprozess wird in der Literatur jedoch kaum beschrieben, so bereits eine Studie von Shona Brown und Kathleen Eisenhardt (1995). Daher untersuchten wir diese Schnittstelle anhand einer Einzelfallstudie zu einem Innovationsprojekt in einer Schweizer Unternehmung aus der Telekommunikationsindustrie. Die Datenerhebung beruhte auf einem Methodenmix aus problemzentrierten Interviews, Strukturanalysen und Inhaltsanalysen und dauerte etwa ein Jahr. Dies ergab eine Themenlandschaft zur Innovationsdynamik innerhalb des Unternehmens. Unter anderem zeigen unsere Ergebnisse, dass Innovationsmanager/innen sich mit einem dynamischen Rollenmodell arrangieren müssen, um Innovationen nicht nur aus der Traufe zu heben, sondern auch durchzusetzen und an den Markt zu bringen." (Autorenreferat)"Two trends in innovation management have influenced the basic idea of this paper. The first trend shows increased attempts by managers to utilize linear innovation processes derived from literature and from practice. The second trend is an increasing acceptance of the dynamics created in an 'innovation culture', as being one of the key drivers of innovation. Both approaches partially contrast each other. Researching the literature in more detail, the authors found that studies explaining the link between innovation culture and innovation project management are rare. Indeed there is a study by Shona Brown and Kathleen Eisenhardt (1995) which gives an excellent overview of innovation management research, but again the issue of 'culture' was lacking. This missing link between innovation process design and innovation culture at the firm-level provides the theoretical framework of this paper. Behind the scenes of innovation management studies, the authors realized a methodological gap existed between the research of innovation cultures and their impact upon an organization's innovation processes. Thus, they applied a methodological mix of problem-centered interviews, structural analyses, and context analyses to study the phenomenon. They conducted an interview-based single case study in a Swiss telecommunications company. From these methodologies we created a themed landscape comprising relational topics of the innovation dynamics within an innovation project in the company (one year duration) and briefly described each topic. The main finding in our study is the dynamic role-model that innovation managers in large service firms have to apply to succeed in their innovation management work. Thus, their methodological mix proved to be helpful, although some weaknesses remain to be solved in the future." (author's abstract

Mixing Methods in Innovation Research: Studying the Process-Culture-Link in Innovation Management

Dos tendencias sobre la gestión de la innovación han influido este artículo. La primera muestra los intentos crecientes de los gerentes para utilizar procesos de innovación lineal derivados de la literatura y de la práctica. La segunda tendencia es una aceptación creciente de las dinámicas creadas en una "cultura de innovación", como uno de los principales conductores de la innovación. Cada enfoque contrasta parcialmente con el otro. Investigando la literatura con mayor detenimiento, encontramos que son pocos los estudios que explican el vínculo entre cultura innovadora y gestión de proyectos innovadores. Sin embargo, hay un estudio desarrollado por Shona BROWN and Kathleen EISENHARDT (1995) que ofrece una excelente visión general sobre la investigación en gestión de la innovación, pero nuevamente, el tema de la "cultura" está ausente. La carencia de vínculo entre el diseño del proceso de innovación y la cultura de la innovación a nivel empresa provee el marco teórico para este artículo. Detrás de la escena de los estudios de gestión de la innovación, encontramos que existía un salto metodológico entre la investigación de culturas de innovación y su impacto sobre los procesos de innovación organizacional. Así, aplicamos una combinación metodológica de entrevistas centradas en el problema, análisis estructurales, y análisis del contexto para estudiar el fenómeno. Realizamos un estudio de caso, basado en entrevistas, en una empresa suiza de telecomunicaciones. Desde estas metodologías creamos un entorno temático abarcando temas relacionados a las dinámicas de innovación, al interior de un proyecto de innovación en la compañía (de un año de duración), y describimos brevemente cada tema. El principal hallazgo de nuestro trabajo es el modelo de rol dinámico que los gerentes de la innovación de grandes empresas de servicios deben aplicar para tener éxito en su trabajo de gestión de la innovación. De esta manera, nuestra combinación metodológica probó ser útil, aunque algunas debilidades han de ser resueltas en el futuro. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1003134Der Literatur zum Innovationsmanagement kann man unschwer zwei populäre Trends entnehmen. Der eine beruht auf der Annahme, dass Innovation ein linearer Prozess sei, der entsprechend gemanagt werden könne. Der zweite Trend unterstreicht, dass eine entsprechende Kultur die Innovationsfähigkeit von Unternehmen beflügelt. Diese beiden Ansätze widersprechen sich zum Teil. Der konkrete Zusammenhang zwischen Innovationskultur und Innovationsprozess wird in der Literatur jedoch kaum beschrieben, so bereits eine Studie von Shona BROWN und Kathleen EISENHARDT (1995). Daher untersuchten wir diese Schnittstelle anhand einer Einzelfallstudie zu einem Innovationsprojekt in einer Schweizer Unternehmung aus der Telekommunikationsindustrie. Die Datenerhebung beruhte auf einem Methodenmix aus problemzentrierten Interviews, Strukturanalysen und Inhaltsanalysen und dauerte etwa ein Jahr. Dies ergab eine Themenlandschaft zur Innovationsdynamik innerhalb des Unternehmens. Unter anderem zeigen unsere Ergebnisse, dass Innovationsmanager/innen sich mit einem dynamischen Rollenmodell arrangieren müssen, um Innovationen nicht nur aus der Traufe zu heben, sondern auch durchzusetzen und an den Markt zu bringen. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1003134Two trends in innovation management have influenced the basic idea of this paper. The first trend shows increased attempts by managers to utilize linear innovation processes derived from literature and from practice. The second trend is an increasing acceptance of the dynamics created in an "innovation culture," as being one of the key drivers of innovation. Both approaches partially contrast each other. Researching the literature in more detail, we found that studies explaining the link between innovation culture and innovation project management are rare. Indeed there is a study by Shona BROWN and Kathleen EISENHARDT (1995) which gives an excellent overview of innovation management research, but again the issue of "culture" was lacking. This missing link between innovation process design and innovation culture at the firm-level provides the theoretical framework of this paper. Behind the scenes of innovation management studies, we realized a methodological gap existed between the research of innovation cultures and their impact upon an organization's innovation processes. Thus, we applied a methodological mix of problem-centered interviews, structural analyses, and context analyses to study the phenomenon. We conducted an interview-based single case study in a Swiss telecommunications company. From these methodologies we created a themed landscape comprising relational topics of the innovation dynamics within an innovation project in the company (one year duration) and briefly described each topic. The main finding in our study is the dynamic role-model that innovation managers in large service firms have to apply to succeed in their innovation management work. Thus, our methodological mix proved to be helpful, although some weaknesses remain to be solved in the future. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs100313

Facile microwave synthesis of uniform magnetic nanoparticles with minimal sample processing

We present a simple and rapid method for the synthesis of small magnetic nanoparticles (diameters in the order of 5–20 nm) and narrow size distributions (CV's of 20–40%). The magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized in green solvents within minutes and the saturation magnetization of the particles was tunable by changes in the reaction conditions. We show that this particle synthesis method requires minimal processing steps and we present the successful coating of the particles with reactive bisphosphonates after synthesis without washing or centrifugation. We found minimal batch-to-batch variability and show the scalability of the particle synthesis method. We present a full characterization of the particle properties and believe that this synthesis method holds great promise for facile and rapid generation of magnetic nanoparticles with defined surface coatings for magnetic targeting application

Quadrupole Susceptibility and Elastic Softening due to a Vacancy in Silicon Crystal

We investigate the electronic states around a single vacancy in silicon crystal by using the Green's function approach. The triply degenerate vacancy states within the band gap are found to be extended over a large distance $\sim20 {\rm \AA}$ from the vacancy site and contribute to the reciprocal temperature dependence of the quadrupole susceptibility resulting in the elastic softening at low temperture. The Curie constant of the quadrupole susceptibility for the trigonal mode ($O_{yz},O_{zx},O_{xy}$) is largely enhanced as compared to that for the tetragonal mode ($O_{2}^{0},O_{2}^{2}$). The obtained results are consistent with the recent ultrasonic experiments in silicon crystal down to 20 mK. We also calculate the dipole and octupole susceptibilities and find that the octupole susceptibilities are extremely enhannced for a specific mode.Comment: 6 pages, with 5 figure

Neutrino oscillations in the field of a rotating deformed mass

The neutrino oscillations in the field of a rotating deformed mass is investigated. The phase shift is evaluated in the case of weak field limit, slow rotation and small deformation. To this aim the Hartle-Thorne metric is used, which is an approximate solution of the vacuum Einstein equations accurate to second order in the rotation parameter $a/M$ and to first order in the mass quadrupole moment $q$. Implications on atmospheric, solar and astrophysical neutrinos are discussed.Comment: 16 pages; to appear in PL

Central modulation in cluster headache patients treated with occipital nerve stimulation: an FDG-PET study

Peer reviewe

Intermittent search strategies

This review examines intermittent target search strategies, which combine phases of slow motion, allowing the searcher to detect the target, and phases of fast motion during which targets cannot be detected. We first show that intermittent search strategies are actually widely observed at various scales. At the macroscopic scale, this is for example the case of animals looking for food ; at the microscopic scale, intermittent transport patterns are involved in reaction pathway of DNA binding proteins as well as in intracellular transport. Second, we introduce generic stochastic models, which show that intermittent strategies are efficient strategies, which enable to minimize the search time. This suggests that the intrinsic efficiency of intermittent search strategies could justify their frequent observation in nature. Last, beyond these modeling aspects, we propose that intermittent strategies could be used also in a broader context to design and accelerate search processes.Comment: 72 pages, review articl

Process-based classification of Mediterranean cyclones using potential vorticity

This is the final version. Available on open access from Copernicus Publications via the DOI in this recordCode availability:The code for the SOM classification algorithm is openly available at https://www.mathworks.com/help/deeplearning/gs/cluster-data-with-a-self-organizingmap.html (last access: 29 January 2024).Data availability: The composite cyclone tracks with the resulting cluster attribution are available in the supplementary assets of this paper. The track labels correspond to the composite cyclone track dataset at confidence level 5, made available as a Supplement by Flaounas et al. (2023) (“TRACKS_CL5.dat”).Mediterranean cyclones (MCs) govern extreme weather events across the Euro-African Basin, affecting the lives of hundreds of millions. Despite many studies addressing MCs in the last few decades, their correct simulation and prediction remain a significant challenge to the present day, which may be attributed to the large variability among MCs. Past classifications of MCs are primarily based on geographical and/or seasonal separations; however, here we focus on cyclone genesis and deepening mechanisms. A variety of processes combine to govern MC genesis and evolution, including adiabatic and diabatic processes, topographic influences, land-sea contrasts, and local temperature anomalies. As each process bears a distinct signature on the potential vorticity (PV) field, a PV approach is used to distinguish among different "types"of MCs. Here, a combined cyclone-tracking algorithm is used to detect 3190 Mediterranean cyclone tracks in ECMWF ERA5 from 1979-2020. Cyclone-centered, upper-level isentropic PV structures in the peak time of each cyclone track are classified using a self-organizing map (SOM). The SOM analysis reveals nine classes of Mediterranean cyclones, with distinct Rossby-wave-breaking patterns, discernible in corresponding PV structures. Although classified by upper-level PV structures, each class shows different contributions of lower-tropospheric PV and flow structures down to the surface. Unique cyclone life cycle characteristics, associated hazards (precipitation, winds, and temperature anomalies), and long-term trends, as well as synoptic, thermal, dynamical, seasonal, and geographical features of each cyclone class, indicate dominant processes in their evolution. Among others, the classification reveals the importance of topographically induced Rossby wave breaking to the generation of the most extreme Mediterranean cyclones. These results enhance our understanding of MC predictability by linking the large-scale Rossby wave formations and life cycles to coherent classes of under-predicted cyclone aspects.de Botton Center for Marine ScienceIsraeli Council for Higher Education (CHE)Weizmann Data Science Research CenterWeizmann Institute Sustainability and Energy Research Initiative (SAERI