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Innovation through Cross-Fertilization: Serious games and gamification in the EU-funded research projects

[eng] In recent years, ecosystems of innovation have gained substantial momentum in academic research. As a response to recent calls in open innovation literature for novel research, this doctoral thesis extends the study of the process and ecosystems of innovation in projects that include serious games and gamification by considering the cross-fertilization of knowledge and technologies. Organizations’ orchestration of activities within their activity systems and transformation of their business models through innovation to realize opportunities with the objective to increase value creation are part of the topic of this dissertation. It has endeavoured to improve the understanding of how cross-fertilized alliances are formed, what their outcomes are, what causes them to generate value (or not) and what capabilities organizations need in order to successfully manage and reap value from the innovation process. For this purpose, two approaches that support innovation have been complementarily taken into account: the knowledge-technological perspective and the management perspective. These perspectives are analysed with the information retrieved from a database of 87 H2020 projects including serious games and/or gamification, 519 organizations and 597 observations. Later, in order to get more insights into the Innovation Management Strategies, a project coordinators survey was conducted. The Knowledge-Technology perspective presents how creating adequate multidisciplinary knowledge and technology is fundamental to ensuring the long-term success of an emerging technology including serious games and/or gamification, and how important is the research and innovation that takes place in the practitioners’ communities. The Management perspective presents the analysis of the innovation management strategies that boost the cross-fertilization of technologies that include serious games and/or gamification. These strategies were analysed by considering literature on innovation and network theories, absorptive capacity and dynamic capabilities. Some personal interviews were conducted with independent experts to understand and have elements for the analysis and discussion of the previous results. Findings suggest that the multidisciplinarity of a project is highly influenced by the creation of knowledge and technology. Furthermore, the management strategies boosting high levels of cross-fertilization of knowledge and technologies -including serious games and/or gamification- are principally market and customer-oriented strategies. Practical and methodological contributions from this study could enrich innovation literature from the point of view of technological and management approaches. The thesis concludes with fruitful avenues for future research.[nor] I de senere årene har økosystemer for innovasjon fått vesentlig fart i akademisk forskning. Nylig har det oppstått et større behov for mer forskning i området åpen innovasjon. Som et respons til dette, utvider denne avhandlingen seg på studier om prosesser og økosystemer av innovasjon i prosjekter. Prosjektene inkluderer seriøse spill og det som kalles for gamification. Målet er å vurdere kryss-befruktning av kunnskap og teknologi. En del av tema for denne avhandling er hvordan organisasjoner, gjennom innovasjon, virkeliggjør mulighetene for å øke verdiskapning. Dette vurderes ut ifra organisasjoners orkestrering av aktiviteter innenfor deres aktivitetssystemer og transformasjon av forretningsmodellene. Det har lenge vært forsøkt på å forbedre forståelsen av hvordan kryss-befruktet allianser dannes, hva er resultatene, hva skal til for å generere verdi (eller ikke), og hvilke evner organisasjoner trenger for å kunne forvalte og innhente verdier. På bakgrunn av dette, har to tilnærminger som støtter innovasjon, blitt komplementært tatt med i betraktningen. Disse er, den kunnskaps-teknologiske perspektiv og ledelses perspektivet. Perspektivene blir analysert med informasjon hentet fra en database med 87 H2020 prosjekter, inkludert seriøse spill og eller gamification. Det er totalt 519 organisasjoner og 597 observasjoner. I senere tid, for å få et større innblikk i strategier for innovasjonsledelse, ble det gjennomført en prosjekt koordinator undersøkelse. Det kunnskaps-teknologiske perspektivet innebærer hvordan en kan skape tilstrekkelig tverrfaglig kunnskap. Her er teknologi grunnleggende for å sikre langsiktig suksess til en fremtredende teknologi, som inkluderer seriøse spill og eller gamification, og viktigheten av forskningen og innovasjonen som fremkommer i utøvernes samfunn. På den andre siden, ledelses perspektivet inkluderer analysen av innovasjonsstrategier som har som mål å øke kryss-befruktning av teknologier som inkluderer seriøse spill og eller gamification. Strategiene ble analysert ved å vurdere innovasjon- og nettverks teorier, evnen til å absorbere, og dynamisk kapasitet litteratur. For å forstå og samle elementer for analysen og diskusjonen av tidligere resultater, bestemte personlige intervjuer ble gjennomført med uavhengige eksperter. Funnene viser at flerfaglighet av et prosjekt er sterkt påvirket av etablering av kunnskap og teknologi. Videre, ledelses strategier er med på å øke nivåer av kryss-befruktning av kunnskap og teknologi. Dette inkluderer seriøse spill og eller gamification, men hovedsakelig markeds- og kundeorienterte strategier. De praktiske og metodologiske bidrag fra denne studien er med på å berike innovasjons litteratur fra det teknologiske og det ledelsesmessig synspunkt. Avhandlingen avsluttes med fruktbare veier for fremtidig forskning.[cat] Al llarg dels darrers anys, els ecosistemes d’innovació han pres un impuls substancial en la recerca acadèmica. Com a resposta a les darreres crides a noves recerques en la literatura sobre innovació oberta, aquesta tesi doctoral amplia l’estudi del procés i els ecosistemes d’innovació en projectes que inclouen jocs seriosos i gamificació al considerar la fertilització creuada de coneixement i tecnologies. L’orquestració d’activitats per part de les organitzacions dins dels seus sistemes d’activitats i la transformació dels seus models comercials a través de la innovació per generar oportunitats amb l’objectiu d’augmentar la creació de valor són part dels temes d’aquesta tesi. Hi ha hagut un esforç per millorar la comprensió de com es formen aliances amb la fertilització creuada, quins són els seus resultats, què fa que generin valor (o no) i quines capacitats necessiten les organitzacions per gestionar i assolir valor a través del procés d’innovació. Amb aquest propòsit, dos enfocaments que recolzen la innovació s’han tingut en compte de manera complementària: la perspectiva coneixement-tecnologia i la perspectiva de gestió. Aquestes perspectives s’analitzen amb la informació obtinguda d’una base de dades de 87 projectes H2020 que inclouen jocs seriosos i/o gamificació, 519 organitzacions i 597 observacions. Posteriorment, amb l’objectiu d’obtenir informació addicional sobre les Estratègies de Gestió de la Innovació, es va realitzar una enquesta adreçada als coordinadors dels projectes. La perspectiva de Coneixement i Tecnologia mostra com la creació adequada de coneixement i tecnologia multidisciplinaris és fonamental per garantir l’èxit a llarg termini d’una tecnologia emergent, que inclogui els jocs seriosos i la gamificació, i com d’important és la recerca i la innovació que té lloc en les comunitats de professionals. La perspectiva de Gestió mostra l’anàlisi de les estratègies de gestió de la innovació que fomenten la fertilització creuada de tecnologies que inclouen jocs seriosos i/o gamificació. Aquestes estratègies es van analitzar a partir de la literatura en innovació i teories de xarxes, capacitat d’absorció i capacitats dinàmiques. També, es van dur a terme entrevistes personals amb experts independents per comprendre i tenir elements per a l’anàlisi i la discussió dels resultats anteriors. Els resultats suggereixen que la multidisciplinarietat d’un projecte està molt influenciada per la creació de coneixement i tecnologia. A més, les estratègies de gestió que impulsen els alts nivells de fertilització creuada de coneixement i tecnologies –inclosos els jocs seriosos i/o la gamificació- són principalment estratègies orientades al mercat i al client. Les contribucions pràctiques i metodològiques d’aquest estudi podrien enriquir la literatura sobre innovació des del punt de vista dels enfocaments tecnològics i de gestió. La tesi conclou amb suggeriments de línies de recerca futures.[spa] Durante los últimos años, los ecosistemas de innovación han tomado un impulso sustancial en la investigación académica. Como respuesta a las recientes llamadas a nuevas investigaciones en la literatura sobre innovación abierta, esta tesis doctoral amplía el estudio del proceso y los ecosistemas de innovación en proyectos que incluyen juegos serios y gamificación al considerar la fertilización cruzada de conocimiento y tecnologías. La orquestación de actividades por parte de las organizaciones dentro de sus sistemas de actividades y la transformación de sus modelos comerciales a través de la innovación para generar oportunidades con el objetivo de aumentar la creación de valor son parte de los temas de esta tesis. Ha habido un esfuerzo por mejorar la comprensión de cómo se forman alianzas con fertilización cruzada, cuáles son sus resultados, qué hace que generen valor (o no) y qué capacidades necesitan las organizaciones para gestionar y cosechar valor a través del proceso de innovación. Con este propósito, dos enfoques que apoyan la innovación se han tenido en cuenta de manera complementaria: la perspectiva conocimiento-tecnología y la perspectiva de gestión. Estas perspectivas se analizan con la información obtenida de una base de datos de 87 proyectos H2020 que incluyen juegos serios y/o gamificación, 519 organizaciones y 597 observaciones. Posteriormente, con el objetivo de obtener información adicional sobre las Estrategias de Gestión de la Innovación, se realizó una encuesta a los coordinadores de los proyectos. La perspectiva de Conocimiento y Tecnología muestra cómo la creación adecuada de conocimiento y tecnología multidisciplinarios es fundamental para garantizar el éxito a largo plazo de una tecnología emergente, que incluya los juegos serios y la gamificación, y cómo de importante es la investigación y la innovación en las comunidades de profesionales. La perspectiva de Gestión muestra el análisis de las estrategias de gestión de la innovación que fomentan la fertilización cruzada de tecnologías que incluyen juegos serios y/o gamificación. Estas estrategias se analizaron a partir de la literatura en innovación y teorías de redes, la capacidad de absorción y las capacidades dinámicas. También, se realizaron entrevistas personales con expertos independientes para comprender y tener elementos para el análisis y la discusión de los resultados anteriores. Los hallazgos sugieren que la multidisciplinariedad de un proyecto está muy influenciada por la creación de conocimiento y tecnología. Además, las estrategias de gestión que impulsan los altos niveles de fertilización cruzada de conocimientos y tecnologías -incluidos los juegos serios y/o la gamificación- son principalmente estrategias orientadas al mercado y al cliente. Las contribuciones prácticas y metodológicas de este estudio podrían enriquecer la literatura sobre innovación desde el punto de vista de los enfoques tecnológicos y de gestión. La tesis concluye con sugerencias de líneas de investigación futuras

The impact of organizational culture and leadership climate on organizational attractiveness and innovative behavior: a study of Norwegian hospital employees

In the domain of health services, little research has focused on how organizational culture, specifically internal market-oriented cultures (IMOCs), are associated with organizational climate resources, support for autonomy (SA), and whether and how IMOCs and SA are either individually or in combination related to employee perceptions of the attractiveness of the organization and their level of innovative behavior. These knowledge gaps in previous research motivated this study. A conceptual model was tested on a sample (N = 1008) of hospital employees. Partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) was employed to test the conceptual models, using the SmartPLS 3 software. To test the mediator effect, a bootstrapping test was used to determine whether the direct and indirect effects were statistically significant, and when combining two tests, to determine the type of mediator effect. The results can be summarized as four key findings: i) organizational culture (referring to an IMOC) was positively and directly related to SA (β = 0.87) and organizational attractiveness (β = 0.45); ii) SA was positively and directly related to both organizational attractiveness (β = 0.22) and employee individual innovative behavior (β = 0.37); iii) The relationships between an IMOC, SA, and employee innovative behavior were all mediated through organizational attractiveness; and iv) SA mediated the relationship between the IMOC and organizational attractiveness as well as that between the IMOC and employee innovative behavior. Organizational culture, IMOC, organizational climate resources, and SA were highly correlated and necessary drivers of employee perceptions of organizational attractiveness and their innovative behavior. Managers of hospitals should consider IMOC and SA as two organizational resources that are potentially manageable and controllable. Consequently, managers should actively invest in these resources. Such investments will lead to resource capitalization that will improve both employee perceptions of organizational attractiveness as well as their innovative behavior. Keywords: Organizational culture, Organizational climate, Internal market-oriented culture, Support for autonomy, Organizational attractiveness, Innovative behavior, Hospital employeesThe impact of organizational culture and leadership climate on organizational attractiveness and innovative behavior: a study of Norwegian hospital employeespublishedVersio

Cross-fertilization of knowledge and technologies in collaborative research projects

Purpose: This paper aims to explore how the cross-fertilization of knowledge and technologies in EU-funded research projects, including serious games and gamification, is influenced by the following variables: multidisciplinarity, knowledge base and organizations (number and diversity). The interrelation of actors and projects form a network of innovation. The largest contribution to cross-fertilization comes from the multidisciplinary nature of projects and the previous knowledge and technology of actors. The analysis draws on the understanding of how consortia perform as an innovation network, what their outcomes are and what capabilities are needed to reap value. Design/methodology/approach: All the research projects including serious games and/or gamification, funded by the EU-Horizon 2020 work programme, have been analyzed to test the hypotheses in this paper. The study sample covers the period between 2014 and 2016 (June), selecting the 87 research projects that comprised 519 organizations as coordinators and participants, and 597 observations – because more organizations participate in more than one project. The data were complemented by documentary and external database analysis. Findings: To create cross-fertilization of knowledge and technologies, the following emphasis should be placed on projects: partners concern various disciplines; partners have an extensive knowledge base for generating novel combinations and added-value technologies; there is a diverse typology of partners with unique knowledge and skills; and there is a limited number of organizations not too closely connected to provide cross-fertilization. Research limitations/implications: First, the database sample covers a period of 30 months. The authors’ attention was focused on this period because H2020 prioritized for the first time the serious games and gamification with two specific calls (ICT-21–14 and ICT-24–16) and, second, for the explosion of projects including these technologies in the past years (Adkins, 2017). These facts can be understood as a way to push the research to higher technology readiness levels (TRLs) and introducing the end-user in the co-creation and co-development along the value chain. Second, an additional limitation makes reference to the European focus of the projects, missing strong regional initiatives not identified and studied. Originality/value: This paper has attempted to explore and define theoretically and empirically the characteristics found in the cross-fertilization of collaborative research projects, emphasizing which variables, and how, need to be stimulated to benefit more multidisciplinary consortia and accelerate the process of innovation. © 2021, Manel González-Piñero, Cristina Páez-Avilés, Esteve Juanola-Feliu and Josep Samitier

Design of a Customized multipurpose nano-enabled implantable system for in-vivo theranostics

The first part of this paper reviews the current development and key issues on implantable multi-sensor devices for in vivo theranostics. Afterwards, the authors propose an innovative biomedical multisensory system for in vivo biomarker monitoring that could be suitable for customized theranostics applications. At this point, findings suggest that cross-cutting Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) could improve the overall performance of the system given that the convergence of technologies in nanotechnology, biotechnology, micro&nanoelectronics and advanced materials permit the development of new medical devices of small dimensions, using biocompatible materials, and embedding reliable and targeted biosensors, high speed data communication, and even energy autonomy. Therefore, this article deals with new research and market challenges of implantable sensor devices, from the point of view of the pervasive system, and time-to-market. The remote clinical monitoring approach introduced in this paper could be based on an array of biosensors to extract information from the patient. A key contribution of the authors is that the general architecture introduced in this paper would require minor modifications for the final customized bio-implantable medical device

La Innovación en la gestión de la cultura: reflexiones y referencias

El sector cultural se caracteriza por su creatividad intrínseca. ¿Se caracteriza también por su capacidad para innovar, es decir, para generar valor al usuario? Muchos profesionales buscan la viabilidad de sus proyectos reproduciendo modelos exitosos preexistentes, y solo algunos logran realmente innovar a través del contenido, el formato, el significado o el modelo de negocio o gestión. A partir de una aproximación a la génesis, la política y los retos de la innovación en cultura, la presente obra analiza nueve casos de ámbitos como el libro, el teatro, la música y los videojuegos. La mayoría son proyectos de equipo, en oposición al estereotipo del genio individual tan común en el ámbito artístico. Fruto de iniciativas asociativas, privadas y de titularidad públicas, en todos ellos palpita una voluntad de servicio y de transformación social y cultural

The impact of organizational culture and leadership climate on organizational attractiveness and innovative behavior: a study of Norwegian hospital employees

In the domain of health services, little research has focused on how organizational culture, specifically internal market-oriented cultures (IMOCs), are associated with organizational climate resources, support for autonomy (SA), and whether and how IMOCs and SA are either individually or in combination related to employee perceptions of the attractiveness of the organization and their level of innovative behavior. These knowledge gaps in previous research motivated this study. A conceptual model was tested on a sample (N = 1008) of hospital employees. Partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) was employed to test the conceptual models, using the SmartPLS 3 software. To test the mediator effect, a bootstrapping test was used to determine whether the direct and indirect effects were statistically significant, and when combining two tests, to determine the type of mediator effect. The results can be summarized as four key findings: i) organizational culture (referring to an IMOC) was positively and directly related to SA (β = 0.87) and organizational attractiveness (β = 0.45); ii) SA was positively and directly related to both organizational attractiveness (β = 0.22) and employee individual innovative behavior (β = 0.37); iii) The relationships between an IMOC, SA, and employee innovative behavior were all mediated through organizational attractiveness; and iv) SA mediated the relationship between the IMOC and organizational attractiveness as well as that between the IMOC and employee innovative behavior. Organizational culture, IMOC, organizational climate resources, and SA were highly correlated and necessary drivers of employee perceptions of organizational attractiveness and their innovative behavior. Managers of hospitals should consider IMOC and SA as two organizational resources that are potentially manageable and controllable. Consequently, managers should actively invest in these resources. Such investments will lead to resource capitalization that will improve both employee perceptions of organizational attractiveness as well as their innovative behavior. Keywords: Organizational culture, Organizational climate, Internal market-oriented culture, Support for autonomy, Organizational attractiveness, Innovative behavior, Hospital employee

The impact of organizational culture and leadership climate on organizational attractiveness and innovative behavior: a study of Norwegian hospital employees

Background: In the domain of health services, little research has focused on how organizational culture, specifcally internal market-oriented cultures (IMOCs), are associated with organizational climate resources, support for autonomy (SA), and whether and how IMOCs and SA are either individually or in combination related to employee perceptions of the attractiveness of the organization and their level of innovative behavior. These knowledge gaps in previous research motivated this study. Methods: A conceptual model was tested on a sample (N=1008) of hospital employees. Partial least-squares struc‑ tural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) was employed to test the conceptual models, using the SmartPLS 3 software. To test the mediator efect, a bootstrapping test was used to determine whether the direct and indirect efects were statistically signifcant, and when combining two tests, to determine the type of mediator efect. Results: The results can be summarized as four key fndings: i) organizational culture (referring to an IMOC) was posi‑ tively and directly related to SA (β = 0.87) and organizational attractiveness (β = 0.45); ii) SA was positively and directly related to both organizational attractiveness (β = 0.22) and employee individual innovative behavior (β = 0.37); iii) The relationships between an IMOC, SA, and employee innovative behavior were all mediated through organizational attractiveness; and iv) SA mediated the relationship between the IMOC and organizational attractiveness as well as that between the IMOC and employee innovative behavior. Conclusions: Organizational culture, IMOC, organizational climate resources, and SA were highly correlated and necessary drivers of employee perceptions of organizational attractiveness and their innovative behavior. Manag‑ ers of hospitals should consider IMOC and SA as two organizational resources that are potentially manageable and controllable. Consequently, managers should actively invest in these resources. Such investments will lead to resource capitalization that will improve both employee perceptions of organizational attractiveness as well as their innovative behavior

Heavily-reddened lines of sight in the galaxy

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Innovation and technology transfer of medical devices fostered by cross-disciplinary communities of practitioners

Commercialisation of emerging technological innovations such as medical devices can be a time-consuming and lengthy process resulting in a market entrance failure. To tackle this general problem, major challenges are being analysed, principally focusing on the role of Communities of Practitioners (CoPs) in the process of effective transfer of high-value emerging technologies from academia to market. Taking a case study approach, this document describes the role of a cross-disciplinary CoP in the technology transfer process within a convergence scenario. The case presented is a sensor array for ischemia detection developed by different practitioners from diverse organisations: university, research institution, hospital, and a scientific park. The analysis also involves the innovation ecosystem where all stakeholders are taken into account. This study contributes to a better understanding of the managerial implications of CoP fostering technology transfer and innovation, principally focused on the current need for new biomedical technologies and tools.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version