From geographical innovation clusters towards virtual innovation clusters: The innovation virtual system

The opportunities of the new economic landscape have determined radical changes in the organizational structures of the firms, till the creation of new virtual clusterization forms, that is distinct systems of suppliers, distributors, service providers and clients that use the 'internetworking technologies' as a principal way for co-operating and competing. These 'virtual clusterization forms' that have been also defined as 'e-business communities' or 'b-web communities' (Tapscott, Lowy & Ticoll, 2000), are here defined as 'virtual clusters'. In a virtual cluster (VC), each enterprise adds one or more distinct aspects of product/service value to the value of the network, by exchanging digital knowledge with other members. Recent studies, focused on VCs, highlight that the VC enabling factors may be identified in ICTs ubiquity (increasingly wireless) and bandwidth robustness, that allow firms to access real-time what they need and to co-ordinate their intra and inter-firm activities, creating value both by offering innovative and personalized products, services and by cutting transaction costs. (Davin and Botkin, 1994) (Rayport and Sviokla, 1995). This paper focuses on these VCs innovation processes, in order to make some comparisons between the traditional geographical innovation clusters and the emerging virtual innovation clusters. To this end, the paper is organized in two logical patterns: Some empirical evidence for describing ad discussing the more important features of the emerging VCs. Specifically, the paper focuses on the following issues: - Some first results on VCs characteristics, regarding four distinctive features of their new world of business: i. Agents: radical increase in the number of agents that form a cluster. ii. Connections: virtually unlimited increase in the number of connections and therefore in the potential size of the cluster. iii. Space: delocalization of transactions which become space independent. iv. Time: information transmission takes place at the speed of electronic communication. - The analysis of the VC basic unit, the Internetworked Enterprise (IE), and of its learning process with customers and trough strategic alliances. A model of the VCs global virtual learning environment, here conceived as a system of innovation, defined as 'Innovation Virtual System' (IVS). IVS is here interpreted as a new way of projecting the traditional systems of innovation into a global scale.

Increasing University Entrepreneurialism:Qualitative Insights from the Technology Transfer Office

none4siPurpose – Successful promotion of academic entrepreneurship is a determining factor in the pursuit of university entrepreneurialism. This paper aims to illustrate how qualitative data on the performance of the technology transfer office (TTO), based on access to intellectual capital (IC) indicators, can be transformed into a metric to provide insights that assist in strategy development for a university moving towards amore entrepreneurial configuration. Design/methodology/approach – The TTO performance metric takes the form of a self-assessment of access to IC indicators, which are determinants of effectiveness. This study involves the use of the metric through the completion of an online survey and follow-up interviews, to collect and analyse the data. Findings – The performance of 34 TTOs in continental Europe and the UK are measured, and insights into the success of promoting academic entrepreneurship were gained. The qualitative data are studied in detail to illustrate how the university can strategically leverage IC to enhance academic entrepreneurship. Research limitations/implications – This study recommends that the university align the mission statement and organisational structure of the TTO, to enable access to IC. This, in turn, may result in increased academic entrepreneurship activities, which will drive the university towards increased entrepreneurialism. Practical implications – The interpretation of the qualitative data relating to the performance of the TTO, and which factors influence it, aids in understanding the performance of the entrepreneurial university and illustrates, which strategic interventions can be made. Originality/value – Understanding the link between IC, academic entrepreneurship (as encapsulated in the performance of the TTO) and the characteristics of the entrepreneurial university is particularly useful for university management decisions. Keywords Performance measurement, Academic entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial university, Intellectual capital, Technology transfer officerestrictedGiustina Secundo; christle de beer; Felicia M. Fai; Cornelius S.L. SchutteSecundo, Giustina; de beer, Christle; Fai, Felicia M.; Schutte, Cornelius S. L

Progetto di Addestramento alla Ricerca “Experiencing i-Design” collegato al progetto di ricerca i-Design Foundation (“Metodologie e tecnologie a supporto dell’innovazione nello sviluppo nuovo prodotto in un Value Network del settore aeronautico

Experiencing i-Design” della durata di 30 mesi, collegato al progetto di ricerca i-Design Foundation (“Metodologie e tecnologie a supporto dell’innovazione nello sviluppo nuovo prodotto in un Value Network del settore aeronautico”). Responsabilità scientifica per conto del Socio Esecutore Centro Cultura Innovativa d’Impresa dell’Università del Salento. Il Progetto è stato presentato da DHITECH ed è stato ammesso al finanziamento dal Ministero con Decreto n.1051/Ric. del 16 ottobre 2008, pubblicato su G.U. n.78 del 3 aprile 2009. Inizio attività: 1/09/2009 Fine attività: 31/08/2012. Tipo progetto Far Ricerca Industriale

Intellectual capital and digital technologies in academic entrepreneurship: premises for a revolution?

The increasing attention to the third mission of universities is increasing the impact and the social value a university creates in the surrounding environment. In this scenario, a major focus on intellectual capital (IC) management and performance management is required, where IC is considered at the same time as mission and performance in the university context. Simultaneously, digital technologies, such as social media, mobiles, business analytics, Internet of Things, Big Data, Advanced Manufacturing, 3D printing, cloud and cyber-solutions, MOOCs and artificial intelligence, are nowadays permeating all private and public organizations. Digital technologies can enhance the development of IC and strategic assets within the academic entrepreneurship process. However, even if their disruptive role has been widely recognized at the business level, and the IC field reached its cusp in the mid-2000s, new research is needed to understand the potentiality of digital technologies on IC management. In this scenario, our analysis is directed to investigate how emerging digital technologies could impact on the development, management and disclosure of IC in academic entrepreneurship. Findings show a renewed framework based on the “input–output logic” promotes an understanding of how digital technologies support the creation, management and disclosure of IC in universities. Implications for theory and practices, and avenues for future research to inform this novel field of investigation are discussed

The digital transformation of corporate reporting. A systematic literature review and avenues for future research

Purpose – This paper aims to provide a systematic literature review (SLR) of the relationship between smart and digital technologies and organisations’ reporting processes, proposing a future research agenda. The paper examines the effects of data and digital technology on the corporate reporting process by analysing the various kinds of reports by organisations. Design/methodology/approach – A two-decade assessment of studies was analysed to answer research questions. A SLR explored the role of digital and smart technologies for corporate reporting processes. The Scopus database was used as a leading source for access to the articles. Initially, 163 items were collected. After reading the abstract and several refinements, 43 prioritised publications were analysed and categorised to derive significant results. Findings – Results of the analysis highlight the following emerging research streams about the digital transformation of corporate reporting: digital technology for corporate information management and decision-making processes; digital technologies as a tool of stakeholder engagement and sustainable reporting practices; and finally, digital technologies as a way to address earning management, corporate social responsibility, accountability and transparency. Research limitations/implications – How digital technology and data analytics may potentially transform the corporate reporting process to make it more effective, resulting in greater transparency for shareholders and all stakeholders. Originality/value – The originality of this paper derives from connecting, for the first time, smart and digital technologies and corporate reporting processes, drafting the state of the art of this research topic for future research

Digital academic entrepreneurship: The potential of digital technologies on academic entrepreneurship

Today's digital technologies, such as social media, business analytics, the Internet of Things, big data, advanced manufacturing, 3D printing, cloud and cyber-solutions and MOOCs, permeate every private and public organization. However, even if this phenomenon has been analyzed for entrepreneurship in general, to the best of our knowledge, the impact of digital technologies on academic entrepreneurship remains not only slightly addressed. With the aim of filling this gap, this paper proposes a novel contribution regarding the emerging concept of Digital Academic Entrepreneurship. Based on a qualitative literature review, an interpretative framework for Digital Academic Entrepreneurship is deductively proposed that is composed of the following components: the rationale for the adoption of digital technologies for academic entrepreneurship (why), the emerging forms of digital academic entrepreneurship (what), the stakeholders involved through the digital technologies to achieve the academic entrepreneurship goal (who), and the processes of academic entrepreneurship supported by digital technologies (how). The discussion section provides a conceptualization of Digital Academic Entrepreneurship. The paper closes with the identification of a research agenda for this promising and under-researched field

An innovative Approach for Creating Business Leaders: Evidence from a Case Study

The 21st century’s competitive environment is challenging traditional management theories and requires business leaders able to meet the complexity of the new challenges. This entails a rethinking of the processes of education management. The aim of this paper is to present an innovative approach aimed at creating business leaders suitable for competing in the competitive landscape of the 21st century. The approach derives from an empirical study of the International Master in ‘Business Innovation Leadership’ organised by the e-Business Management Section (eBMS) of Scuola Superiore ISUFI–University of Lecce (Italy). The result is the creation of a new profile, the ‘Change Manager and Business Engineer’, capable of identifying and exploiting the distinctive potential of the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for reconfiguring traditional business contexts. We refer to this capability as ICT-driven Business Innovation Leadership, an evolution of traditional management education that integrates management studies with technological ones