Role of "Lead Market" factors in globalization of innovation: Emerging evidence from India & its implications

Access to lead markets is generally regarded as an important driver of the increasing globalization of innovation since these are considered to be early indicators for emerging customer needs. They are traditionally thought to exist in economies with high per capita income, sophisticated markets and high international visibility. We, however, propose that there is an increasing evidence of lead market tendencies in some emerging economies, e.g. India. We undertake a literature review to crystallize the need for an update/extension of the existing model to better reflect the changed ground realities and propose that factors such as voluminous markets, strong technological capabilities, and favorable government policies may be able to offset some of the disadvantages rooted in traditional deficiencies of developing economies. Engaging a developing country lead market may be useful for firms in securing better access to markets at the bottom of the economic pyramid, worldwide. --Lead Markets,India,Globalization of Innovation,Internationalization of R&D,Frugal Innovations

Influence of government policies on industry development: The case of India's automotive industry

The automotive industry in India has come a long way from its nascent state at the time of India's independence in 1947 to its present day dynamic form. As compared to the production of mere 4,000 vehicles in 1950, the production of the industry crossed the historic landmark of 10 million vehicles in 2006. Today, the industry produces a wide range of automobiles and auto-components catering to both the domestic as well as foreign markets. The development of the industry has been shaped by the demand on the one hand and the government interventions on the other; the influence of the latter being considerable. The evolution of India's automotive industry is identified to have occurred in four phases. In the first (1947-1965) and second phase (1966-1979), the important policies identified were related to protection, indigenisation and regulation of the industry. On the one hand, these policies helped India to build an indigenous automotive industry, while on the other it led to unsatisfactory industry performance. In the third phase (1980-1990), the single most important policy identified was the one with regard to relaxation in the means of technology acquisition. The foreign competition inducted into the industry transformed its dynamics. Lastly, in the fourth phase (1991 onwards) the liberalisation with regard to foreign investment had a significant influence on the Indian automotive industry as we see it today. This work traces the evolution of the automotive industry from its inception to present day and identifies the important policies made by the Indian government. The work also studies the influence of important policies on the development of the industry. --India,Automotive,Industrial Policy,Government Policy,Government Influence

Barriers to innovation in SMEs: Can the internationalization of R&D mitigate their effects?

Technological advancements, especially in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have enhanced greatly the competition spurred by the globalization of the world economies. Even small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are no more immune to the challenges that the globalization brings about. It is a remarkable, and in certain instances worrisome, situation since SMEs play a key-role in most economies, in that they constitute the largest business block and provide the bulk of employment. However, opportunities presented by the globalization and the entwined, simultaneous pressure to innovate opens for SMEs new arenas to engage in what we may call are global innovation activities so as to gain, retain, and further strengthen the competitive position. This pressure to go for global innovation is enhanced by given socio-demographic factors, e.g. shortage of skilled labour, in many industrialized countries. This paper presents the findings of a survey by the authors carried out in the Metropolitan Region of Hamburg in Germany to identify barriers to innovation in selected industries and to work out solutions. The project RIS-Hamburg was initiated by the State Ministry of Economic and Labour Affairs in Hamburg and co-financed by the European Union (EU). The findings of this survey are here matched against perceived opportunities and challenges presented by global innovation. --Innovation Management,Barriers to Innovation,Globalization of Innovation,Research and Development,SME, Globalization,Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME),Internationalization of R&D,Research &Development

The emergence of Indian multinationals: An empirical study of motives, status-quo and trends of Indian investments in Germany

Germany has advanced to the position of a key destination for Indian multinational enterprises in their spirited pursuit of growth opportunities overseas. In 2008, Indian firms invested an estimated amount of US$ 1.8 billion in Germany while 16 acquisitions by Indian firms were monitored, up from 7 in 2007. In fact, Indian FDI stock in Germany seems to have surpassed German FDI stock in India. Our research shows that, as of October 2008, 123 Indian MNEs with 167 subsidiaries were active in Germany and had approx. 20,000 full-time employees on their pay-rolls. However, there has been hardly any independent, academic research, so far, on Indian investments in Germany, especially on the motives, experiences, and employment effects on the host and home economies. The present study, presumably the only empirical study of Indian firms overseas to date, provides unique insights into the motives, operations, experiences, and future plans of Indian firms. It shows that Indian firms have generally performed well and intend to further strengthen their operations, including in research & development activities, in Germany. Nonetheless, firms are also faced with several challenges, including but certainly not limited to cross-cultural issues, which need to be mastered. There are also sectoral differences in the motives, experiences, and location selection criteria of Indian MNEs. --Globalization,Multinational Enterprises,Foreign Direct Investments,Mergers & Acquisitions,India

Lead market factors for global innovation: Emerging evidence from India

Securing access to lead markets is generally regarded as a key driver for the increasing globalization of innovation since these are considered to be early indicators for emerging customer needs. Such markets, therefore, offer a good chance of uncertainty reduction for in the innovation process of firms. Lead markets are generally defined in terms of product segments within national boundaries and are thought to exist in economies with high per capita income, highly sophisticated markets and high international visibility. We argue that there is increasing evidence of lead market tendencies in certain emerging economies, e.g. India. Both domestic and foreign-owned firms there, in recent years, have produced several internationally acclaimed frugal innovations such as the Tata Nano or GE's handheld ECG machine Mac400. Using several examples we demonstrate that India seems to have emerged as a global hub for low-cost, frugal innovations. In this paper, we seek to crystallize the role of lead markets in globalization of R&D and identify the need for an update/extension to better reflect the changed ground realities. On the basis of emerging evidence we propose that sustained economic growth, voluminous markets, strong domestic technological capabilities, presence of foreign-owned R&D, and favorable government policies may be able to offset some of the disadvantages rooted in traditional deficiencies. Engaging a developing country lead market may be useful for firms in securing better access to markets at the bottom of the economic pyramid worldwide. --globalization of innovation,lead markets,internationalization of R&D,frugal innovations,bottom of the pyramid

Mobile banking as business strategy: Impact of mobile technologies on customer behaviour and its implications for banks

Mobile Commerce is gaining increasing acceptance amongst various sections of the society. This growth can be partly traced back to technological and demographical developments that have been influencing important aspects of the socio-cultural behaviour in today's world. The need/wish for mobility seems to be the driving force behind Mobile Commerce in general. Mobile Banking, availment of bank-related financial services via mobile devices, builds a cornerstone of Mobile Commerce. An empirical survey of customer acceptance conducted within the frame of our research clearly reveals a major, growing interest in Mobile Banking. However, since the degree of interest and the willingness to pay vary for individual services, it seems to be necessary to design specific services taking the needs and wishes of relevant target groups into consideration. Banks ought to therefore employ mobile channels with a clear business-focus. This paper examines the opportunities for banks to generate revenues by offering value-added, innovative mobile financial services while retaining and even extending their base of technology-savvy customers. --Mobile Commerce,Mobile Banking,Mobile Financial Services,Multi-channel Strategy

Mobile services in banking sector: The role of innovative business solutions in generating competitive advantage

The wide-ranging economic developments of the previous decade, e.g. the integration of world economies, have made a significant impact towards increasing the mobility of the working populace and their families. At the same time, technological developments especially in the field of telecommunication have made it possible to offer innovative, location sensitive services on ubiquitous basis to customers on the move. Our paper examines innovative mobile solutions in the field of mobile financial services (MFS) by using four case studies from Germany and Switzerland - representing two banks and two different technology solutions. The paper scrutinizes the strategic relevance of MFS to the competitive position of the firm concerned. Finally, we present five propositions about the role of innovative business solutions in the banking sectors and recommend that a large scale empirical study to test these propositions be conducted in the future. --Mobile Banking,Mobile Commerce,Mobile Financial Services,Multi-channel strategy,Innovation in banking sector

India's National Innovation System: Key elements and corporate perspectives

In recent years India has emerged as a major destination for corporate research and development (R&D), especially for multinational corporations. India's domestic institutions like Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) have set prestigious milestones of international standards. Not surprisingly, at Governmental levels a number of international cooperation agreements in the field of science and technology have been signed with India. After years of self-imposed seclusion, principally motivated by post-colonial India's insistence on the development of indigenous technology, India finally seems to have joined the global mainstream of innovation. India is in the process of emerging as a major R&D hub for both large and medium-sized multinational companies in various industries. This development is mainly owing to the availability of skilled labor produced in world-class elite institutions. Cost advantages, e.g. in the form of low wages are still present but receding due to substantial wage hikes often ranging between 15 and 25% per annum. The striking finding is however about market-driven factors. Of late, India's market potential, in the meantime ranked as 3rd largest worldwide by the Global Competitiveness Report 2007-08, has emerged as a crucial driver. Rising income levels of India's billion-plus population are creating unique market opportunities for firms, both domestic and foreign. In India the Government has historically played a major and in most cases a singularly positive role in the formation of its innovation system. India, ever since its independence from British rule, has invested much time, resources and efforts in creating a knowledge society and building institutions of research and higher institutions. Despite explosive population growth literacy rate in India grew from 18.3% in 1950-51 to 64.8% in 2001 thanks to concerted Government efforts; female literacy rose from a mere 8.9% to 53.7% in the same period. Moreover the quality of education in India is generally ranked as very good. According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2007-08 the quality of mathematics and science education in India is ranked as 11th best in the world, much ahead of 29th placed Japan, 36th placed Germany, 45th placed United States and 46th placed United Kingdom. Nevertheless, India is faced with major challenges related to infrastructure and bureaucratic hurdles. The quality of education, notwithstanding such excellent rankings as stated above, in many institutions does not reach the standards required for (cutting-edge) R&D efforts. Moreover, a booming economy is leading to shortage of qualified and experienced skilled labor - which result in inflationary wage growth and high attrition rates, which generally lay in a double-digit range. With the Government maintaining a pro-active role many of these problems may however be expected to get resolved to a manageable extent. In its Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) the Government has announced massive investments in infrastructure and education sectors to enhance both the quantity and the quality. Industrial firms in India have recognized their chances and are investing heavily in R&D capacities. India is also a beneficiary of global mobility and exchange of talents, technology and resources as much as the world, especially the developed Western countries, have profited from India's export of brain power. In sum all these developments raise hopes for a further improvement in the conditions of Indi's National Innovation System. --National Innovation System,India,Offshoring,Globalization,Research and Development

Innovation via global route: Proposing a reference model for chances and challenges of global innovation processes

Innovations have acquired a key-role in the growth and competition strategies of firms today. They are regarded as an essential tool to stimulate growth and enable firms to master the competition brought about by the forces of globalization. In developed countries they are thought to provide a vital buffer against challenges from low-cost producers from emerging countries. At the same time, innovations in today's globalized world are hardly feasible in isolation. World-wide economic reforms and far-reaching technological advancements have brought to fore new economic powerhouses, such as China and India, which possess strong scientific capabilities. Products are marketed internationally which often necessitates adaptation to specific needs of targeted markets. All these developments are leading to the globalization of innovation. Based on recent empirical studies conducted by the authors in Germany, this paper presents results from research-in-progress and proposes a reference model for chances and challenges of global innovation activities. --Research and Development,R&D,Internationalization,Globalization,Innovation

The mobile commerce technologies: Generations, standards and protocols

Mobile Commerce has staged a remarkable come-back. Driven by the technological innovations in the field of telecommunications, it is showing signs of a healthy recovery. The collapse of the dot-com boom in 2001/2002 had dealt a severe blow not only to Electronic Commerce but also to Mobile Commerce, which was just about developing at that time. In addition to a general lack of customer demand for mobile, location-based, services, it suffered heavily under the technical deficiencies of end-devices, slow data transmission and unripe technological standards. These factors in turn had a negative impact on the customer acceptance of mobile services and whatever little demand was available, was rendered useless. Many of the environmental conditions have changed since then. Technology innovations have reduced many barriers to acceptance. Increasing globalization has led to more mobility and therefore to greater demand for mobile, ubiquitios services that can be consumed anytime, anywher. This paper examines different telecommunication technologies regarding their suitablilty and deficiencies. It provides an overview over the historical development of mobile technologies while pointing towards the expected future scenario. --Mobile Commerce,M-Commerce,UMTS,WLAN,3G