Impacts of collaboration and network indicators on patent quality: The case of Canadian nanotechnology innovation

This article studies the impact of collaboration and co-inventorship network characteristics of Canadian nanotechnology inventors on the quality of their inventions. We investigate the impact of four types of variables on patent quality, using the number of claims as a proxy for quality: (a) the presence of highly central inventors; (b) the presence of star inventors; (c) repeated collaboration; (d) international collaboration. We show that the presence of more central inventors and of stars in the research team has a positive influence on patent quality, while repeated collaboration has a negative impact. Patents owned by foreign organisations, controlling for whether assignees are firm, yields patents of higher quality.     

The contribution of network research to managerial culture and practice

Although research on social networks has gained significant influence in the academic world, several factors seem to have lowered its echo in the business world. It is still unclear how this fast-growing stream of research has translated into solid implications for managerial action and decision making. Based on a review of recent research, this paper attempts to provide evidence that network research does have practical relevance. We focus on five areas where network research has introduced new angles and renewed the understanding of how organizations should tackle management issues. We also suggest directions for future research, with the same objective of placing the emphasis on strengthening the contribution of the approach to management practices.     

Managing Cross-Functional Cooperation for New Product Development Success

This article focuses on conditions that make cross-functional cooperation in new product development projects more or less productive. We investigate 40 NPD projects in the consumer electronics and pharmaceuticals industries in which R&D and marketing played key roles. We find that the contributions of cross-functional cooperation to NPD success are contingent on the type of market and technology opportunities being pursued. More specifically, our results suggest that when a project team pursues an opportunity characterized by high levels of technological and market risks, investments in high levels of cross-functional cooperation are warranted to increase NPD success. We do not find evidence that cross-functional cooperation moderates the relationship between the openness of an NPD project towards external information and knowledge and its performance. This suggests that less integrated project teams could achieve similar results as more integrated teams in terms of processing large quantities of information and knowledge without incurring the costs that may stem from high levels of cross-functional cooperation.     

全球边疆：美国对外关系中的比较史与边疆研究路径

长期以来,美国对外关系研究的新路径并没有对例外论者的假设构成挑战,同时也无法对全球范围内的美国经验提供一个比较视角。最近开展的边地（borderland）和边疆（frontier）研究则为历史学家提供了一个深入到文化遭遇、文化认同转变以及国家政治边缘的富有价值的视角,并可以对周边地区的人力和自然资源如何整合到更大的经济交换体系这一过程进行分析。在对边疆研究的域外经验与实践进行系统梳理之后,本文指出,有必要将边疆路径引入美国对外关系研究的领域,这样不仅有助于相关研究的推进,而且能够突破特纳理论的局限,进而更全面地看待包括当代跨国市场等在内的美国的内部发展与海外扩张历程。     

The Role of Trust and Contractual Safeguards on Cooperation in Non-equity Alliances

Because partners may behave opportunistically in alliances, contractual safeguards or trust between partners are necessary for successful outcomes. However, it remains controversial whether safeguards and trust substitute or complement each other. Drawing on transaction cost theory, this study conceptualizes both contractual safeguards and trust as important control mechanisms in non-equity alliances, and develops a model that relates contractual safeguards and trust to cooperative outcomes. We test our hypotheses with data collected from 233 architect-contractor partnerships in Hong Kong. The results show that the relationship between contractual safeguards and cooperative outcomes depends on both the level and type of trust.     

Firm’s protection against disasters: are investment and insurance substitutes or complements?

Theory and Decision - We use a controlled laboratory experiment to study firm’s protection against potential technological damages. The probability of a catastrophic event is known, and the...     

Similarities and Differences in Competitiveness Among European NUTS2 Regions: An Empirical Analysis Based on 2010–2013 Data

Social Indicators Research - Regional competitiveness is a concept whose definition and applicability is highly debated among scholars. Nevertheless, over recent years it has become widespread...