transactions, and the boundaries of firms

Abstract not found

This paper builds upon and extends existing studies of scientific and technological specialisation by proposing a broader theoretical framework to compare sectoral knowledge bases across countries. It puts forward the concepts of knowledge persistence and knowledge integration as the relevant dimensions along which knowledge bases can be mapped. Persistence is studied by analysing the evolution of specialisation over time. It hints at the cumulative, path dependent nature of learning processes. Integration is studied by analysing the evolution of specialisation across different typologies of research. It hints at the complex, non-linear interdependencies that link the scientific and technological domains. These concepts are operationalised by designing and analysing an original data set encompassing 630,000 peer-reviewed papers published between 1989 and 1996 in 11 chemistry and pharmacology-related fields across three types of research (i.e. basic, applied and development). On this basis, we interpret the knowledge sourcing decisions of the largest EU chemical and pharmaceutical companies as revealed by the PACE survey. It is argued that countries with high degrees of both persistence and integration (e.g. the US in pharmacology) are the most likely sources of useful research

This dissertation analyses two different paradigms used for the development of a software product, Operating Systems. The targets of research are two groups that operate in very different ways, Microsoft Corporation and the Linux Community. Through the observation of the strategies and methodologies used by these actors in their work, and taking into account the constraints to which they are subject, assesses, from a dynamic perspective, the relative strengths and weaknesses of their competing paradigms. In the dissertation I will analyse the efficiency of the development processes that they have adopted for the design, improvement and enhancement of their products. A theoretical model based on Giovanni Dosis "Technological Paradigms" framework, incorporating institutional, industrial, social and cultural aspects, is constructed and specifically adapted to the software industry case. The private management of technology issues considered during the analysis of the development processes inside different organisations are linked to questions having to do with the evolution of high technology, networked, markets. This analysis lends to assessment of some rationales and potential strategies for public intervention in the Operating Systems industry, taking into account some relevant concerns that have been raised about competitive issues and dominant position in this market, one of strategic importance for the future development of the Information Society

This paper empirically studies two types of networks, one formed through U.S. patent citations (Patent network) and another formed through the participation in research joint ventures (RJV network) among R&D intensive organizations in the U.S. context. The Patent network is a product of the exchange of technological information among R&D organizations under the patent system. The RJV network is an outcome of the U.S. science and technology policy encouraging the intraorganizational R&D collaboration.

IST project "New Indicators for the Knowledge-Based Economy " is acknowledged.

The centrality of corporate enterprises for allocating resources in the economy has sparked the recent debate among economists about the manner in which corporations should be governed to enhance economic performance. This article demonstrates the implications of innovation for corporate governance. To deal with the economics of innovation, a theory of corporate governance must come to terms with the developmental, organisational, and strategic dimensions of innovative resource allocation. The leading theories of corporate governance-- the shareholder and stakeholder theories-- do not, however, incorporate a systematic analysis of innovation in their analytical frameworks. I show that both of these perspectives, in relying on concepts of resource allocation as individual and optimal, contradict what we know about the innovation process. Key words: Corporate governance, economics of innovation, strategy, resource allocation shareholder theory,

European Integration (ISE) project funded under the Targeted Socio-Economic Research (TSER) programme of the Commission of the European Union. I appreciate the comments of the members of the ISE project and, in particular, those of Bill Lazonick and Keith Smith. The Innovative Enterprise and Corporate Governance

This paper explores certain problems of knowledge management that latecomer firms have to consider when they are building-up their first core capabilities. This paper particularly analyses the characteristics of the firm’s knowledge base and problems associated with an uneven depth of knowledge. Two types of unevenness are analysed: (i) unevenness in the levels of knowledge between technological fields (see table 1), and (ii) uneven depths of knowledge between organizational units related to the same knowledge field (see table 2). Based on that, this paper argues that the type and level of unevenness hinders the integration of knowledge, the knowledge creation process and the building-up of initial core capabilities. According to some scholars, the main constraint on the process of re-building of core capabilities for the most innovative firms is located at the level of the organization. In contrast, the main conclusion of this paper is that latecomer firms that are building up their first core capabilities still have problems related to lack of knowledge. This sets up specific issues for knowledge management in latecomer firms. A high degree of unevenness in knowledge depth between fields and organizational units is an important issue to be explicitly tackled in a knowledge management system by latecomer firms. This research is based on a detailed case study about the role of knowledge management in the process of building-up technological capabilities in a Mexican group that competes in the international frontier and has subsidiaries in US and Latin America. 1 I wish to thank Vitro S.A. for being willing to open their doors to me. Any inaccuracies or errors in the text are, however, my own responsibility.

Working Paper Number 00/2