A Conceptual Framework for the Alignment of Innovation and Technology

René Pellissier

doi:10.4067/S0718-27242008000100007

Authors

René Pellissier University of South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242008000100007

Keywords:

Technology, innovation, alignment of technology and innovation

Abstract

Historically, business institutions base their growth strategies on their research and development (R&D) function. This function is fairly established and sets out to acquire new knowledge in a systematic process of research in order to produce or improve products, services or processes. In fact, innovation and research are two of the main thrusts for economic growth. Research is planned, assessed, managed and rewarded, innovation is not. However, without acknowledging and aiding the growing importance of innovation for growth in a rapidly more chaotic environment, this function is set for failure. Where research is valued, innovation is feared as radical and disruptive. Furthermore, there is little evidence in the current body literature to link them and to show how they, jointly, can add more value than separately. They remain independent entities in separate clusters of the economy. The convergence factor in research and innovation is technology (knowledge not machines). The paper explores the convergence of innovation and research from a previous paper, focusing on the development of a conceptual model in terms of the technology (or knowledge) system required for the accomplishment of this convergence. In this sense, technology is defined as knowledge, tacit or explicit, in human, document or electronic format. The proposed convergence requires the use of knowledge systems to drive the innovation and research. The contribution of the paper lies in the knowledge developmental aspects of research and innovation convergence. An existing model to achieve for knowledge systems development will be reviewed and a modified version presented after careful consideration of the body literature on knowledge and innovation systems. This model incorporates aspects of knowledge management as well as innovation and research management.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

René Pellissier, University of South Africa

Department of Business Management Professor

References

BARSH J, Capozzi, MM & Davidson J. (2008). Leadership and Innovation. McKinsey Quarterly, 2008, No 1, pp 37-47.

BRACZYK, HJ, Cooke, P. & Heidenreich, M. (Eds). (1998). Regional Innovation Systems. London: UCL Press.

BURGELMAN, RA, Christensen, CM & Wheelwright, SC. (2004). Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation.Asia: McGraw-Hill.

COHEN, WM & Levinthal, DA. (1990). Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol 35, pp 128-152.

DAVIS J. B., Hands,W and Mloki, U. (1998).The Handbook of Economic Methodology. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

DOSI,G. (2000). Innovation, Organization,and Economic Dynamics: Selected Essays. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

EDQUIST, C. (1997). Systems of lnnovation:Technologies, Institutions and Organizations. London: Printer.

FREEMAN,CH. (1998). The Economics of technical change in D Archibugi & J Michie (Eds) Trade, growth and technical Change, pp 16-54. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

GEE, S. (1981). Technology transfer, innovation and international competitiveness. New York: John Wiley

GIBBONS, M, Limoges, H, Nowotny, P, Schwartzmann, P, Scott, P and Trow,W. (1996). The New Production of Knowledge: Dynamics of Science and Research in Contemporary Societies. London: Sage.

HAMEL, G. and Prahalad, C.K. (1994). Competing for the future: Breakthrough strategies for control ofyour industry and creating markets of tomorrow. Boston Mass: Harvard Business School Press.

HEDLUND, G, & Nonaka, I. (1993). Models of Knowledge Management in the West and Japan.. In Implementing Strategic Process: Change, Learning and Cooperation. R Lorange et al., editors. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1993. Pages 117-144.

HIVNER,W, Hopkins, SA & Hopkins,WE. (2003). Facilitating, accelerating and sustaining the innovation diffusion process: an epidemic modelling approach. European Journal of Innovation Management, Vol 6 no 2, pp 80-89.

LAUDON, K.C. & Laudon. J, R (2007). Essentials of Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm. 7th edition. New York Prentice Hall.

LOWENDAHL, B., Revang, O. (2004). Challenges to existing strategy theory in a post-industrial age. Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 19 pp.55-73.

LUNDVALL, BA. (1992). National Systems of lnnovation:Towards aTheory of Innovation and Interactive Learning. London: Printer.

McGINN,C.(1996). The Problem of Consciousness: EssaysTowards a Resolution. Canada: Blackwell Publishers.

NEEF, D. (1998). The Knowledge Economy. London: Butterworth-Heineman.

NONAKA, I & Takeuchi, H. (1995). The Knowledge Creating Company: How Japanese Compontes Create the Dynamics of Innovation. Oxford Blackwell Publishers.

OECD, 1997,2006,2007,Science,Technology and Industry Outlook, http://213.253.134.43/oecd/pdfs/browseit/9307021 E.PDF [Accessed on 19 February 2008].

PELLISIER, R. (2001). Information Technology - Future perfect? Southern African Business Review,Vol I, no I, pp 66-79.

PELLISSIER, R. (2007). Research and Innovation Converge or Diverge: Rewiring our corporate brains. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Scences,Vol 2, no 4.00349-359.

PERSAUD, A, Kumar, U & Kumar,V (2001). Harnessing scientific and technological knowledge for the rapid deployment of global innovations. Engineering Management Journal, Vol 13, no 1 (March 2001) pp12-18.

POLANYI, M. (1996). The Tacit Dimension. New York: Anchor Books.

RAVICHANDRANJ. (2000). Redefining organizational innovation: Towards theoretical advancements. The Journal of High Technology Management Research, Vol 10, no 2 pp 243-274 Elsevier Science Inc.

ROBERTS, (1989). Managing invention and innovation. IEEE Engineering Management Rewiew, Vol 17. pp 3-13.

ROGERS, E. (1995). Diffusion of Innovations. New York: Free Press, 4th ed.

SALMADOR, JAM & Bueno, E. (2008). Knowledge creation as a dynamic capability: Implications for Innovation Management and Organisational Design. International Journal of Technology Management. Geneva: Vol. 41, Iss. 1/2, p. 155.

SCHNEPP, O, Bhambri, A & Von Glinow, M. (1987). US-China technology transfer: Problems and solutions. Paper presented at the US-China Symposium Woodrow-Wilson Center, Washington DC,April.

SMITH, D. (2006). Exploring Innovation. McGraw Hill.

SNOW, CC & Hrebiniak, LG. (1980). Strategy, distinctive com-petence and organizational performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 25 pp 317-336.

STRAMBACH, S. (2002). Change in the innovation process: New knowledge production and competitive cities -The case of Stuttgart. European planning studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 2002, pp 215-231.

TEECE, DJ, Pisano, G & Shuen,A. (1990). Firm capabilities: Resources and the Concept of Strategy, Working paper 90-9, Consortium on competitiveness and cooperation, Center for Research in Management, University of California, Berkeley

The McKinsey Quarterly (2008), number 1, Survey, pp 18-23.

THOMAS, RJ. (1995). New product success stories. NewYorkJohn Wiley.

VENKATRAMAN, N, Henderson J.C & Oldach, S. (1993).Continuous Strategic Alignment: Exploiting information technology capabilities for competitive success. European Management Journal, June, Vol 11, no 2,pp -149.

WWI, CC. (1997). Managing information for the Competitive Edge. Neal Schumann.