Innovation

Malthusian assumptions, Boserupian response in models of the transitions to agriculture

by Carsten Lemmen

In: "Society, Nature and History: The Legacy of Ester Boserup", Springer, Vienna (in press)

In the many transitions from foraging to agropastoralism it is debated whether the primary drivers are innovations in... more In the many transitions from foraging to agropastoralism it is debated whether the primary drivers are innovations in technology or increases of population. The driver discussion traditionally separates Malthusian (technology driven) from Boserupian (population driven) theories. I present a numerical model of the transitions to agriculture and discuss this model in the light of the population versus technology debate and in Boserup's analytical framework in development theory. Although my model is based on ecological –Neomalthusian– principles, the coevolutionary positive feedback relationship between technology and population results in a seemingly Boserupian response: innovation is greatest when population pressure is highest. This outcome is not only visible in the theory-driven reduced model, but is also present in a corresponding “real world” simulator which was tested against archaeological data, demonstrating the relevance and validity of the coevolutionary model. The lesson to be learned is that not all that acts Boserupian needs Boserup at its core.

Towards a Science- and Technology-Based Innovation of Turkey's Educational System

by D. Matthew Boyer

Boyer, D. M. (2012). Towards a science- and technology-based innovation of Turkey's educational system. Paper presented at the Eurasia Business and Economics Society 2012 Conference, İstanbul.

Through its structure, objectives, contents, and reform efforts, the Turkish educational system contributes to the... more Through its structure, objectives, contents, and reform efforts, the Turkish educational system contributes to the development of its students toward their roles as modern Turkish citizens. Scholastic achievement viewed through a comparative, international lens shows how aspects of the Turkish educational system contribute to marked differences between Turkish students and their foreign peers. Previous policies and practices have resulted in the current status quo, but innovative, systemic changes based on science and technology can help Turkish schooling keep pace with exceptional growth in economic and business sectors. Projects such as FATİH seek to modernize schools through a large investment in trendy commercial technologies, but focus too heavily on one area while ignoring other interconnected issues throughout the system. This work focuses on how a holistic approach to innovation in the Turkish educational system can be supported through a focus on science and technology.

RETHINKING THE DESIGN OF KINDERGARTENS – EVALUATION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING STOCK IN SERBIA IN CONTEXT OF ITS CAPACITY FOR RENEWAL

by Ljiljana Jevremovic

published in (Re)writinig history - ICAR 2012 Proceedings,Bucharest, Romania, ISBN 978-606-638-023-2

This paper deals with the phenomenon of evolution of design principles for the kindergartens that is followed by needs... more This paper deals with the phenomenon of evolution of design principles for the kindergartens that is followed by needs for the renewal of old kindergartens built in Serbia. Ageing of the buildings and their lifetime cycle is considered here as social, functional and constructional problem. Refurbishment and revitalization are being tenable processes of in order to buildings meet standards that are expected today. As a result of comprehensive living standards in our society and the country, the renewal of buildings in Serbia is neither in the focus of society nor regulative responsible for this field. Except the old historical buildings that are mostly discussed, the rest of our building stock is basically neglected and do not have program for regular maintenance and refurbishments. Starting from the position in which are most of the public buildings in Serbia that are part of social network (e.g. pre-school and scholar buildings); this paper examines one building type – kindergartens, through several examples, giving an overall look into the existing building praxis in Serbia. Then, in this paper has been examined the possibilities for refurbishment processes in accordance with contemporary design models and standards for the kindergartens that are present in developed countries. Discussion is led in order to provide a basic framework for further assessment in reconstruction processes of kindergarten buildings, especially those ones built in period of ’70s and ’80s, from which the most of the kindergartens in Serbia are dated. Design and construct principles were compared also to the known sustainable principles and results are also discussed, as one of very important goals that expected renewal of the buildings should achieve. Because used construction models and tradition had different goals to achieve compared to contemporary kindergarten design praxis and sustainable building praxis, it is inevitably to perceive new ideas in refurbishment process that are proposed here as a conclusion. Here, it is stated that the reconstruction can be processed by comprehensive evaluation and transformation of institution that building represent in terms of physical structure, function and social importance.

The Management of Creativity & Innovation

by Jeff Patmore

Co-authored with: Steve Whittaker (BT Americas), Sam Watkins
(BT), Sue Hessey (BT) 

Industry has made some significant improvements in the management of creativity and innovation over the last decade... more Industry has made some significant improvements in the management of creativity and innovation over the last decade but there are problems in the overall process that still persist. We might assume that on investigation we could expose either a single factor or a small number of key processes which will allow us to resolve this problem, but there are a great many factors and many are sector specific. 
In this paper we focus on the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), however we have also identified 'generic factors' which can be applied to all business sectors. 

Learning and Knowledge Generation in Virtual Innovation Teams

by Hannu Kärkkäinen

Effect of Virtual Teams for Learning in Innovation: Contributing and Inhibiting Factors

by Hannu Kärkkäinen

Working with textbooks: Reconceptualising student and teacher roles in the classroom

by Keith Barrs

IN INNOVATION IN LANGUAGE TEACHING AND LEARNING. CO-AUTHORED WITH LUKE ROWLAND. A paper about role-based textbook book in reading classes

Student reactions to different methods of in-class textbook use have received little attention in the literature on... more Student reactions to different methods of in-class textbook use have received little attention in the literature on English language teaching. This article explores the responses of 57 Japanese university students to the replacement of teacher-led textbook lessons with small group, role-based textbook work in regular English reading classes. Insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by small group, role-based work were gained through a qualitative analysis of the students’ written lesson reflections. The findings reveal that although the students tended to view the new approach favourably, there were underlying issues related to responsibility, pressure and collaboration that emerged from the students’ lesson reflections. Conclusions point to the context-dependent and individually realised nature of classroom enterprise. In this article, the authors also contend that insights into classroom activity are best gained through research methodologies that allow for inquiry into teaching/learning environments without disturbing pedagogical endeavour.

Misyurov D.A. Dialectical formulas based on the binary notation as the development formulas // Credo New. 2012. №2

by Dmitry Misyurov

The article suggests dialectical formulas based on the binary notation as the development formulas: formula with... more The article suggests dialectical formulas based on the binary notation as the development formulas: formula with dominant and the non-dominant elements; universal formula; formula with symbolic weight of elements; tautological formula. For example, it suggests an opportunity to use the dialectical formulas for modeling and artificial intelligence creation, etc.

Exploring the Structure of International Technology Diffusion

by Lawrenzo Hung-Chun Huang

PICMET 2012 Proceedings, July 29-August 2, Vancouver, Canada © 2012 PICMET

Globalization has highlighted changes in socio-economic terms and is reshaping the world. The international diffusion... more Globalization has highlighted changes in socio-economic terms and is reshaping the world. The international diffusion of technology therefore becomes one of the most important topics of economics and technology policy research. However, comparing endogenous factors, exogenous factors are complexity and demonstrate as network
phenomenon. The network phenomenon composes by neither solely nor independently unit. Countries in global network demonstrated interdependent, and influenced by many others. Thus, this study utilizes social network analysis to investigate the structural configuration of international technology diffusion. This study provides macro perspective on diffusion structure research. The purpose of this study is to investigate the deep structure of international technology diffusion and structural differences between embodied and disembodied technology diffusion networks. This work also provides an understanding of the nature of globalization. The findings not only illustrate the pattern change of diffusion structure form cascade-like to radial-like, but also present the structural configuration of technologically advanced countries and the competitive positions of each country. The findings regarding the diffusion pattern changes and network position identifications can make policy implications for countries interested in exogenous effects for technological growth.

Teaching and Learning Innovation and Invention

by Jon Schull

National Collegiate Innovators and Inventors Assocation March 2009

Teaching and Learning Innovation and Invention

Jonathan Schull, more Teaching and Learning Innovation and Invention

Jonathan Schull, jon.schull@rit.edu,  Information Technology
Xanthe Matychak, Collaborative Innovation Program
Jacob Noel-Storr, Imaging Science

Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623

Relationship Between the Strength of Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation

by Frank C Jones

Rethinking innovation: context and gender

by Megan Blake

Evolution of systems approaches to agricultural innovation: Concepts, analysis and interventions

by Laurens Klerkx

Book chapter, to be cited as:

Klerkx, L., van Mierlo, B., Leeuwis, C., 2012. Evolution of systems approaches to agricultural innovation: Concepts, analysis and interventions. In:  Darnhofer, I., Gibbon, D., Dedieu, B. (Eds). Farming Systems Research into the 21st century: the new dynamic. Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 457-483.

Over the years, there has been an evolution of systemic thinking in agricultural innovation studies, culminating in... more Over the years, there has been an evolution of systemic thinking in agricultural innovation studies, culminating in the agricultural innovation systems perspective. In an attempt to synthesize and organize the existing literature, this chapter reviews the literature on agricultural innovation, with the threefold goal of 1) sketching the evolution of systemic approaches to agricultural innovation and unravelling the different interpretations; 2) assessing key factors for innovation system performance and demonstrating the use of system thinking in the facilitation of processes of agricultural innovation by means of innovation brokers and reflexive process monitoring; and 3) formulating an agenda for future research. The main conclusion is that the agricultural innovation systems perspective provides a comprehensive view on actors and factors that co-determine innovation, and in this sense allows understanding the complexity of agricultural innovation. However, its holism is also a pitfall as it allows for many interpretations, which complicates a clear focus of this research field and the building of cumulative evidence. Hence, more work needs to be done conceptually and empirically.

Sfinno-Database of Finnish Innovations: Data Overview

by Robert van der Have

Benefits of social media in business-to-business customer interface in innovation

by Jari Jussila

Co-authored with Hannu Kärkkäinen and Maija Leino, published in the Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments, 2011

The aim of this research is to explore social media and its benefits especially from business-to-business innovation... more The aim of this research is to explore social media and its benefits especially from business-to-business innovation and related customer interface perspective, and to create a more comprehensive picture of the possibilities of social media for the business-to-business sector. Business-to-business context was chosen because it is in many ways a very different environment for social media than business-to-consumer context, and is currently very little academically studied. A systematic literature review on B2B use of social media and achieved benefits in the inn ovation con text was performed to answer the questions above and achieve the research goals. The study clearly demonstrates that not merely B2C's, as commonly believed, but also B2B's can benefit from the use of social media in a variety of ways. Concerning the broader classes of innovation --related benefits, the reported benefits of social media use referred to increased customer focus and understanding, increased level of customer service, and decreased time-to-market. The study contributes to the existing social media --related literature, because there were no found earlier comprehensive academic studies on the use of social media in the innovation process in the context of B2B customer interface.

Social media's opportunities in business-to-business customer interaction in innovation process

by Jari Jussila

Co-authored with Hannu Kärkkäinen and Maija Leino in International Journal of Technology Marketing, 2012

In the paradigm of open innovation, it is recognised that valuable innovation-related knowledge is being increasingly... more In the paradigm of open innovation, it is recognised that valuable innovation-related knowledge is being increasingly widely distributed to various actors, organisations and communities. Social media can provide novel and useful ways of interacting and collaborating in innovation, likewise for creating new information and knowledge about customers for innovations. These have not so far been much investigated because of the novelty of social media concepts and approaches. Furthermore, the opportunities of social media are not yet well understood in the contexts of innovation and customer interaction, and importantly, while the business-to-consumer sector standpoint has been more researched and understood, the business-to-business sector standpoint has been very little studied in the above contexts. With the help of a literature review and a survey in Finnish companies, we studied the current situation regarding the opportunities of social media in facilitating customer interaction in the innovation process.

Learning from and with Customers with Social Media: A Model for Social Customer Learning

by Jari Jussila

Co-authored with Hannu Kärkkäinen and Maija Leino, published in International Journal of Management, Knowledge and Learning, 2012

Social media can enable and significantly increase the collaboration and learning from customers in various ways, for... more Social media can enable and significantly increase the collaboration and learning from customers in various ways, for instance by novel social ways of providing and receiving feedback from new products and concepts. We have created a model that can support managers and researchers to better analyse and understand the possibilities of social media approaches especially from the business-to-business (B2B) customer interface standpoint. We used the model to analyse found various types of business-to-business related social media approaches to create new understanding of the scarcely researched field of social media in the customer learning and the customer interface of B2B innovation.

Innovation and entrepreneurship in small firms: the influence of entrepreneurial attitudes, external relationships and learning orientation

by Erlend Nybakk

Nybakk, E. 2009. Innovation and entrepreneurship in small firms: the influence of entrepreneurial attitudes, external relationships and learning orientation. Philosophiae doctor (PhD) thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences 2009/07: 176 s.

In order to uphold economic growth and employment in the districts and nationally, one is dependent on small and... more In order to uphold economic growth and employment in the districts and nationally, one is dependent on small and competitive firms and sole owner enterprises. These represent the majority of firms and are a vital source for new creativity and development in both traditional and new sectors. How one should promote entrepreneurship and innovation among these companies has been a central theme in political debates. The foremost goal with this thesis is to advance knowledge about the factors that trigger creativity and innovation in small firms, with the main focus on firms that offer non-timber forest products and services (NTFP&S). Article I was based on a questionnaire for forest owners in Telemark, Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder (three counties in east Norway) and shows that the likelihood of starting up with NTFP&S is greater among forest owners that recognize opportunities and are risk takers. Articles II and III were based on a questionnaire for firms that work with nature-based tourism. The first of them builds on Article I and shows that forest owners that recognize opportunity and are risk takers have a greater likelihood of changing the way they supply their products and services. Article III shows the effect of external relationships on innovation and how innovation affects economic accomplishment. The relationships are also exemplified by a case study. Article IV was based on a study of a random selection of forest owners with more than 25 hectares of forest in souteast Norway. The study shows that external relationships and learning orientation have a positive effect on innovation and again on economic success among forest owners, related to NTFP&S. Article V was based on a questionnaire for small, knowledge-intensive firms and shows the impact of external relationships on product, process and market innovation. Each of the articles presents implications of the findings and suggestions for further research.

Innovation Processes in Forest-related Recreation Services: The Role of Public and Private Resources in Different Institutional Backgrounds

by Erlend Nybakk

Weiss, G., Martin, S., Matilainen, A., Vennesland, B., Nastase, C., Nybakk, E. & Bouriaud, L. 2007. Innovation processes in forest-related recreation services: The role of public and private resources in different institutional backgrounds. Small-Scale Forestry 6: 423-442.

This article examines innovation processes in forest recreational services on the basis of case studies in five... more This article examines innovation processes in forest recreational services on the basis of case studies in five European countries with differing institutional backgrounds of forest ownership and access rights.

The analysis reveals that forest-related recreation services are developed under varying institutional conditions and on public as well as private land. Ideas for innovations in recreational services may come from within but often outside the forestry sector. Financing is provided from public and private sources.

Both public and private spheres have important roles in providing natural, human and financial resources and usually a network of public and private actors are involved in innovation processes. Of particular importance are cross-sectoral interactions between forestry and tourism.

Greater institutional support is needed for the development of forest-related recreation services because the field is at an early stage of development. It is concluded that support should focus on providing ideas and financial resources for product development and on facilitating cross-sectoral interaction between forestry and tourism actors. A particular need is seen for development of models for durable interaction between land owners and tourism operators on a regional scale.

Antecedents to forest owner innovativeness: An investigation of the non-timber forest products and services sector

by Erlend Nybakk

Published in Forest Ecology and Management (2009) Volume: 257, Issue: 2, Pages: 608-618

Increased urbanization in many societies is having a negative impact on vitality of rural areas. To maintain the... more Increased urbanization in many societies is having a negative impact on vitality of rural areas. To maintain the vitality of these areas governments have employed a variety of policies, some of which are designed to facilitate innovation and enhance landowner innovativeness. However, little research has investigated the antecedents to landowner innovativeness and whether innovativeness positively impacts economic performance in this setting. The present study investigates these issues in the context of Norwegian forestland owners and their involvement in non-timber forest products and services (a form of ecosystem services). The authors present a conceptual model hypothesizing that social networking, entrepreneurial climate, and a learning orientation each have a direct, positive impact on landowner innovativeness and innovativeness has a direct, positive impact on economic performance. Property size is included as a moderating variable. Data were collected via a mail survey and a total of 683 useable responses were received reaching an adjusted response rate of 35%. Results show that social networking and a learning orientation positively impact innovativeness, but that entrepreneurial climate does not. Innovativeness was found to positively impact economic performance. The authors outline implications of the findings that may be used by policy makers, landowners and research.