Showing papers by "Frans van den Bosch published in 2003"

Absorptive Capacity: Antecedents, Models and Outcomes

Abstract: textThis chapter focuses on the gap between the speed of proliferation of theoretical and empirical contributions and the speed of accumulation of the acquired scientific knowledge regarding absorptive capacity. To contribute to narrowing this gap, we will in particular review the conceptual developments of the absorptive capacity construct. Based on the seminal contributions of Cohen & Levinthal (1989, 1990) we will provide a brief overview of the various conceptual attributes of this construct, like the definition, antecedents and consequences, and levels of analysis involved. Next, we will assess the refinements, extensions and reconceptualizations of this construct in the literature. Furthermore, from the perspective of viewing models as mediating instruments between theory and empirical phenomena (Morgan and Morrison, 1999), we will analyze efforts to build conceptual models. Finally, we will address the progress made, select key problems and we will formulate future research directions to improve the multilevel and transdisciplinary characteristics of absorptive capacity.

Innovative Forms of Organizing

Abstract: This book is the second and summative volume from the study of Innovative Forms of Organizing (INNFORM) programme of research. The first book from the programme was published in 2000 by Sage Publications. That book was titled The Innovating Organization and was edited by Andrew M. Pettigrew and Evelyn M. Fenton. Like the first book, this one is very much a collective and collaborative effort, as signalled by the seven co-editors listed on the title page. The aims of the INNFORM research were to map the contours of contemporary organizational innovation, to examine the performance benefits and other consequences of innovative forms of organizing, and to explore the managerial and organizational processes of moving from more traditional forms of organizing. The programme was initiated from Warwick Business School in a successful research submission to the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Innovation Programme. Coopers & Lybrand Europe (now part of the merged entity, PricewaterhouseCoopers) also contributed to the research funding, as did the consortium of organizations who supported the Centre for Corporate Strategy and Change at Warwick Business School. The research was carried out in co-operation with colleagues from Erasmus University (the Netherlands), ESSEC (France), Hitotsubashi University (Japan), IESE (Spain), Jonkoping University (Sweden), Oxford University (UK) and St Gallen University (Switzerland). Duke University joined the team in 1997 to carry out the US survey component of the programme. The lead researchers from each of the institutions are: Frans van den Bosch, Hamid Bouchikhi, Tsuyoshi Numagami, Carlos Sanchez-Runde, Leif Melin, Richard Whittington, Winfried Ruigrok and Arie Lewin. The initial funding for the research was made possible by generous grants from the ESRC and Coopers & Lybrand. These initial awards were supplemented by additional awards by both organizations to extend the scope of the work and to support dissemination activities. We are most grateful for this financial support. We would also like to recognize the wholehearted support given our work by Dr Fiona Steele, the co-ordinator of the ESRC Innovation Programme.

Co-evolution in Strategic Renewal Behaviour of British, Dutch and French Financial Incumbents: Interaction of Environmental Selection, Institutional Effects and Managerial Intentionality

Abstract: How do incumbent firms and environments co-evolve and how are firm-level adaptation and selection at industry level interrelated? Can and do large established organizations renew themselves to adapt to their environment? Three single-lens theories, relating to environmental selection, institutional theory, managerial intentionality, and a co-evolutionary perspective are used to investigate strategic renewal of incumbent firms. We derive propositions and distinguish between three dimensions of strategic renewal and develop metrics to investigate our propositions in a multi-level, multi-country, longitudinal study of the European financial services industry. Our results provide the following insights. From an environmental selection perspective, we found incumbents have a preference for exploitation renewal actions. Country institutional environments appear to explain to what extent incumbents prefer internal and/or external renewal actions. Managerial intentionality seems to explain outlier behaviour and firm-specific frequency and timing of renewal actions. From a co-evolutionary perspective, interaction effects explain deviations from predictions derived from the single-lens theories applied in this paper.

Co‐evolution in Strategic Renewal Behaviour of British, Dutch and French Financial Incumbents: Interaction of Environmental Selection, Institutional Effects and Managerial Intentionality*

Abstract: How do incumbent firms and environments co-evolve and how are firm-level adaptation and selection at industry level interrelated? Can and do large established organizations renew themselves to adapt to their environment? Three single-lens theories, relating to environmental selection, institutional theory, managerial intentionality, and a co-evolutionary perspective are used to investigate strategic renewal of incumbent firms. We derive propositions and distinguish between three dimensions of strategic renewal and develop metrics to investigate our propositions in a multi-level, multi-country, longitudinal study of the European financial services industry. Our results provide the following insights. From an environmental selection perspective, we found incumbents have a preference for exploitation renewal actions. Country institutional environments appear to explain to what extent incumbents prefer internal and/or external renewal actions. Managerial intentionality seems to explain outlier behaviour and firm-specific frequency and timing of renewal actions. From a co-evolutionary perspective, interaction effects explain deviations from predictions derived from the single-lens theories applied in this paper.

Innovative forms of organizing : international perspectives

Abstract: Innovative Forms of Organizing - Andrew M Pettigrew and Silvia Massini Trends in Europe, Japan and the USA in the 1990s PART ONE: ORGANIZING/STRATEGIZING The Challenge of Organizing/Strategizing - Richard Whittington and Leif Melin Leadership - Leona Achtenhagen, Leif Melin, Tomas M[um]ullern and Thomas Ericson The Role of Interactive Strategizing Learning and Continuous Change in Innovating Organizations - Leona Achtenhagen, Leif Melin and Tomas M[um]ullern A Cognitive Perspective on Strategizing/Organizing - Marjolijn S Dijksterhuis, Frans A J van den Bosch and Henk W Volberta PART TWO: COMPLEMENTARITIES, CHANGE AND PERFORMANCE Complementarities Thinking - Richard Whittington and Andrew M Pettigrew Complementarities in Organizational Innovation and Performance - Silvia Massini and Andrew M Pettigrew Evidence from the INNFORM Survey Complementarities in Action - Andrew M Pettigrew and Richard Whittington Organizational Change and Performance in BP and Unilever 1985-2002 Complementary Change - Evelyn M Fenton and Andrew M Pettigrew Towards Global Integration in Four Professional Service Organizations PART THREE: MANAGING DUALITIES IN THE INNOVATING ORGANIZATION Managing Dualities - Carlos J Sanchez-Runde and Andrew M Pettigrew People Management Dualities - Carlos J Sanchez-Runde, Silvia Massini and Javier Quintanilla Convergence and Divergence of Organizing - Arie Y Lewin, Silvia Massini, Winfried Ruigrok and Tsuyoshi Numagami Moderating Effect of Nation State Innovative Forms of Organizing - Leona Achtenhagen and Leif Melin Managing the Homogeneity-Heterogeneity Duality PART FOUR: CONCLUSION Innovative Forms of Organizing - Andrew M Pettigrew Progress Performance and Process Co-Producing Knowledge and the Challenges of International Collaborative Research - Andrew M Pettigrew

Absorptive Capacity: Antecedents, Models and Outcomes *)

Abstract: This chapter focuses on the gap between the speed of proliferation of theoretical and empirical contributions and the speed of accumulation of the acquired scientific knowledge regarding absorptive capacity To contribute to narrowing this gap, we will in particular review the conceptual developments of the absorptive capacity construct Based on the seminal contributions of Cohen & Levinthal (1989, 1990) we will provide a brief overview of the various conceptual attributes of this construct, like the definition, antecedents and consequences, and levels of analysis involved Next, we will assess the refinements, extensions and reconceptualizations of this construct in the literature Furthermore, from the perspective of viewing models as mediating instruments between theory and empirical phenomena (Morgan and Morrison, 1999), we will analyze efforts to build conceptual models Finally, we will address the progress made, select key problems and we will formulate future research directions to improve the multilevel and transdisciplinary characteristics of absorptive capacity

Managing concurrently the processes of knowledge exploration and exploitation: the influence of knowledge exchange determinants and the introduction of an intranet

Abstract: In this paper we address the question how organizational factors and the introduction of an intranet influence vertical and horizontal knowledge exchange processes within a firm in terms of knowledge exploration and exploitation. To this end, we develop a conceptual framework and propositions indicating how organizational factors like search practices, incentives, linking-mechanisms, prior knowledge, and the organization form impact on intracorporate knowledge exchange processes in terms of exploration and exploitation. Special attention is paid to the influence of the introduction of an intranet in this respect. The two contexts of ‘organization-enabled’ and ‘web-enabled’ knowledge exchange are suggested to be complementary for achieving both strategic goals of knowledge exploration and exploitation.

Convergence and divergence in the european financial services sector: the pace of diffusion of banking technologies and regulations in european financial environments, and strategic behaviour of incumbent financial firms.

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of technical change on European bank costs and profits between 1992 and 2000 The estimates suggest that technological change reduced the total costs of European banks at an average rate of 38% per annum However, technical change reduced profits by 045% annually over the same period As found in an earlier study by Altunbas et al (1999) pure and non-neutral components of technical change appear to have contributed most to the reduction in total cost and the fall in profits Large banks and commercial banks are found to experience the smallest cost reductions but the largest profit gains from technical change Banking systems that experienced the smallest cost reductions seem to have experienced the biggest profit gains In general, the results indicate that technical change can have a differential effect on bank costs and profits While technology can reduce costs as well as increase the revenue earning capacity of banks it seems that some banks focus on the former and others the latter Large cost reductions may feed through into poorer service quality and lower earning capacity and this is presumably why those banks that gained the most on the cost side seem to suffer in terms of profitability Those banks that appear to have small reductions (or increases) in cost as a result of technical change see to gain most in terms of profits The results suggest that there may be a clear trade-off between how technology is implemented in terms of whether the focus is primarily on cost reduction or revenue (and therefore profits) growth To a certain extent, our findings confirm the recent findings on US banking of Berger and Mester (2002) who show that reductions in cost productivity between 1991 and 1997 resulted in increases in profit productivity They argue that banks increased their cost productivity to improve service quality that was reflected in greater profits Our results suggest a similar finding in that those banks that had the smallest cost reductions resulting from technical advances had the largest profit improvements

Strategische vernieuwing van ondernemingen: het managen van innovatie en efficiency

Abstract: Strategische vernieuwing in ondernemingen staat hoog op de agenda van managers en onderzoekers. De aandacht voor nonprofit-organisaties in dit verband is echter beperkt. Zo is er weinig bekend over de mate, de oorzaken en de implicaties van strategische vernieuwing. Dit artikel gaat in op dit thema. Met behulp van een enquete en twee casestudies wordt voor het eerst de vernieuwingsdynamiek van Nederlandse nonprofit-organisaties in kaart gebracht. De resultaten laten zien dat strategische vernieuwing door nonprofit-organisaties leidt tot een hoger prestatieniveau. Druk vanuit het management en/ of bestuur en druk vanuit de sociale omgeving blijken belangrijke determinanten voor de mate van strategische vernieuwing.