Michel J. Leseure

Bio: Michel J. Leseure is an academic researcher from Al Akhawayn University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Technology management & Empirical evidence. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 19 publications receiving 854 citations. Previous affiliations of Michel J. Leseure include University of Plymouth & Aston University.

Adoption of Promising Practices: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a systematic literature review about the adoption of promising practices by organizations. The objective of the study was to gather empirical evidence to explain why the UK rate of promising practices adoption is poor compared with that of its competitors. The paper illustrates how a vastly dispersed collection of empirical data results can be integrated through a rigorous review process. The conclusion is that, although there is evidence to suggest that an adoption gap exists, the root causes of this gap cannot at present be diagnosed from the available evidence. Directions for future research are discussed.

Adoption of promising practices: a systematic review of the evidence

Abstract: This paper presents the results of a systematic literature review about the adoption of promising practices by organizations. The objective of the study was to gather empirical evidence to explain why the UK rate of promising practices adoption is poor compared with that of its competitors. The paper illustrates how a vastly dispersed collection of empirical data results can be integrated through a rigorous review process. The conclusion is that, although there is evidence to suggest that an adoption gap exists, the root causes of this gap cannot at present be diagnosed from the available evidence. Directions for future research are discussed.

Knowledge management benchmarks for project management

Abstract: The results of a research project dealing with knowledge management in project environments and the capability to transfer knowledge across projects teams are presented. A key distinction is made between generic project knowledge (kernel knowledge) and specific project knowledge (ephemeral knowledge). For each type of knowledge, knowledge management benchmarks are described and discussed. The empirical data used in this paper was collected from companies of various sizes operating in the manufacturing, construction and service sectors.

Organisational diversity, evolution and cladistic classifications

Abstract: This article presents a case for the construction of a formal classification of manufacturing systems using cladistics, a technique from the biological school of classification. A seven-stage framework for producing a manufacturing cladogram is presented, along with a pilot case study example. This article describes the role that classification plays in the pure and applied sciences, the social sciences and reviews the status of existing manufacturing classifications. If organisational diversity and organisational change processes are governed by evolutionary mechanisms, studies of organisations based on an evolutionary approach such as cladistics could have potential, because as March [March JG. The evolution of evolution. In: Baum JAC, Singh JV, editors. Evolutionary dynamics of organizations. Oxford University Press, 1994. p. 39–52], page 45, states “there is natural speculation that organisations, like species can be engineered by understanding the evolutionary processes well enough to intervene and produce competitive organisational effects”. It is suggested that a cladistic study could provide organisations with a “knowledge map” of the ecosystem in which they exist and by using this phylogenetic and situational analysis, they could determine coherent and appropriate action for the specification of change.

Innovation management measurement: A review

Abstract: Measurement of the process of innovation is critical for both practitioners and academics, yet the literature is characterized by a diversity of approaches, prescriptions and practices that can be confusing and contradictory. Conceptualized as a process, innovation measurement lends itself to disaggregation into a series of separate studies. The consequence of this is the absence of a holistic framework covering the range of activities required to turn ideas into useful and marketable products. We attempt to address this gap by reviewing the literature pertaining to the measurement of innovation management at the level of the firm. Drawing on a wide body of literature, we first develop a synthesized framework of the innovation management process consisting of seven categories: inputs management, knowledge management, innovation strategy, organizational culture and structure, portfolio management, project management and commercialization. Second, we populate each category of the framework with factors empirically demonstrated to be significant in the innovation process, and illustrative measures to map the territory of innovation management measurement. The review makes two important contributions. First, it takes the difficult step of incorporating a vastly diverse literature into a single framework. Second, it provides a framework against which managers can evaluate their own innovation activity, explore the extent to which their organization is nominally innovative or whether or not innovation is embedded throughout their organization, and identify areas for improvement.

Using knowledge within small and medium-sized firms: A systematic review of the evidence

Abstract: This paper provides a systematic review of the literature on how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) use and acquire knowledge. The review was undertaken as part of the Economic and Social Research Council's Evolution of Business Knowledge Programme. The paper describes the systematic review protocol and provides a detailed explanation of the methods used. From the review, it is evident that SME knowledge research concentrates primarily on the acquisition and use of knowledge, treating it as an asset that is transferred by routines. The findings suggest that research is focused in three main areas. First, on the influence and abilities of the entrepreneur to extract, use and develop knowledge resources. Secondly, on firm-wide systems and the social capital that facilitates knowledge exploration and exploitation. Thirdly, on the provision of knowledge and learning experiences through government policy. From a practical perspective, the review concludes that policies encouraging entrepreneurship and economic regeneration need to be more flexible and sensitive to the often complex contexts within which knowledge is used by SMEs. From a research perspective, and given the flexible, opportunity-oriented and often novel nature of SMEs identified in these studies, there is a need to consider the relational and embedded qualities of knowledge by which these characteristics are framed; qualities that resist conceptualization as some form of separable, material asset.