Pedro Mota Veiga, Ronnie Figueiredo, João J. M. Ferreira and Filipe Ambrósio
The objective of this article is to empirically study the influence of the characteristics of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the processes of knowledge creation…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this article is to empirically study the influence of the characteristics of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the processes of knowledge creation, knowledge transfer and innovation in conjunction with the utilisation of private and public knowledge (KM) in accordance with the “spinner innovation model” (SIM).
Design/methodology/approach
The article deploys a sample of primary data generated by a questionnaire applied to the managers of hotel SMEs in Portugal. This involved the application of the covariance and multiple regression analytical methods.
Findings
The results demonstrate that some of the SME characteristics return significant impacts on private and public KM: the processes of knowledge creation, transfers of knowledge and innovation. The results also identify how private KM statistically predicts the processes of knowledge creation and transfer and innovation while public KM shapes and influences the creation of knowledge.
Research limitations/implications
As with any other such study, the key limitation stems from the sample made up of 82 hotel directors, which represents only a low rate of response even though the project deployed all of the procedures available to avoid such an outcome.
Practical implications
The SIM approach to the innovation process may assist strategic decision-makers to improve their tools and relations, avoid repeated working overlaps in existing processes as well as enabling more competitive approaches in terms of innovation.
Social implications
Furthermore, the responses ascertained reflect only the universe of study, conditioned by the context that produced them; hence, any generalisation of the results requires due caution.
Originality/value
This is the first study to empirically analyse the influence of the characteristics of SMEs over the processes of creating and transferring knowledge and innovation based upon applying the SIM and observing the extent of public and private knowledge in the hotel sector of Europe, more specifically, Portugal.
Details
Keywords
Pedro Mota Veiga, Cristina Fernandes and Filipe Ambrósio
The aim of the study is to analyze how knowledge spillovers and knowledge management capabilities affect the innovation capabilities of hospitality sector companies in crisis…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the study is to analyze how knowledge spillovers and knowledge management capabilities affect the innovation capabilities of hospitality sector companies in crisis environments.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was completed by 63 hotel directors based in Portugal, gathering data on knowledge spillover, knowledge management capabilities and innovation capabilities. Two multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the impact of knowledge spillovers and knowledge management capabilities on innovative capability.
Findings
It has been concluded that knowledge spillovers work as external benefits of knowledge creation, increasing the innovation activities of companies in the hospitality sector, which reinforces that knowledge spillovers help to enhance innovation capabilities. The study's results show that it is essential for companies to manage knowledge. It also concludes that effective knowledge management facilitates the exchange of knowledge required in the innovation process. Knowledge spillovers improve the performance of innovation in companies through the development of new insights and innovation capabilities.
Research limitations/implications
This research was carried out in a period of crisis. As expected in a troubled period, the results are extremely volatile. This study's sample is composed of Portuguese hospitality companies.
Originality/value
This research provides valuable insights into the overflow of explicit and tacit knowledge in the hotel industry. Moreover, this study offers new insights into the mediating role of knowledge management capability in the relationship between a hotel's knowledge overflow and its innovation performance.
Details
Keywords
Rob Dekkers and Hermann Kühnle
Progress in theory building in the field of collaborative networks in manufacturing is preponderantly seen in contributions from disciplines outside manufacturing science…
Abstract
Purpose
Progress in theory building in the field of collaborative networks in manufacturing is preponderantly seen in contributions from disciplines outside manufacturing science. Interdisciplinary research is one way of accelerating the development of appropriate theory for this emerging domain where industrial practice has moved beyond the state of the art of scientific knowledge for establishing workable, competitive solutions. The purpose of this paper is to examine to what extent interdisciplinary research has contributed to a better understanding of collaborative (manufacturing) networks.
Design/methodology/approach
To find out more about provenances of on‐going studies, to identify clusters of contributions and to provide direction for future work of researchers in this domain, publications of the past 22 years have been evaluated. To retrieve these contributions, a structured literature review has been undertaken by applying keywords to selected databases and using a strictly defined stepwise procedure. In total, 202 publications of all kinds have been evaluated.
Findings
From the analysis of the results, it appears that most interdisciplinary contributions to collaborative (manufacturing) networks rely on one original outside discipline for either developing solutions or advancing theoretical insight. Consequently, and after further analysis, it seems that researchers in collaborative networks hardly resort to multi‐disciplinary approaches, unless “natural”; further advances might arrive from stimulating these multi‐disciplinary avenues rather than sticking to more mono‐disciplinary, and less risky, takes on both applications and theoretical insight. A more detailed investigation of the value of contributions reveals that efforts to make interdisciplinary advances are either difficult or limited. Also, the findings indicate that researchers tend to follow a more “technical” approach to decision making by actors in networks rather than searching for a shift in paradigm.
Originality/value
While setting out these directions for future research and guiding research, this first‐of‐its‐kind review introduces the collaboration model as a systematic approach to collaborative (manufacturing) networks. This model might serve as a reference model to integrate disciplines for addressing the characteristics of Collaborative Networks. Its use in the review led to the finding that typical traits of networks, such as changeability, supplementary assets and decentralisation of decision making, are under‐researched.