Christian Polzin, Sebastian Spath and Hermann Seitz
The purpose of this paper is to characterize and evaluate a new 3D‐printing process based on Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to characterize and evaluate a new 3D‐printing process based on Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
Design/methodology/approach
A benchmark part and standard parts were designed, printed by a 3D‐printer and characterized.
Findings
3D printed PMMA parts have a tensile strength of 2.91 MPa and a modulus of elasticity of 223 MPa. The mechanical properties can be improved by infiltrations with epoxy (tensile strength: 26.6 MPa, modulus of elasticity: 1,190 MPa). The surface quality of the parts can be improved by infiltration with wax for usage as lost models. The minimum feature size is 0.3 mm.
Research limitations/implications
The PMMA‐based 3D printing process can be used for manufacturing concept models, functional parts and lost models for investment casting.
Originality/value
This is the first paper investigating a PMMA‐based 3D printing process.
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Patricia Wolf, Sebastian Späth and Stefan Haefliger
Communities of practice (CoPs) have been found to support knowledge creation by enabling knowledge sharing among experts in firms. However, some perform better than others. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Communities of practice (CoPs) have been found to support knowledge creation by enabling knowledge sharing among experts in firms. However, some perform better than others. This paper seeks to explore what incentivizes employees to share knowledge in intra‐firm CoPs.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents a longitudinal case study in a large automotive company that introduced 82 cross‐functional CoPs into its engineering department. Using extensive qualitative data, two sets of communities: best and worst performing were analyzed.
Findings
It was found that perceived benefits and the employees' willingness to invest individual efforts into community work are stronger in better performing communities. Members of the better performing CoPs drew most benefits from participating in organizational decision processes, as they were able to influence the agenda and create relevant standards. The patterns observed relate to the efforts, benefits, and barriers of community work.
Research limitations/implications
The single case study design limits the generalizability of the results beyond the company studied. Furthermore, some of the data employed were perceptional and relied partly on self‐reporting of the community members.
Practical implications
The paper argues that management support for CoPs should aim at influencing the individual cost‐benefit calculus of community members. Respecting and implementing results from the communities' work is likely to provide the very basis for innovations to emerge at all.
Originality/value
Other than extant studies on CoP performance that focus on company benefits from deploying CoPs, this paper offers a new perspective by exploring the benefits and incentives available to community members.
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Ana Odorović and Karsten Wenzlaff
The paper discusses the rationale for a widespread reliance on Codes of Conduct (CoC) in European crowdfunding through the lenses of economic theories of self-regulation. By…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper discusses the rationale for a widespread reliance on Codes of Conduct (CoC) in European crowdfunding through the lenses of economic theories of self-regulation. By analysing the institutional design of CoCs in crowdfunding, the paper illustrates the differences in their regulatory context, inclusiveness, monitoring and enforcement. It offers the first systematic overview of substantial rules of CoCs in crowdfunding.
Design/methodology/approach
A comparative case study of nine CoCs in Europe is used to illustrate differences in their institutional design and discern the economic purpose of the CoC.
Findings
The institutional design of different CoCs in Europe mainly supports voluntary theories of self-regulation. In particular, the theory of reputation commons has the most explanatory power. The substantial rules of CoC in different markets show the potential sources of market failure through the perspectives of platforms.
Research limitations/implications
CoCs appear in various regulatory, cultural, and industry contexts of different countries. Some of the institutional design features of CoC might be a result of these characteristics.
Practical implications
Crowdfunding associations wishing to develop their own CoC may learn from a comparative overview of key provisions.
Social implications
For governments in Europe, contemplating creating or revising bespoke crowdfunding regimes, the paper identifies areas where crowdfunding platforms perceive market failure.
Originality/value
This paper is the first systematic study of self-regulatory institutions in European crowdfunding. The paper employs a theoretical framework for the analysis of self-regulation in crowdfunding and provides a comparison of a regulatory context, inclusiveness, monitoring and enforcement of different CoCs in Europe.
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Tor Guimaraes, Nils Martensson, Johan Stahre and Magid Igbaria
As the increase in manufacturing competitiveness forces organizations to use more sophisticated and complex software, system performance depends on clever systems design…
Abstract
As the increase in manufacturing competitiveness forces organizations to use more sophisticated and complex software, system performance depends on clever systems design, efficient planning and scheduling of the related processes. For these advanced manufacturing systems the dependence on human competence is greater. However, previous studies indicate that the human aspects for successfully implementing such systems have been neglected. The objective here is to test the hypotheses that system complexity is inversely related to performance, and that training of system operators, and the quality of the man/machine interface reduces the negative impact of system complexity. A sample of discreet manufacturing systems from 128 organizations was used to test these hypotheses empirically. Moderated multivariate regression indicates that man/machine interfaces are significant contributors to reducing the negative effect of systems complexity. With a lower level of significance, operator training has a similar impact. For complex manufacturing systems software, it behoves managers to insure that the man/machine interface provides the desirable features outlined in this study.
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Chiara Rossato and Paola Castellani
This paper aims to examine how long-lived firms can further develop through digitalisation in terms of actions, conditions and effects from a competitiveness perspective.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine how long-lived firms can further develop through digitalisation in terms of actions, conditions and effects from a competitiveness perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory study follows an inductive approach based on a survey conducted via interviews undertaken with nine long-lived Italian firms. The dimensions of the model (command, continuity, community, connection), elaborated by Miller and Le Breton-Miller (2005) in relation to longevity factors, were chosen to analyse digitalisation’s contribution to these long-lived firms’ development.
Findings
The digitalisation implemented by the analysed firms contributed in a variety of ways: (1) improved the efficiency and effectiveness of their business processes, (2) enhanced the understanding of customer experience, (3) supported their craftsmanship and the transmission of the knowledge included in the entrepreneurial path, (4) increased the awareness of the cultural value of the firms’ heritage and (5) allowed for the development of cutting-edge design skills by experimenting with content on different digital platforms and devices.
Practical implications
This study suggests managers of long-lived firms develop digital skills that allow them to interact with the rapid evolution of this context and understand how to effectively implement digitalisation in their specific firm. From this perspective, it is strategic to establish or strengthen collaborative network relationships to acquire such necessary skills.
Originality/value
This study provides novel empirical evidence on how long-lived firms are facing the challenge of digitalisation in terms of actions, conditions and effects to improve their competitiveness and ensure their survival.
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Felix Simon Rudolf Becker, Kevin Escoz Barragan, Daria Huge sive Huwe, Beatrice Shenara Ernst and Giuseppe Strina
In the ever-evolving digital landscape, this study aims to explore which specific personality traits contribute to the innovativeness of startups, with a particular emphasis on…
Abstract
Purpose
In the ever-evolving digital landscape, this study aims to explore which specific personality traits contribute to the innovativeness of startups, with a particular emphasis on understanding how technology adoption mediates this relationship. By doing so, the authors strive to unveil the nuanced dynamics of personality, technology adoption and startup innovativeness in the digital era.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conduct a quantitative empirical analysis using a sample of 1,314 German startups. This study utilizes a mediation analysis to examine the effects of personality traits on the innovativeness of startups, taking technology adoption as a mediator into account.
Findings
The empirical results show certain personality traits have direct effects on innovativeness. Also, the results show that technology adoption is a driver of startup innovativeness. In addition, these traits are (partially) mediated by technology adoption.
Research limitations/implications
The results shed new light on the interplay of entrepreneurs' personality and technology adoption in relation to startup innovativeness and therefore underline the importance of technology in this triangular relationship. The authors employ secondary data from startups in Germany, which complicates generalization of the results to other geographical and cultural contexts.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the scientific debate on the role of personality traits in entrepreneurship by providing empirical evidence on the mediating effect of technology adoption in the relationship between personality traits and startup innovativeness. The findings offer valuable insights for researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers interested in understanding and promoting innovativeness in the context of startups.
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Joachim Kahl, Saskia de Klerk and Robert Ogulin
This paper takes a holistic and process-based view on agility from a Middle Management (MM) perspective. Its purpose is to identify subjective factors of agility emerging from…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper takes a holistic and process-based view on agility from a Middle Management (MM) perspective. Its purpose is to identify subjective factors of agility emerging from people's interpretations and perceptions and to integrate them into the process of agile strategy-making.
Design/methodology/approach
To provide a theoretical foundation, literature was reviewed in the area of agile diversity and strategy-making. A qualitative study based on interviews was conducted to uncover the hidden subjective factors from the personal experiences and perceptions of the participants.
Findings
The study has revealed that individual opinions in terms of agility can originate from three sources: individual understandings, contextual drivers and personal beliefs.
Research limitations/implications
The research contributes to dynamic capability theory by providing a better understanding of agile diversity at the MM level. The findings can help mid-level executives to cope with the complexities and ambiguities in managing agility by aligning the different understandings and people's perceptions. This is crucial, as missing alignment of team members can lead to poor dynamic capabilities of business entities and thus threatens overall organisational agility.
Originality/value
A model was developed to align the subjective factors of agility during the process of agile strategy-making at the MM level. The framework allows a flexible adaptation to the individual demands of organisational units, as well as concentrated measures for effective agile management. It contributes to organisational agility and business success by scaling the dynamic capabilities of MM.
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Manlio Del Giudice and Vincenzo Maggioni
The purpose of this special issue s to cover a substantial range of approach to knowledge management penetrating inquiry that goes beyond intra-organizational learning processes…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this special issue s to cover a substantial range of approach to knowledge management penetrating inquiry that goes beyond intra-organizational learning processes to include inter-organizational perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
As pointed out by the literature on various aspects of the knowledge processes within and between organizations, the work has been organized coherently with two “strains” of topics: the first one focused on managerial practices and operative directions of knowledge management, the other one pointed out on applications of knowledge management to inter-firm networks. Qualitative as well quantitative papers have been welcomed.
Findings
Opening up the idea of pluralism as a driving force in the knowledge economy pushes the organizations in a permanent cumulative process of adaptation and re-creation through innovative means of social interaction in global environments.
Research limitations/implications
The dynamic nature of the field is reflected in the fact that this project expanded to encompass emerging works on knowledge models and concepts that grew from conversations within the network.
Originality/value
This special issue aims to extend the current understanding on how diversity of approaches enhances the process of discovery: the authors convey the sense of where the stimulating challenges lie.