Innovation without R&D

Heterogeneous Innovation Patterns of Non-R&D-Performing Firms in the German Manufacturing Industry

verfasst von: Oliver Som

Verlag: Gabler Verlag

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An evolutionary Approach to heterogeneity in Firms Innovation Strategies

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

1. Introduction

Abstract

During the last decades, research and development (R&D) activities have be-come the most substantial pillar of innovation research in the attempt to explain the innovation ability and competiveness of enterprises, sectors and economies (Teece 1986; Brown/Eisenhardt 1995; Freeman 1994a, 1994b; Freeman/Soete 1997; Rosenthal 1992; Saviotti/Nooteboom 2000; Stock et al. 2002; OECD 2005; Rammer et al. 2009; Santamaría et al. 2009; Raymond/St. Pierre 2010). There is a vast amount of empirical literature that supports the importance of firm-internal, institutionalised R&D activities as the main source of many, productivity-enhancing, technological innovations to im-prove competitiveness, especially of fast growing industries such as pharma-ceuticals, automobiles, computers, communications, instruments, and machinery (Becheikh et al. 2006; Freeman 1994a; Freeman/Soete 1997). “There is ample empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis that R&D expenditures are a sine-qua-non for the firm’s level of innovation activities” (Shefer/Frenkel 2005: 25).

Oliver Som

2. R&D as a determinant of technological progress, economic growth and firms' competitiveness

Abstract

The purpose of the following chapters is to introduce the theoretical discussion by considering the theoretical and historical origins of R&D as a driver of eco-nomic growth, both from the macro-economic and micro-economic perspec-tive. It will describe the emergence of the linear, R&D-based model of innova-tion, discuss the definitions and measurement of R&D as well as provide a short overview of the empirical state of research taking into account the role of R&D as a driver of nations' and firms' competitive advantage and economic success. Most importantly, this chapter will clarify why mainstream innovation research has been shaped by such a strong R&D focus in the past. By dis-cussing the main explanatory limitations of the R&D concept, it paves the way for further theoretical discussion on the heterogeneity of non-R&D-performing firms' innovation strategies in Chapter three.

Oliver Som

3. Firms' heterogeneity and sources of innovation and economic success beyond the scope of R&D

Abstract

This chaper deals with the previously raised points of criticism about the R&D paradigm of innovation by exploring heterogeneous innovation patterns of non-R&D-performing firms in German manufacturing industry. In doing so, it leaves the R&D-focused paradigm of the 20^th century behind and explicitly refers to the systemic, “21st century” paradigm of innovation.

Oliver Som

4. Development of a guiding conceptual framework for the empirical analysis

Abstract

Basically, this chapter serves as a bridge between the theory and the following empirical analysis. The first step reexamines the research questions of this thesis, clarifying how they have been developed during the previous theoreti-cal discussion, on the one hand, and how they will be addressed by the em-pirical analysis, on the other hand. It integrates the theoretical considerations of evolutionary and resource-based theory about the heterogeneous innova-tion patterns of non-R&D-performing firms into a conceptual framework for empirical analysis. Based on this theoretical framework, the key concepts will be defined and some important implications for the design and methodology choice of the empirical analysis will be derived. This chapter closes by erecting some guiding theses for the explorative empirical analysis. However, the func-tion of these theses should not be confused with the role of hypotheses in the context of testing causal relationships. Instead, they should serve as a kind of verification instrument to assure that the later results are in line with the theoretical framework and that they are not arbitrarily detached from the previous theoretical suggestions.

Oliver Som

5. Empirical analysis of non-R&D-performing firms in the German manufacturing industry

Abstract

This chapter includes both a descriptive empirical analysis of the innovation characteristics of non-R&D-performing firms in the German manufacturing industry as well as a cluster analysis to explore their heterogeneous innovation patterns. First of all, the chapter will introduce the underlying database of the German Manufacturing Survey 2009 and identify the subsample of non-R&D-performing firms which is used for the further analysis. Secondly, it discusses the selection of indicators and measures in line with the theory. Subsequently, the descriptive analysis picks up the thread of the existing analytical approaches in the empirical literature and provides a first systematic overview of the innovation behaviour of non-R&D-performing firms. By additionally con-trasting these findings with the group of R&D-performing firms should be pos-sible to identify whether they already constitute a non-R&D-specific pattern of innovation or not. Moreover, the descriptive analysis ensures that the identified innovation indicators are adequate and feasible for describing the innovation behaviour of these firms before the subsequent cluster analysis goes one step further and elaborates on whether and how these innovation characteristics constitute heterogeneous innovation patterns among non-R&D-performing firms.

Oliver Som

6. Consolidation, interpretation and outlook

Abstract

Firstly, this part of the thesis summarises the conclusions, results and findings gained in the previous chapters through theoretical discussion and empirical analysis. Secondly, the major results and contributions of this thesis should be interpreted from the perspectives of academic innovation research, innovation management, and innovation policy, the three basic motivations mentioned at the beginning of the thesis. Finally, the thesis closes with a brief outlook of fur-ther fields requiring research.

Oliver Som

Backmatter

Titel: Innovation without R&D
verfasst von: Oliver Som
Verlag: Gabler Verlag
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-8349-3492-5
Print ISBN: 978-3-8349-3491-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-8349-3492-5