Eckhard Lichtenthaler

A Capability-Based Framework for Open Innovation: Complementing Absorptive Capacity

We merge research into knowledge management, absorptive capacity, and dynamic capabilities to arrive at an integrative perspective, which considers knowledge exploration, retention, and exploitation inside and outside a firms boundaries. By complementing the concept of absorptive capacity, we advance towards a capability-based framework for open innovation processes. We identify the following six ‘knowledge capacities’ as a firms critical capabilities of managing internal and external knowledge in open innovation processes: inventive, absorptive, transformative, connective, innovative, and desorptive capacity. ‘Knowledge management capacity’ is a dynamic capability, which reconfigures and realigns the knowledge capacities. It refers to a firms ability to successfully manage its knowledge base over time. The concept may be regarded as a framework for open innovation, as a complement to absorptive capacity, and as a move towards understanding dynamic capabilities for managing knowledge. On this basis, it contributes to explaining interfirm heterogeneity in knowledge and alliance strategies, organizational boundaries, and innovation performance.

Third generation management of technology intelligence processes

How have the technology intelligence approaches of large technology-intensive companies changed in the last 30 years? This paper aims to answer this question through case study research in 26 leading European and North American companies in the pharmaceutical, telecommunication equipment and automobile/machinery industries. The empirical results show that technology intelligence approaches have closely followed the changes in R&D organization, project selection and technology planning. Three generations of technology intelligence management can be distinguished. Furthermore, the contingency factors for the location of technology intelligence within technology intensive companies are identified.

The choice of technology intelligence methods in multinationals: towards a contingency approach

The effectiveness of technology management is fundamentally influenced by the quality of a firms technology intelligence process, i.e. the acquisition and assessment of information on technological trends. Although there is a vast literature on different technology intelligence methods, there is a lack of research on the factors influencing the choice of appropriate technology intelligence methods in a specific situation. This paper presents the results of an exploratory case study research in 25 leading European and North American companies in the pharmaceutical, telecommunications equipment and automobile/machinery industries. Major contingency factors of the selection of technology intelligence methods in multinationals are identified and integrated into a contingency-based framework for the use of technology intelligence methods.

Alliance functions: implications of the international multi-R&D-alliance perspective

Abstract International R&D-alliances have become more and more important since the mid 1980s, and large companies may carry out more than 100 R&D-alliances simultaneously with foreign partners. Therefore, companies have to manage their alliances taking into account both the multi-alliance and the international dimension at the same time which significantly increases complexity. In order to facilitate an integrated management of the international multi-alliance situation, many companies have established alliance functions, which take a coordinating, process-spanning perspective, to optimise the results of the individual alliances, the alliance portfolio and corporate strategy. In the existing literature, however, multi-alliance situations and alliance functions do not receive adequate attention. As a structured alliance management approach requires a process perspective, a process model is developed in this paper, and the implications of the international and the multi-alliance perspective are described. The alliance function is analysed against the background of globally dispersed R&D activities of large technology-intensive international companies. Therefore, a framework for the localisation of R&D-alliance activities is developed based on existing research results. Following this framework, two ideal types of alliance functions can be distinguished, which differ regarding size and tasks.

Coordination of Technology Intelligence Processes: A Study in Technology Intensive Multinationals

The importance of technology intelligence is widely accepted in theory and practice. However, existing research is contradictory on how this process should be coordinated. Therefore it was the objective of this contribution to derive insight into the coordination of the technology intelligence process. The results of an exploratory case study research in 26 leading European and North American companies in the pharmaceutical, telecommunications equipment and automobile/machinery industry are presented. The results show first, that the coordination of technology intelligence processes cannot be limited to structural coordination. Hybrid and informal forms of coordination are used simultaneously. Second, it is shown that the three forms of coordination of technology intelligence processes are being integrated differently based on the style of decision making and the culture of the company. Third, it is shown that the distribution and size of technology intelligence activities between corporate and divisional level as well as between different regions depend on the location of decision making on innovative activities and on the preconditions for performing technology intelligence

Organising the external technology exploitation process: current practices and future challenges

The external exploitation of technologies by companies by means of licensing-out, sale of patents, and collaborations has grown tremendously over the last few years. The systematic use of this technology exploitation mode is hindered by a large knowledge gap in the efficient and effective organisation of this process. The aim of this contribution is therefore to learn more about how the external technology exploitation process is performed in technology intensive multi-business companies. The research results of ten exploratory in-depth case studies in leading European companies are presented. Firstly, from an historical analysis of the development of the technology exploitation process, three generations of organising the technology exploitation process are derived. Secondly, fundamental policy issues of organising the external technology exploitation process are described. Thirdly, based on the case studies and literature, fundamental principles of organising the external technology exploitation process are developed.

Technology intelligence: identification of technological opportunities and threats by firms

The importance of technology intelligence is widely accepted in theory and practice. In the past, however, many technology intelligence approaches in firms failed. This contribution presents further results of an exploratory case study research in 26 leading European and North American multinationals. Firstly, it is shown along the different steps of the technology intelligence process how the companies studied determine information needs, gather information, assess it and finally communicate it to decision-makers. Secondly, different organisational elements, such as technology intelligence units and expert networks, are described and their roles in the different steps of the technology intelligence process are discussed. Thirdly, the organisation of the technology intelligence process of two companies is discussed in detail. Finally, implications are drawn for future research and a conclusion is given.

Technology marketing: a firm's core competence?

For the last three decades, global competition has dramatically changed. Formerly dominating firms from the Triad are facing competition from nearly all over the world. Due to an unprecedented exponential growth of global knowledge production and consumption, no longer do firms rely on go-it-alone strategies. Rather, firms have become proficient in sourcing technologies that are either state of the art or non-available inside their boundaries or they have intensified their activities regarding the external commercialisation of knowledge (mainly technological knowledge). This paper discusses the major drivers and challenges regarding the processes of knowledge acquisition and knowledge exploitation. And it introduces some of the instruments firms will have to master to compete in the global economy of the 21st century.

Organisation of international external technology acquisition projects

International external technology acquisition has become more and more important since the mid 1980s. Large companies may carry out more than 100 external technology acquisition projects simultaneously with partners all over the world and face the challenge of choosing adequate organisation types for these projects. In this paper, a concept for the localisation of external technology acquisition projects has been developed based on existing research results. Following this concept, adequate methods of coordination for different types of localisation are presented along a process model of external technology acquisition.

Integrated framework for a holistic approach to technology management

The growing implications of technological change on society and the dependencies of private and public interests call for a holistic approach to technology management. A framework is developed based on a systems approach, which helps analyse and contrast technology management on a company and national level. By changing the level of observation, new forms of technology management from the point of view of society as a whole may be discussed.