Eduardo Bueno

The role of social capital in today's economy

The rapid and well‐known evolution – considered by many observers to be revolutionary – from industrial society to knowledge society, defined by the importance of knowledge creation processes, is showing the relevance of the social capital of organizations. This study seeks to contribute to the development of this new concept. First, presents the theoretical background of social capital. Second, based on an intellectual capital approach, tests the situation of social capital in some Spanish companies, with a reference to the international landscape. The findings of the research support the convenience of the development of an integral framework for the management of intangibles that create future benefits, considering the relations with several social agents. Concludes by proposing a model of intellectual capital that expressly includes social capital.

Internal logic of intellectual capital: a biological approach

Purpose – The aim of the present paper is to shed new light on the interactions among capitals in a model of measurement and management of intellectual capital using the theoretical lens of complexity theory. In particular, attempts to contribute to the exploration of the power of biological metaphors in the study of intellectual capital.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology adopted in the present paper is case study research. Cases are especially suitable to answering “how” and “why” questions and are well‐suited to generating and building theory in an area where little data or theory exists. Presents the case study of Caja Madrid, a Spanish savings bank in Spain.Findings – A new framework of analysis is proposed that may help organizations to better picture and understand dynamics of interaction between capitals and elements by defining relationships which explain the creation of wealth through intangibles.Originality/value – Suggests that complexity theory has the potential to shed new light on...

Knowledge creation in strategy‐making: implications for theory and practice

Purpose – This paper seeks to discuss the main implications for strategic knowledge management of uncovering the different knowledge flows and interactions in the strategy formation process in emerging and high‐velocity environments.Design/methodology/approach – The study builds on the findings of a case‐study approach of four innovative firms in the internet banking sector in Spain.Findings – The research highlights the relevance of understanding and considering the different dimensions of knowledge involved in such a process in order to promote its emergence and interaction in the organization, and trigger the creation process.Originality/value – In sum, the paper addresses the main theoretical and practical implications of understanding strategy making as a double‐loop knowledge creating process.

Tangible slack versus intangible resources: the influence of technology slack and tacit knowledge on the capability of organisational learning to generate innovation and performance

Literature has stated contradictory arguments about the importance of tangible and intangible resources. Meanwhile, the knowledge literature insists on the importance of tacit knowledge and a more traditional innovation literature and many practitioners have preferred to be focused on the importance of specific and tangible resources in organisational learning to generate innovative processes. In particular, the second perspective highlights the abundance of technological resources given the growing importance of information technology. Our sample of 575 technological firms operating in Spain shows that both resources are required to successfully implement the capability of organisational learning. Besides showing the positive relationship between this capability and the variables of innovation and performance, our results find that tangible and intangible resources have positive relationships with innovation and performance. In any case, our analysis allows us to discover the particularly strong influenc...

Knowledge creation as a dynamic capability: implications for innovation management and organisational design

The paper presents the different types of knowledge involved in the process of knowledge creation, and analyses the main implications of such distinctions that managers need to consider in their attempt to build the dynamic capability of knowledge creation in the firm.

Towards an integrative model of business, knowledge and organisational learning processes

The aim of the research is to design a model for the analysis of the conceptual relationships between business processes and the respective knowledge processes that explain the critical intangible resources and the essential capabilities for organisational achievement. Learning processes are included in the model considering their role in the assimilation and dissemination of knowledge and in the improvement of business processes. In sum, this paper presents a theoretical and conceptual proposal that has been tested empirically in four Spanish companies of the automotive sector, financial sector, electricity sector, and technological sector.

Distinctions that matter: a classification of resources and discussion of implications for dynamic capabilities of firms

The present paper pursues two main objectives: 1) it highlights different classifications of resources, and 2) it discusses some relevant implications of such classifications for managers to consider when triggering the dynamism of resources in order to transform such resources into new sources of competitive advantage and achieve dynamic capabilities. This research is the result of a broad discussion held amongst researchers and practitioners at the forum organised by Centro de Investigacion sobre la Sociedad del Conocimiento (Knowledge Society Research Centre) at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and coordinated by Professor Eduardo Bueno, where well-known firms such as Bankinter, Banco de Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Caja Madrid, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Repsol YPF, Grupo Santander, Siemens and Union Fenosa had the opportunity to give their opinions on the subjects mentioned above. The forum carried out different activities, such as round-table talks and meetings. It also contributed to developing a necessary joint frame of references and valuable contributions to the topic herein discussed.

Strategy-Making as a Complex, Double-Loop Process of Knowledge Creation: Four Cases of Established Banks Reinventing the Industry by Means of the Internet

We blend knowledge creation and complexity perspectives in a model of strategy-making that explains how top managers in organizations that are reinventing their industries in high-velocity environments conceptualize the strategy-formation process. The model is grounded in four in-depth case studies of Internet banks that are part of different established financial groups in Spain. The main findings suggest that strategy-making seems to emerge out of the interplay of the following interrelated constructs: action, reflection-on-action, imagination, and simple guiding principles. The study of such constructs from the perspectives of knowledge creation and complexity theory suggests interesting implications. Action and reflection-on-action seem to form a first SECI (Socialization–Externalization–Combination–Internalization) spiral of knowledge creation. Out of the interaction of action and reflection-on-action, imagination may emerge when the system has reached a “critical state”. Imagination forms a second SECI spiral of knowledge creation. The interaction between imagination and action on a higher level results from the emergence and application of simple guiding principles, which provide the organization with coherence between what is imagined and what is done, and guide the actions taken throughout the organization with flexible planning. We conclude by proposing that strategy-making may be understood as a complex, double-loop process of knowledge creation.

Total Quality Management: A critical analysis from a complexity approach

This article examines the effects of the adoption and implementation of typical Total Quality Management in an airline as an adaptive complex system. Our results, as they emerged from an in-depth case study in VARIG Brazilian Airlines, suggest that the specific TQM methods and procedures seem to be too mechanistic for such a complex environment. Based on our findings we propose that an adaptation of the typical TQM concepts and tools considering the paradigm of complexity with an organic approach may be more effective and produce actual and lasting changes in this kind of organisation.

Intellectual Capital as a Strategic Model to Create Innovation in New Technology Based Firms

This chapter highlights the importance of SMEs and New Technology Based Firms (hereafter NTBFs) for sustainable economic development and discusses the need to incorporate dynamic resources and capabilities to facilitate their performance under the current economic scenario of crisis and change. Focus is placed on the strategic role of intellectual capital, through the leverage of creative and innovation capabilities, to strengthen and develop firms; thus emphasizing the micro-strategic perspective of dynamic capabilities in innovation processes of NTBFs. In addition, an evaluation of the role that Intellectual Capital Reports (ICR) play in this process and in the development of core competences, through implementation in almost 100 NTBFs located in science and technology parks of Madrid, is presented.