Jaana Woiceshyn

Literary analysis as a metaphor in processual research: A story of technological change

This paper suggests that elements of literary analysis such as a plot, characterization, theme and style can be used metaphorically to guide data analysis and write-up in processual research that entails telling a story of a particular sequence of events or actions. How literary analysis as a metaphor can be used not only to guide research but assess the completeness of a research report, is illustrated with a field study of technology adoption in a Finnish pre-press firm.

Management—Key to new product development in biotechnology

Abstract What makes some firms more effective than others in new product development? Answers are proposed based on evidence from five Canadian medical biotechnology firms that varied in effectiveness. A framework of strategic change was used to describe the firms. As regards their internal context, the more effective firms had inventor-entrepreneurs, more continuous leadership and more complete management teams. The external context of the effective firms was broader (e.g., incorporating universities), and they had more focused strategies and targeted larger markets. The strategy process of the effective and less effective firms differed as well. These differences between the less effective and more effective firms seemed to stem from different managerial logics of action. These findings have implications for managers involved in new product development.

Lessons in Product Innovation: A Case Study of Biotechnology Firms

Firms that are able more quickly than others to add value through product development will be the winners in technology-based industries. This paper examines value-added progress by contrasting four agricultural biotechnology firms that have managed to create value with one that failed to do so. Lessons were induced for new firms struggling to develop products in emerging industries such as biotechnology. The following findings emerged from manager interviews and secondary data. In contrast to the progressive firms, the failed firm neglected to develop a clear product-market focus, complementary skills outside its core technology, and relationships with universities and government. These contrasts seemed to stem from differences in the financing arrangements and the level of organizational politics. The failed firm received a generous one-time funding and had a relatively high level of politics, whereas the funding of the progressive companies was tied to performance milestones and little politicking took place. The reasons for organizational politics are discussed.

Predicting value-added progress of biotechnology firms: An exploratory study

Abstract A survey of Canadian biotechnology firms was conducted to investigate their product development strategies and value-added progress. This paper reports results that pertain to the research question: What differentiates firms that make most value-added progress, primarily through product development, from others? Previous research on new product development suggests that factors such as a clear direction provided by top management, co-operation between different functions, and co-operation with other firms or organizations contribute to the effectiveness of product development and thus value-added progress. This study found that besides the companys age, skills complementing the core technology and organizational politics differentiated between firms with high and low levels of value-added progress.

How innovation systems in Finland and Alberta work: Lessons for policy and practice

Abstract Innovation enhances human prosperity and well-being and is considered a major driver of economic growth. Yet, the innovation process varies in different countries and regions. Understanding the ‘how’ can help both policy makers and practitioners to facilitate innovation. We contribute to such understanding by comparing the development of two small, contrasting innovation systems in Finland and Alberta, Canada in their historical, economic, and social contexts – a type of research that has been called for but is rare in the systemic innovation research. Instead of describing components and outcomes only but change over time in innovation systems, we capture how they work. This and the comparison of systems with different rates of innovation and change offer a more grounded basis for policy and practice recommendations than comparisons to an abstract ideal, and also reveal some implications for the notion of path dependence in innovation systems.

Technological change: Leaders, followers and feedback cycles

This paper reports a comparative case study of nine firms in the Canadian graphic arts industry in 1964-1986 and suggests that production technology in these firms changes in feedback cycles. The cycles in turn are triggered by the initial performance of the firms. A model of technological change is proposed which relates performance, managerial conduct and contextual conditions to changes in production technology. Differences between technological leaders and followers are identified.

Evaluating inductive vs deductive research in management studies: Implications for authors, editors, and reviewers

The purpose of this paper is to address the imbalance between inductive and deductive research in management and organizational studies and to suggest changes in the journal review and publishing process that would help correct the imbalance by encouraging more inductive research.,The authors briefly review the ongoing debate about the “developmental” vs “as-is/light-touch” journal review modes, trace the roots of the prevailing developmental review to the hypothetico-deductive research approach, and contrast publishing deductive and inductive research from the perspectives of authors, editors, and reviewers.,Application of the same developmental evaluation and review mode to both deductive and inductive research, despite their fundamental differences, discourages inductive research. The authors argue that a light-touch review is more appropriate for inductive research, given its different logic.,Specific criteria for the light-touch evaluation and review of and some concrete suggestions for facilitating inductive research.,Advancing knowledge requires a better balance of inductive and deductive research, which can be facilitated by light-touch evaluation and review of inductive research.,Building on the debate on journal publishing, the authors differentiate the evaluation and review of inductive and deductive research based on their philosophical underpinnings and draw implications of pursuing inductive research for authors, editors, and reviewers.

Leadership Virtues Exposed: Ethical Leadership Lessons From Leading in Rock Climbing

Leadership clearly has an impact on organizational outcomes, and previous research has revealed the antecedents and consequences of leadership styles and the effects of leaders’ personality traits. We focus on an area that has received much less attention: ethical leadership practice and the virtues that guide it. Following the positive turn in leadership research, we examine what constitutes virtuous action of leaders. We draw on observations made in a novel realm, rock climbing, and integrate them with the literature on leadership virtues while drawing parallels to business. We identify six essential virtues at the core of the ethical leadership model we propose: rationality, honesty, independence, integrity, justice, and pride. Three of these—rationality, independence, and pride—are not conventional virtues, but we suggest that they are critical for ethical leadership, as is the standard of human flourishing and the leader’s relationship with followers as a trader of values. Our analysis is summarized in testable propositions.

INNOVATION SYSTEMS IN FINLAND AND ALBERTA: LESSONS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE

14.00 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Innovation drives wealth creation, economic growth, and human wellbeing, and its rate differs in different countries. Why is that, even in the era of global competition? Most industrialized countries are mixed economies, and in order to boost innovation, their governments have developed national systems of innovation (NSI). NSIs consist of educational and research institutions, funding agencies, tax credits, government procurement systems, venture capital providers, as well as other actors and measures to facilitate innovation. Not all NSIs are equally effective, however. In order to understand why, we present a comparative case study of innovation systems in two jurisdictions, Finland and Alberta, Canada. Placing the two systems in their historical, political, and cultural contexts allows us to shed light on the reasons for the differences and to make suggestions for effective innovation policy and practice.