Marina Fiedler

How do organizations remember? The influence of organizational structure on organizational memory

How do organizational factors influence knowledge retention and storage within companies? In this study, we examine the influence of organizational structure on organizational memory. We are specifically interested in the effects of specialization and standardization—dimensions of the organizational structure—on organizational memory as conceptualized by Walsh and Ungson (1991) and Argote (2005). This study is based on recent survey data from 122 respondents of multi-unit organizations that are mainly from the consulting, financial, automotive, and electrical industries. The results suggest that structural organizational factors, i.e. specialization and standardization as well as organizational processes such as codification and personalization of information and electronic communication influence organizational memory. Furthermore, the results show that codification of information fully mediates the relationship between standardization and organizational memory and that electronic communication partially mediates the relationship between specialization and organizational memory. Overall, the results suggest that the processes of codification of knowledge as well as electronic communication are conducive to the formation of organizational memory and that respective organizational memory bins have unique associations with the organizational structure factors. Our study is one of the first to empirically test propositions with regard to the concept of organizational memory.

Cooperation in Virtual Worlds

This article reports the results of a controlled lab experiment that studies the effects of strategically irrelevant “cheap talk” via 3D world audio communication and 2D text messaging. I also analyze the effects of technical information richness, experience with a communication medium, social distance and collective orientation on cooperation. The findings indicate that persons in a situational setting that allows them to hope that the partner will respond in a cooperative manner show a higher degree of cooperation when engaging in cheap-talk computer-mediated-communication. The results show also that low social distance, collective orientation and experience with a medium is favorable for demonstrating trust, trustworthiness and cooperation.

Impacts of DRM on Internet Based Innovation

Neoclassic theory assumes that individuals solely strive for maximization of their utility function reflecting their respective preferences. Thus, decision makers will only consider costs and bene.ts which have an impact on their individual utility function. Therefore, if an individual’s action affects the utility of another party without impact on one’s own well-being, this impact will not be taken into account. Effects like this (i.e. positive and negative external effects or externalities) can not only prevent an economic agent from investing in such a good, but can also lead to over investment. For example, in case of positive externalities, the profit seeking agent does not receive compensation for the benefits she bestows on other parties; therefore, she will not invest sufficiently into these activities. This may result in inefficient markets for this kind of goods.

The mediating role of leader–member exchange: a study of job satisfaction and turnover intentions in temporary work

This paper focuses on turnover intentions in temporary work. Specifically, we analyse whether job satisfaction and leader-member exchange (LMX) play the same role as antecedents of turnover intentions for both temporary and permanent employees. Results from a total-effects moderation model based on a survey of 593 individuals placed by a temporary work agency suggest that temporary work lessens the impact that high job satisfaction has in terms of reducing turnover intentions. Furthermore, while for permanent employees, high-quality LMX relationships play a central role in the link between job satisfaction and turnover intentions;for temporary employees, job satisfaction is less important in the formation of high-quality LMX relationships. Therefore, we contribute to knowledge on turnover intentions in temporary work by showing that within this context, turnover intentions cannot be directly remedied by high job satisfaction and that temporary work inhibits LMXs reinforcing role in the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intentions.

What are the main barriers to smart energy information systems diffusion

The aim of this study is to identify the main barriers to smart energy information systems (SEIS) diffusion. We used the grounded theory method (GTM), with its repetitive cycles, to develop a theoretical model that illustrates these barriers. As a starting point, we discussed the discrepancy between the potential and the actual status of smart energy information systems diffusion. Having conducted a literature review and 23 interviews, we discovered that the main barriers to SEIS diffusion are adoption costs, switching costs, a collective action dilemma, and a lack of business cases for all stakeholders. Our study contributes to the literature on IS-enabled smart energy solutions in the industrial sector by deriving propositions for SEIS diffusion and by developing a theoretical model of the main barriers to SEIS diffusion that explains the discrepancy between the advantages and the actual diffusion of such systems.

Experience and Confidence in an Internet Based Asset Market Experiment

The experience effect in asset markets is one that was thought to be settled. As subjects gained experience with the interface and each other, they typically exhibit fewer instances of mispricing and at lower magnitudes. But questions regarding trading experience are not easy to address in the lab with the typical subject pool since the kind of experience one can typically generate in the lab is experience with the experimental environment itself—not with external environments. However, in virtual worlds asset markets are highly evolved, providing a subject pool with skilled and experienced traders that can be accessed via the Internet. This study compares experimental asset markets with participants recruited from virtual world trading groups to experimental markets with participants recruited from the virtual world at large. I further examine trader performance and trading behavior within markets. The findings indicate that asset markets with virtual world participants recruited from trading groups are more prone to exhibit bubbles than are markets with virtual world participants recruited at large. Within condition, experienced traders are less likely to follow fundamentals and more likely to engage in strategies that result in loss of earnings. Excess confidence is rejected as an explanation for this pattern, as confidence is found to be related to higher earnings and fundamental value trading strategies.

Commercialisation of technology innovations: an empirical study on the influence of clusters and innovation networks

The current body of literature offers contradictory results concerning the role of clusters and innovation networks in the commercialisation of high technology. Whereas several previous studies verify the overall beneficial effects of cluster membership for knowledge-intensive firms, others report that clusters have only little or no influence on technology firms’ economic success. The major purpose of this study is therefore to conduct a comparative analysis between small and medium-sized firms within and outside clusters with regard to the commercialisation of their innovations in the emerging nanotechnology sector. Our results reveal several differences in the commercialisation process and activities between firms within and outside of nanotechnology clusters.

Appointment Preferences of Management Professors

Based on a survey of university management professors in German-speaking Europe, we analyze the relationship between individual and organizational characteristics and university academics’ preferences in appointment decisions. Senior faculty’s attitude towards change proves to be a particular robust predictor of differences in appointment preferences. Faculty who were satisfied with university structures before any reforms place greater value on high-quality monographs and the possession of the venia legendi. Faculty who welcome the aims of university reforms value prestigious journal publications and international experience in applicants. Our results confirm previous homophily and similarity research by showing that university professors value characteristics and qualifications that they themselves possess. Our results also show that differences in appointment preferences depend on whether universities are publicly or privately financed, and their rank in the CHE reputation ranking.

Open Source Software und proprietäre Software

Schon heute machen Software- und softwarebezogene Dienstleistungen etwa 6% am EU15-Bruttoinlandsprodukt aus.1 Zukunftig durfte durch die Konvergenz verschiedener Branchen in Verbindung mit den zunehmenden Moglichkeiten der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie dieser Anteil noch weiter steigen.2 Dabei werden weniger als 20% der Umsatze in der Softwareindustrie mit Lizenzgebuhren, jedoch 80% mit Services und Dienstleistungen erzielt.3 Drei Viertel aller Unternehmen dieser Branche haben weniger als 10 Mitarbeiter und 250.000 Euro Umsatz/Jahr.4

Digital Rights Management and Internet Based Innovation

Neoclassic theory assumes that decision makers will only consider costs and benefits which have an impact on their own individual utility function. Therefore, if an individual’s action affects the utility of another party without impact on one’s own well-being, this impact will not be taken into account. Effects like this (i.e. positive and negative external effects or externalities) can not only prevent an economic agent from investing in such a good, (see e.g. Olson 1985; Hardin 1982; Ostrom 1990) but can also lead to over investment (see e.g. Coase 1960). For example, in case of goods or services with positive externalities, the profit seeking agent does not receive compensation for the benefits she bestows on other parties; therefore, she will not invest sufficiently into these activities. This may result in inefficient markets for this kind of goods.