Odd Jarl Borch

The relationship between resources, entrepreneurial orientation and performance in farm-based ventures

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how firm-specific resources and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of the firm may influence performance in small farm-based ventures. It builds upon theoretical strands from the resource-based and entrepreneurship perspectives. Research within these fields indicates that these relationships might be dependent on the context within which the firm operates. Hypotheses are developed to test the possible effect of entrepreneurial efforts and resources (financial position, farm size, location, network and unique competence) on short- and long-term performance. Data gathered in 2003 and 2006 from farms engaged in innovative ventures were used to test the hypotheses. The results show that financial capacity, unique competence and entrepreneurial efforts influence performance in the investigated firms. This suggests that firms do get paid back in the long run for engaging in entrepreneurial efforts. Thus, entrepreneurial activities and attitudes represent an important factor enabling firms to create, reconsider and apply their resources in more efficient ways.

Dynamic capabilities facilitating innovative strategies in SMEs

In this study we present dynamic capabilities that facilitate innovative strategies (proactive-creativity strategy and growth-risk orientation) in Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Corporate entrepreneurship is seen as the integration of opportunity-seeking and advantage-seeking actions providing new, valuable and unique business concepts. We build upon the Resource-Based View (RBV) of the firm and in particular elaborate on the accumulation of dynamic capabilities contributing to innovation and growth-oriented strategies. Based on the literature and an explorative study of 235 small- and medium-sized firms, we develop four categories of dynamic capabilities that are critical for the SMEs entrepreneurial position: internal and external reconfiguration and integration capabilities, resource acquisition capability, learning network capabilities and strategic path aligning capabilities. Most of the relations are medium to highly statistical significant for dynamic capabilities relationships with innovative strategies. Thus, the results indicated support for all the hypotheses, except of the relation between path aligning capabilities and the proactive-creativity strategy.

Business-process management in high-turbulence environments: the case of the offshore service vessel industry

This article focuses on business-process management in turbulent business environments, more specifically, the management of offshore service vessel (OSV) companies in environments of high volatility and complexity. Such logistics service providers must deal with various heterogeneous elements, and may face extreme situations with uncertain outcomes. This can have implications for the business processes and the business model implemented within the firm. The study reported here employed an explorative qualitative approach with in-depth case studies of firms in the OSV industry in the North Sea and the High Arctic. The results indicate that, in order to tackle the logistics challenges of turbulent environments, a firm may have to introduce entrepreneurial business models with strong links to external actors. To meet the needs of various stakeholders, three business processes are crucial for handling increased turbulence: (1) resource re-configuration adding basic resources as well as dynamic capabilities; (2) knowledge base and capacity, increasing cooperative relations with other firms and (3) added stakeholder- and knowledge-providing business processes. Results from in-depth studies in two different environmental contexts within offshore petroleum operations underscore the importance of adapting business-process management to task-environment complexity and uncertainty.

Collaborative Design of Advanced Vessel Technology for Offshore Operations in Arctic Waters

The paper presents the requirements and challenges to collaborative design related to the design of vessels for offshore operations in the Arctic area. We look into the design process of offshore service vessels in environments characterized by high volatility and complexity. Due to increased complexity as to functionality, the number of stakeholders and uncertainty as to environmental aspects more information from different sources have to be included, also encompassing long trial periods with user feedback. This has implications for the construction processes and the open interplay with partners in an open innovation approach.

Partner selection versus partner attraction in R&D strategic alliances: the case of the Norwegian shipping industry

In this paper, we explore how partnership context influences the process of R&D consortia formation in a mature industry, namely the shipping industry. We elaborate on the partner selection criteria and how they change over time when goals move from wide and intangible to very specific R&D tasks. We present two cases related to R&D joint projects in the high-tech Norwegian offshore service vessel industry. We find that when the aim of collaborative R&D work is narrowly defined and concentrated on the creation of clear-cut, tangible products, partner selection may be easy, with a broad range of potential partners. When the R&D aims are more broadly defined and less tangible, prospective participants are more careful and the number of partners from which a selection can be made is more limited. We discuss how different aims lead to different partner choice criteria. Implications for the strategies of developing R&D alliances are discussed.

Arctic Shipping and Risks: Emergency Categories and Response Capacities

The sea ice in the Arctic has shrunk significantly in the last decades. The transport pattern has as a result partly changed with more traffic in remote areas. This change may influence on the risk pattern. The critical factors are harsh weather, ice conditions, remoteness and vulnerability of nature. In this paper, we look into the risk of accidents in Atlantic Arctic based on previous ship accidents and the changes in maritime activity. The risk has to be assessed to ensure a proper level of emergency response. The consequences of incidents depend on the incident type, scale and location. As accidents are rare, there are limited statistics available for Arctic maritime accidents. Hence, this study offers a qualitative analysis and an expert‐based risk assessment. Implications for the emergency preparedness system of the Arctic region are discussed. http://www.transnav.eu the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation Volume 12

Emergency Management in Maritime Mass Rescue Operations: The Case of the High Arctic

Maritime activity in turbulent environments represents a challenge to the emergency preparedness system. In particular, the Arctic may be turbulent as to weather, especially in winter time. The consequences of accidents may be severe due to long distances, cold climate and limited local resources. In this chapter we look into large scale emergencies causing mass rescue from ships. We elaborate on the coordination of the broad range of search and rescue actors included in such an incident both in the air, at sea and ashore with several institutions and management levels included. We also describe the incorporation of host nation support from neighboring countries. We build upon the experiences from the accident of the cruise ship “Maxim Gorkiy” in the ice South-West of Svalbard. We illustrate the organizational structure of mass rescue operations and the coordinative roles at different levels. Finally, we discuss the implications for emergency management in extreme environments like the Arctic region.

The Offshore Oil and Gas Operations in Ice Infested Water: Resource Configuration and Operational Process Management

In this chapter, we emphasize the fleet configuration challenges of Arctic offshore oil and gas exploration. We highlight the role of offshore service vessels in achieving effective and safe oil and gas exploration activity in Arctic waters. We elaborate on the fleet resource configuration and operational management challenges. Data from case studies of operations in two High Arctic regions, the Disco Bay, Western Greenland and the Kara Sea in northwest Russia are revealed. The results show that the context of ice-infested waters, lack of infrastructure and risk related to weather and cold climate demands a more in-depth planning process including more companies and institutions, a more complex resource configuration with multi-functional vessels, and advanced Polar water competence as to logistics, managerial capacities, ice management and emergency preparedness. Implications for the industry and for further research are discussed.

Maritime Operations and Emergency Preparedness in the Arctic-Competence Standards for Search and Rescue Operations Contingencies in Polar Waters

Emergencies on large passenger ships in the remote High North may lead to a mass rescue operation with a heavy strain on the emergency preparedness systems of the Arctic countries. This study focuses on the need for competencies related to large-scale Search and Rescue operations (SAR operations) amongst the shipping companies, vessels and governments involved. A SAR operation is the activity related to finding and rescuing people in distress. Several international standards, in particular the conventions by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), provide direction for education and training of seafarers and rescue staff. This study elaborates on the operational competence requirements for key personnel involved in large scale SAR operations. Findings from real SAR incidents and exercises provide in-depth understanding on the operational challenges. The chapter gives directions for competence programs, beyond obligatory international standards, and recommendations for further research.

Introduction: becoming an entrepreneur and developing entrepreneurial behaviour

The purpose of this third book in the series ‘European Research in Entrepreneurship’ is to demonstrate the importance of entrepreneurship research at a time of turbulent environments, to present important avenues of research, and to illustrate diff erences in entrepreneurship between countries and regions. We emphasize the questions of why, what and how to study entrepreneurship. By making links to the two previous books in this series we are able to illuminate some trends in European entrepreneurship research and to illustrate how European research on entrepreneurship has evolved since our fi rst book in 2005. At that time we anticipated that the European entrepreneurship debate would gain in strength and fi nd its own profi le by revisiting its European roots in the global landscape. In the second book in 2008, these expectations were identifi ed to gather around three research orientations. First, the European approach contextualizes rather than isolates research settings. Second, more than before it views entrepreneurship as a dynamic learning and developmental process whatever the context, and third, the new ideological dialogue of entrepreneurship has started to expand its scope from business to society. In 2005 our expectations for the question ‘why study entrepreneurship?’ related to the role and value of entrepreneurial practices in society and economy, which concerns the need to provide new work and wealth for citizens in a complex and changing reality. In this respect our prediction is more than valid today. Social concepts and contexts have disembarked to theories, and complex and changing reality has inspired and strengthened opportunitydriven research. As anticipated, we have moved from the question of the entrepreneur’s role in the economy towards the importance