Roman Boutellier

Impact of office layout on communication in a science‐driven business

Driving innovation and creativity has relied heavily on new information technologies in the last decade. Human capital has certainly had its importance, but how to coordinate human capital in order to push productivity in research and development without compromising individual initiative is still not well understood. In this paper, we provide results showing that geometry of workspace has indeed an impact on communication patterns and may thus be used as a means to drive both innovation and efficient research. In order to be creative, new knowledge has to be created. Communication facilitates knowledge creation. We try to close the bridge between areas of creation of tacit knowledge and transfer of knowledge highlighted by authors like Nonaka, Takeuchi, Konno, von Krogh and von Hippel with the area of communication patterns pioneered by Allen, Hatch, and Stryker, by considering face-to-face (FTF) communication as a first step for socialization, socialization as a means for knowledge creation. In this article, we compare two different office environments within the same site, same activity, same hierarchical level and same company: a traditional cell office area and a new multi-space office, used by people who used to work in cell offices. We observed FTF communication patterns during 120h in two areas and measured over 2,000 communication events. We found that people communicate three times more often in a multi-space area than in a cell-space area. We also found that the mean duration of communication events decreased from 9 to 3min when transferring collaborators from a cell-space to a multi-space. Finally time spent without communication increased from 5% to 29% when going from cell-offices to multi-space areas leaving more time for people to work and think on their own. And we found that most communication events during work time in the multi-space took place at the work place and seldom or never in soft sitting areas installed for the purpose of communication.

A case study of lean drug discovery: from project driven research to innovation studios and process factories

At the operational level, the number of investigational new drugs or candidates for development per dollar spent in research, and the number of patents per year are highly integrated measures of productivity and, thus, difficult to influence at the individual or lab level. Hence, different metrics are needed to assess and thereby improve productivity in research at the individual and group level. This review centers on a case study, including over 70 interviews, in a research department of a global pharmaceutical company as well as over 40 interviews in contract research organizations (CROs) and 5 in small biotechnology firms. For each lab, its value adding process was plotted according to lean six sigma methods and appropriate metrics were defined. We suggest a strong focus on short feedback loops in research as an indicator for efficiency. Our results reveal two categories of activities: creativity-driven ones and process-driven ones, both discussed with respect to the methodology used. The fundamental differences in nature of these activities require different sets of metrics to assess them. On the basis of these metrics, different organizational forms can be derived to achieve a lean research structure: innovation studios and process factories, respectively.

Transferral of Business Management Concepts to Universities as Ambidextrous Organisations

In the context of new public management reforms, many business management concepts were transferred to universities. Most studies on the transfer of business management concepts to universities show that transfers were not as successful as expected. These studies also provide nuances as to why it is such a delicate matter. However, a basic rationale of facilitating the transfer of business management concepts is missing. With this paper we provide a new rationale which can facilitate the transfer of business management concepts. We show that it is promising to model universities as ambidextrous organisations since they face the dilemma of simultaneously enabling creativity and efficiency. As such, using case study research, we find that ambidextrous universities operate within two different organisational structures. Consequently, management concepts such as risk management cannot be implemented uniformly across a university. They need to be adapted to the organisational context in order to be effective and accepted.

Exploring the 4I framework of organisational learning in product development: value stream mapping as a facilitator

Organisational learning (OL) that enhances efficiency and the continuous improvement of processes is a key objective of lean product development and has become an important principle of new product development (NPD). Therefore, it is critical for an organisation to capture individuals’ and groups’ knowledge and learning about processes, institutionalise it, and deploy it organisation-wide. Since OL is more likely to occur if it is supported systematically, NPD scholars and practitioners recognise the importance of investigating facilitators’ effect on OL. However, there is no shared understanding of OL among existing studies. This disparity makes it hard to assess, compare, and integrate prior findings into studies. Our article addresses this gap. We investigate how value stream mapping (VSM) and its implementation in NPD affect OL in development processes. Therefore, we operationalise OL on the basis of Crossan et al .s 4I framework, which is comprehensive and widely recognised (Crossan, M., Lane, H. and White, R., 199918. Crossan , M. , Lane , H. and White , R. 1999 . An organizational learning framework: from intuition to institution . The Academy of Management Review , 24 ( 3 ) : 522 – 537 . [CrossRef], [Web of Science ®] View all references. An organizational learning framework: from intuition to institution. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 522–537). We analysed the approach to VSM and its implementation in four longitudinal, comparative case studies in the German-speaking car supplier industry. Using the 4I framework, we captured VSMs effects on the various OL dimensions. We provide valuable insights for R&D managers who seek to improve their processes and want to implement VSM.Organisational learning (OL) that enhances efficiency and the continuous improvement of processes is a key objective of lean product development and has become an important principle of new product development (NPD). Therefore, it is critical for an organisation to capture individuals’ and groups’ knowledge and learning about processes, institutionalise it, and deploy it organisation-wide. Since OL is more likely to occur if it is supported systematically, NPD scholars and practitioners recognise the importance of investigating facilitators’ effect on OL. However, there is no shared understanding of OL among existing studies. This disparity makes it hard to assess, compare, and integrate prior findings into studies. Our article addresses this gap. We investigate how value stream mapping (VSM) and its implementation in NPD affect OL in development processes. Therefore, we operationalise OL on the basis of Crossan et al .s 4I framework, which is comprehensive and widely recognised (Crossan, M., Lane, H. and White, R., 1999. An organizational learning framework: from intuition to institution. The Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 522–537). We analysed the approach to VSM and its implementation in four longitudinal, comparative case studies in the German-speaking car supplier industry. Using the 4I framework, we captured VSMs effects on the various OL dimensions. We provide valuable insights for R&D managers who seek to improve their processes and want to implement VSM.

Supplier code of conduct–state-of-the-art and customisation in the electronics industry

In the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR), one efficient way to improve the ethical behaviour of a company is the implementation of a code of conduct. When focused on suppliers, this code is referred to as the supplier code of conduct (SCoC). Specific, application-oriented research on SCoCs is rare. The main goals of the present article are to define the state-of-the-art in SCoCs and to show how this review can be used in industrial practice when defining a company-specific SCoC. This article uses the electronics industry as an example. The state-of-the-art review of the content of the SCoCs is structured in five main categories of issues: labour standards, health and safety, environment, ethics and compliance. The practical relevance of this review is demonstrated by applying it in the development of a customised SCoC for a company as a part of the companys corporate risk management activities. This review uses the content analysis of SCoCs based on the website disclosures of the Forbes Fortune 2000 (Technology Hardware & Equipment) companies; which yielded 24 SCoCs. The application was done in an action research framework with a partner company, and the results were verified with the help of a focus group consisting of 10 companies.

A Longitudinal Study of Workspace Design for Knowledge Exploration and Exploitation in the Research and Development Process

In order to leverage organizational learning, scholars have already defined but are still discussing the interpretation of two different learning types, exploration and exploitation. Exploring new frontiers across knowledge domains and maintaining the balance with exploiting the existing knowledge is critical for the prosperity of an organization. The spatial dimension of organizational learning considers that proximity of employees has an influence on their learning activities, but from a rather macro perspective without taking workspace design into account. We account for these issues by examining the impact of workspace design on knowledge exploration and exploitation on the micro level at distinct stages along the value chain (i.e., the research, development and project market team unit) of Novartis, a pharmaceutical company. In a longitudinal study, employees of the three cases have been interviewed and observed over the course of three years, before and after workspace redesign. With the change from a cellular to an open workspace, employees become closer and highly visible to each other, which influences knowledge work. As the cases occurred sequentially in time, design principles were derived. The findings suggest that exploitation is supported by workspace design that leads to high proximity inducing faster feedback cycles and first-hand information. Exploration, however, is supported by workspace design that leads to high visibility triggering more cross-functional interactions and thereby the variability of knowledge. The later the stage in the research and development process, the higher the need for balanced learning activities. This balance is well reflected in a ‘multi-space’ workspace consisting of shared meeting areas, quiet zones, central staircases and integrated laboratories and desk areas.

Resource Allocation in Higher Education in The Context of New Public Management

Abstract The public administration framework New Public Management (NPM) has been applied to higher education systems in many western countries. The literature on these reforms reports on some positive effects but many critical voices can also be found. Even though NPM as a narrative unifies principles and measures under one roof, a detailed analysis shows that NPM principles fit differently for different tasks. Using a contingency approach, we show that, within the NPM narrative, two different higher education funding approaches exist, namely high-tech versus high-touch. Our study confirms the theoretical proposition that high-touch approaches match better with higher education domains. The use of contingency theory to classify NPM measures thus might be a promising way to further advance NPM theory and its practical application to topics as controversial as academic funding.

Design principles for innovative workspaces to increase efficiency in pharmaceutical R&D: lessons learned from the Novartis campus

When managing R&D departments for increased efficiency and effectiveness the focus has often been on organizational structure. Space is, however, of outstanding importance in an environment of large task uncertainty, which is the case in pharmaceutical R&D. Based on case studies about the Novartis campus in Basel, Switzerland, we propose some design principles for laboratory and office workspace to support the strong and weak ties of scientist networks. We address the diversity of technologies and specialization, as well as the pressure on time-to-market, as major challenges in pharmaceutical R&D.

Designing workspaces for cross-functional knowledge-sharing in R & D: the “co-location pilot” of Novartis

Purpose – This paper examines co-location as an important solution to design workspaces in research and development (R & D). It argues that co-locating R & D units in multi-space environments serves knowledge creation by leveraging knowledge sharing across boundaries. Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on a co-location project of the knowledge-intensive, multi-national company Novartis. To compare communication and collaboration patterns, we interviewed and observed employees before and after co-location into the “co-location pilot” and investigated a control group that was not co-located. The use of data and method triangulation as a research approach underlines the inherent dynamics of the co-location in this study. Findings – The study suggests findings leveraging knowledge sharing in two different ways. Co-location of dispersed project team members increases unplanned face-to-face communication leading to faster and more precise flows of knowledge by transcending knowledge boundaries. C...

Diffusion of potential health-related e-services: An analysis of Swiss health customer perspectives

Abstract Health-related e-services can be customised to the needs of different customer groups and as such have the potential to improve delivery efficiency and increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Based on the diffusion of innovations theory proposed by E. M. Rogers, this paper investigates the attitude of Swiss university students (n = 2,775) regarding health-related e-service trends. The paper also investigates the impact of compatibility attributes on the adoption of health-related e-services, applying a case study research methodology based on an e-survey and cross-tabulation for the data analysis. Results show that health wikis, online health accounts and rating tools for care providers were highly rated by the students. Online forums and online patient communities seem to be increasing in popularity, whereas e-services providing only company/product information were generally rather poorly rated. Furthermore, the study finds that compatibility attributes have a significant positive effect on the adoption of online health accounts and when students adopt one health-related e-service they tend to adopt another. Understanding the perceptions of different customer groups can support the development of more customer-oriented health-related e-services that have a higher potential of being accepted and utilised by customers.