International Journal of Innovation Management

Based on theoretical reflections about the importance of regions in firm innovation, it is the aim of this paper to assess the probability, as well as the degree, that structural (firm internal) and regional characteristics, such as the type of region, agglomeration economies, regional and inter-regional networking, account for the undertaking of product and process innovations. Guided by four core hypotheses incorporating different theoretical arguments, logistic regression models for urban, intermediate and peripheral regions are set up to test the explanatory contribution of firm-related and regional variables in the realisation of innovations in different regional environments. The data used in this paper originate from an industrial innovation survey carried out in several German regions and two French regions. It will be shown that for firms located in the regions under investigation, "space" clearly matters in innovation. However, this takes place more on a perceptive rather than on a politically defined territorial basis.

Dealing with complex and uncertain environments requires a steady stream of innovation as well as occasional radical transition. Developing mechanisms to secure such continuous improvement (CI) is seen as a major strategic priority for many organisations. In particular, it raises the challenge of increasing employee involvement in the innovation process and of mobilising widespread problem-solving and learning behaviour. This paper reports on a major five-year research programme in the United Kingdom which explores the implementation of high involvement incremental innovation activities. It presents a reference model developed in this work for helping position and guide organisations in their implementation of CI.

This paper explores the management of innovation in project-based firms. Our research indicates that the traditional boundary between manufacturing and services is becoming obsolete as new forms of manufacturing emerge to supply physical products packaged together with intangible services. Many complex products are now designed, produced and operated as discrete or small batch projects, leading to a growth in firms specialising in project-based activities. These range from the provision of specialist services to co-ordination and systems integration. Not enough is known about how project-based firms manage technology. This paper attempts to develop a framework for understanding the dynamics of project-based firms. It offers a new approach to understanding how they improve performance by focusing on the development of technical capabilities in the context of the provision of enhanced services.

New research on the behaviour and performance of over 200 fast-moving consumer businesses selling through multiple outlets show that: (i) the "economic case" for branding can be demonstrated — there is evidence that brands can help producers bring new products and services to market, and that they help consumers exercise effective choice of "value for money"; (ii) branded producers are more innovative than their non-branded counterparts; (iii) branded producers typically create significantly more value added from investment in innovation; and (iv) non-price competition is particularly strong in the branded sector, with the key drivers of growth for individual businesses being improving value position, innovation advantage and reputation. Branded product markets show these "rules" for business growth much more clearly than businesses in the economy as a whole. In branded businesses, we can identify the impact of investment in intangibles — communication and technology development — through the strengthening of capabilities, the building of intangible business assets in the form of reputation, innovative edge and value advantage. This comprises a model for innovation which is both statistically valid and endorsed by practising managers.

Previous research has explored the value of using patent citations, versus simple patent counts, as indicators of innovative value. However, little work has delved into whether a company's patent citations are to its own patents or to external ones. This study examines the relationship between publishing and patenting using patent citation analysis that is separated into internal and external cites, with self-citations as a measure of internal knowledge development. Its results are that publishing patterns and internal knowledge development are correlated, which may provide a different view of Cohen and Levinthal's absorptive capacity model. In addition, these findings' plausibility was confirmed through an interview with a practising research manager.