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- Baraldi, Enrico, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Start-ups and networks : Interactive perspectives and a research agenda
- 2019
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Ingår i: Industrial Marketing Management. - : Elsevier. - 0019-8501 .- 1873-2062. ; 80, s. 58-67
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article introduces Industrial Marketing Management's special issue on start-ups and networks. To begin with, we stress the relevance of understanding the context wherein entrepreneurship unfolds – a context filled with social, technical and economic connections to which the start-up needs to relate. We also present and confront three network perspectives which bring different insights to the interplay between start-ups and networks: Social Network (SN) theory, the Industrial Marketing & Purchasing (IMP) view, and Actor-Network Theory (ANT). Next, we introduce the 12 papers of this special issue and place them on a continuum covering a start-up's process of network embedding and including the three periods of establishment, consolidation and stabilization. We conclude with a research agenda suggesting five avenues for further research: (1) tracing start-ups' process of network embedding, (2) mapping the connections between the different networks affecting a start-up, (3) grasping the negative effects of networks on start-ups, (4) making longitudinal case studies on start-ups and networks more comparable via common analytical tools, and (5) investigating how policy influences the complex interplay between start-ups and networks.
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| 2. |
- Brantnell, Anders, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Testbed for Material and Additive Manufacturing : Needs Analysis and Benchmarking
- 2022
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The manufacturing industry is facing a radical transformation due to digitization of production, demands on sustainable production, and possibilities of additive manufacturing (AM). AM, an alternative to mechanical manufacturing, provides several benefits such as rapid prototyping and low environmental impact. AM offers an opportunity for companies to improve their competitive conditions and value offerings while contributing to sustainable development. However, AM also poses challenges for companies, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as these companies often lack the financial resources and expertise to use new manufacturing methods. Testbeds are one way to support companies and accelerate change towards AM. This report builds on previous investigations concerning testbeds and AM and explores the possibilities and conditions to establish a testbed with a focus on AM in the Uppsala Region. This report builds on site visits and interviews with ten existing testbeds and site visits and interviews with 14 companies. The testbeds were spread around the country, and the companies were centered on the Uppsala Region.The findings are divided into two clusters: companies and testbeds. Altogether, nine companies either manufactured AM components or AM powder. All 14 companies had experience using AM, which is a clear indication that all these companies are early adopters or potential early adopters of AM. The companies that did not use AM (non-adopters) considered AM to be a promising technology but believed that AM did not fit with their current operations. The non-adopters believed AM was best suited for R&D, where proof of concepts and prototypes are developed and explored, which implies low technical maturity. Most the companies saw AM as a possibility for their operations. Non-adopters perceived AM as a possible complement to traditional manufacturing. Several non-adopters noted that they would adopt AM if customers requested it. Many non-adopters had difficulties identifying a business case for AM. In total, seven of the 14 companies had no experience with testbeds. Many companies envisioned a physical facility placed preferably near Uppsala and considered that a testbed could be helpful with material development. Many of the companies preferred a pay per use price model for the testbed. Furthermore, many of the companies were not willing to invest in creation of a testbed, but they were interested in using a testbed if available.Of the ten testbeds investigated, six integrate AM in their operations. Irrespective of whether the testbeds used AM, the establishment of the testbeds can be seen as an incremental trial and error process, which takes time and often starts with common projects. The path to establishing a formal testbed varied across the testbeds, but all the testbeds were developed based on the needs of their stakeholders such as academia or industry. Most of the testbeds needed to secure financing. Many of the testbeds initially received public funding, and these funds were used to establish facilities and set up an organization. The main challenge lies in having long-term financing covering running costs of rent, maintenance, human resources, and continuous investments. In addition to pay per use fees, a base funding originating (e.g., from member organizations) is crucial for long-term survival. The testbeds had difficulties estimating capacity use of the facilities, but all concluded the use is not yet 100%, so there are possibilities to increase the use of the facilities. It is clear that the testbeds need to define the value of the testbeds from a user perspective. Many testbeds experience challenges attracting SMEs irrespective of whether they focus on AM.Based on the investigation, this report formulates one key recommendation: Create a joint testbed building on the existing AM competences and facilities in Uppsala by combining existing testbeds (AM@Ångström and U-PRINT) into one testbed.That is, it is not viable to establish a totally new physical testbed as this would require several years of development and high investment costs. There are three main opportunities concerning this recommendation: 1) added value for Uppsala University and external users; 2) new user groups, and 3) specialization on life sciences.
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| 3. |
- Crespin-Mazet, Florence, et al.
(författare)
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Antecedents of project partnering in the construction industry : The impact of relationship history
- 2015
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Ingår i: Industrial Marketing Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0019-8501 .- 1873-2062. ; 50, s. 4-15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper aims at increasing the understanding of construction partnering and relationships in project marketing by analyzing the impact of previous relationships among project stakeholders on the choice of partnering and of partners. Based on a conceptual framework combining the insights of the Industrial Network Approach with the model of project co-development proposed by Crespin-Mazet and Ghauri (2007), the paper analyzes a focal partnering project and its connections to other projects. It concludes that the context of the relationships seems to influence the customer's selection of partnering and partners. The paper's contributions address the relative importance of the project's functional challenge and relational congruence in the project network on the customer's procurement choice. For a first partnering agreement, this choice seems primarily influenced by the project's functional challenge while the subsequent choice of partners relies on high relational congruence. Once a positive experience of project partnering gained, the customer's choice seems primarily influenced by the relational congruence in the project network so as to harvest previous investments (resource adaptations) made in their relationship with a given partner. The paper highlights several contributions to the construction partnering literature and project marketing literature.
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| 6. |
- Crespin-Mazet, F., et al.
(författare)
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The diffusion of innovation in project-based firms – linking the temporary and permanent levels of organisation
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of business & industrial marketing. - : Emerald. - 0885-8624 .- 2052-1189. ; 36:9, s. 1692-1705
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this study is to address the problematic yet under-researched issue of the disconnectedness of the temporary and permanent levels of organisation in project-based firms in terms of learning and innovation diffusion. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on a longitudinal case study of a pioneering French construction firm introducing the partnering method in France. Based on an abductive approach, the analytical framework combines insights of the literature on community and networks of practice to investigate the processes and mechanisms of diffusion of innovation in project-based firms. Findings: The function of semi-permanent organisational levels in connecting the temporary and permanent levels of the firm – the communities of practice (CoPs) and network of practice (NoP) exists besides the formal organization of the firm. As a social learning process, innovation diffusion involves both formal (i.e. vertical) and informal (i.e. horizontal) forms of organising and learning. Intermediary and informal ways of organising enables the embedding of innovation both in terms of content and connections. Foremost, CoPs/NoPs contribute to relational embeddedness. Boundary actors and objects are essential in crossing the different levels of embeddedness to overcome the learning boundaries between temporary projects and the permanent firm. Research limitations/implications: The investigation is built on a single case study and further empirical research is needed, preferably longitudinal case studies, as this allows greater capture of the diffusion process. The authors suggest further studies using practice-based perspectives to capture the formal and informal ways of organising innovation diffusion. Practical implications: Managerial interventions should favour the development of the informal dynamics of community and networks to foster both innovation and its diffusion. The managerial challenge lies in creating the right prerequisites for the existence of both the informal community logics of organising and the formal top management decision-making, and to orchestrate their timing in the diffusion process. Social implications: The study reveals the importance of both formal and informal networks in driving innovation. As such, project-based firms should be aware of these dynamics when striving for change. Originality/value: The study contributes to the literatures on diffusion of innovation, project marketing and construction management. It includes new insights related to the function of intermediary and informal organisational levels of project-based organisations, the dynamics and connection between the temporary and permanent levels of the project-based firm related to communities and networks of practice, and the boundary spanning activities that are involved between the formal and informal levels of the firm.
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