International Journal of Innovation Science

Trusko, Brett

2014 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1260/1757-2223.6.3.i

Mostafavi, Ali; Abraham, Dulcy; Sinfield, Joseph

2014 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1260/1757-2223.6.3.127

Due to the growing demand for civil infrastructure, financial innovations are required to close the financing gap. However, a lack of theories has inhibited a complete understanding and, thus, creation and diffusion of financial innovation. A lack of theory about financial innovations in infrastructure is mainly due to the absence of a framework to conceptualize these innovations. A typology that enables comparison of financial systems and, hence, provide a framework to conceptualize financial innovations is missing in the existing literature. This paper defines innovation in the context of financing, funding and delivery of infrastructure projects and proposes a new typology for conceptualization of the loci and types of financial innovations in infrastructure. The loci of innovations are in risk mitigation, regulation, cash flow, contract, organizational, and capital sub-systems. Types of innovations are classified as either integrated or modular and either sustaining or disruptive. The typology was tested by mapping seven innovations created by the U. S. Federal Highway Administration and diffused into 232 transportation projects between 1994 and 2002. Qualitative comparative analysis was then used to evaluate the diffusion trends of financial innovations in the case studies and to demonstrate the capability of the proposed typology for facilitating theory building in the area of infrastructure financial innovations.

Ozor, Frederick

2014 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1260/1757-2223.6.3.145

Using primary data generated from samples of research units within the Gambia public research sector, this two-phased inquiry seeks to identify and explain factors in research governance that influence scientific knowledge production. In contributing to empirical discussions on the impact levels of different governance models and structures to scientific output, which appear limited and mixed in literature, this study suggests, first, that scientific committee structures with significant research steering autonomy could not only directly contribute to scientific output, but also indirectly through moderating effects on research practices. It further argues that autonomous scientific committee structures tend to play a better steering role than a management-centric model and structure of research governance. Second, elaborating and providing a more insightful explanation and perspective on individual research behaviours and outcome of research, the study argues that communication and collaborative networks could improve research practices and behaviours, which is a most important predictor of scientific performance. Third, research related behaviours are multi-dimensional; they include publication behaviour, publication orientation, funding behaviour, decisions about research priorities and agenda, as well as the communication behaviour of the scientist — all of which are critical for scientific knowledge production. Fourth, analysis of results suggests that intrinsically motivated curiosity is crucial in driving creative and innovative research. For this reason, results of analysis showing negative contribution of non-supportive institutional conditions and positive contribution of intrinsic motivation suggest far reaching implications for the competiveness of a country like Gambia, which is still working to build and improve its science and technology base.

Wang, Kai

2014 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1260/1757-2223.6.3.167

This article explores the research patterns and organizational features within R&D sector in China's biotechnology industry, delineating the innovation in knowledge production and industrial development. The more recent development of China's biotechnology industry is briefly overviewed from an interdisciplinary perspective, whilst a set of salient features embodied by social actors are envisaged as have so far strongly shaped the market-based, commercially driven mode of scientific knowledge production in the R&D activities. Furthermore, this mode serves as a premise to the innovation of the interaction-network. The implications derived from this analytical work shed a new light upon policy-making both at the level of S&T governance and in the management practice in China's biotechnology industry.

Silva, Alberto

2014 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1260/1757-2223.6.3.177

A case study of a large food and beverage corporation is presented to show why and how this company changed from very conservative to very innovative. As a result of the study a company innovation development model is suggested, based on resources and capabilities to change and innovate, market orientation, leadership, free exchange of ideas, a climate favorable to change and innovation, and research and development projects.

Harter, Nathan

2014 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1260/1757-2223.6.3.183

This essay applies one of the lessons from the lectures of James March on the necessity of imagination for understanding real-world phenomena such as the processes of innovation, despite the imagination's potential to ruin learning. A science of innovation depends on empirical studies from the past, yet it must capture those studies within stories. The essay concludes by encouraging scholars to examine the adequacy of those stories and consider enriching the storehouse of stories about processes of innovation from great works of literature.