IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/intemj/v15y2019i1d10.1007_s11365-018-0550-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Knowledge processing and ecosystem co-creation for process innovation: Managing joint knowledge processing in process innovation projects

Author

Listed:
  • David Sjödin

    (Luleå University of Technology)

Abstract

Process innovation drives industrial competitiveness and sustainability but remains elusive since it requires co-creation and the sharing of idiosyncratic design knowledge in ecosystems of providers and customers of process equipment. This paper investigates how firms can manage knowledge processing through co-creation in joint process innovation projects. Analysis of cross-comparative case studies –including nine industrial ecosystem actors – identifies three types of technological challenge (complexity, novelty and customization) that creates knowledge-processing requirements (uncertainty, equivocality) during the value co-creation process. To manage these knowledge-processing requirements, this paper explains how three joint knowledge-processing strategies (joint problem solving, open communication and end-user involvement) help ecosystem partners make sense of the requirements and demands in process innovation. In this context, the procurement approach (such as contracting and relationship development) helps to facilitate higher levels of joint knowledge processing, drawing on the diverse knowledge of ecosystem actors to secure successful process-innovation outcomes. The present study contributes to the emerging literature on co-creation in process innovation by developing a framework that highlights the knowledge-processing dynamics in ecosystem relationships for process innovation. The implications for management extends to a practical tool that guides project managers in ensuring appropriate levels of joint knowledge processing among ecosystem actors.

Suggested Citation

  • David Sjödin, 2019. "Knowledge processing and ecosystem co-creation for process innovation: Managing joint knowledge processing in process innovation projects," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 135-162, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:intemj:v:15:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11365-018-0550-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11365-018-0550-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11365-018-0550-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11365-018-0550-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Richard L. Daft & Robert H. Lengel, 1986. "Organizational Information Requirements, Media Richness and Structural Design," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(5), pages 554-571, May.
    2. Thomas Lager, 2010. "The Process Industries," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Managing Process Innovation From Idea Generation to Implementation, volume 17, chapter 2, pages 13-29, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    3. von Hippel, Eric & Tyre, Marcie J., 1995. "How learning by doing is done: problem identification in novel process equipment," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 1-12, January.
    4. Pisano, Gary P., 1996. "Learning-before-doing in the development of new process technology," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(7), pages 1097-1119, October.
    5. Toke Reichstein & Ammon Salter, 2006. "Investigating the sources of process innovation among UK manufacturing firms," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 15(4), pages 653-682, August.
    6. Robertson, Paul L. & Casali, G.L. & Jacobson, David, 2012. "Managing open incremental process innovation: Absorptive Capacity and distributed learning," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 822-832.
    7. Robertson, Paul & Smith, Keith & von Tunzelmann, Nick, 2009. "Innovation in low- and medium-technology industries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 441-446, April.
    8. Hutcheson, P. & Pearson, A. W. & Ball, D. F., 1996. "Sources of technical innovation in the network of companies providing chemical process plant and equipment," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 25-41, January.
    9. David Rönnberg Sjödin & P. E. Eriksson, 2010. "Procurement Procedures For Supplier Integration And Open Innovation In Mature Industries," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(04), pages 655-682.
    10. Alistair R. Anderson & Jialin Hardwick, 2017. "Collaborating for innovation: the socialised management of knowledge," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 1181-1197, December.
    11. Filippou, Dimitrios & King, Michael G., 2011. "R&D prospects in the mining and metals industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 276-284, September.
    12. Nerine Mary George & Vinit Parida & Tom Lahti & Joakim Wincent, 2016. "A systematic literature review of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition: insights on influencing factors," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 309-350, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hui Zhang & Huanhuan Xiong & Jianxin Xu, 2022. "Dynamic Simulation Research on the Effect of Governance Mechanism on Value Co-Creation of Blockchain Industry Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kamalaldin, Anmar & Sjödin, David & Hullova, Dusana & Parida, Vinit, 2021. "Configuring ecosystem strategies for digitally enabled process innovation: A framework for equipment suppliers in the process industries," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    2. Hullova, Dusana & Trott, Paul & Simms, Christopher Don, 2016. "Uncovering the reciprocal complementarity between product and process innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(5), pages 929-940.
    3. Simms, Christopher & Frishammar, Johan & Ford, Nicholas, 2021. "The front end in radical process innovation projects: Sources of knowledge problems and coping mechanisms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    4. Gabriel Szulanski & Dimo Ringov & Robert J. Jensen, 2016. "Overcoming Stickiness: How the Timing of Knowledge Transfer Methods Affects Transfer Difficulty," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(2), pages 304-322, April.
    5. Agathe Gilain & Pascal Le Masson & Benoit Weil, 2018. "Managing Learning Curves In The Unknown: From ‘Learning By Doing’ To ‘Learning By Designing’," Post-Print hal-01900961, HAL.
    6. Arie Y Lewin & Silvia Massini & Carine Peeters, 2020. "Absorptive capacity, socially enabling mechanisms, and the role of learning from trial and error experiments: A tribute to Dan Levinthal’s contribution to international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(9), pages 1568-1579, December.
    7. Seo, Hangyeol & Chung, Yanghon & Yoon, Hyungseok (David), 2017. "R&D cooperation and unintended innovation performance: Role of appropriability regimes and sectoral characteristics," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 66, pages 28-42.
    8. Simge Tuna & Stefano Brusoni & Anja Schulze, 2019. "Architectural knowledge generation: evidence from a field study," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 28(5), pages 977-1009.
    9. Hullova, Dusana & Simms, Christopher Don & Trott, Paul & Laczko, Pavel, 2019. "Critical capabilities for effective management of complementarity between product and process innovation: Cases from the food and drink industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 339-354.
    10. Fernandes, Kiran Jude & Milewski, Simon & Chaudhuri, Atanu & Xiong, Yu, 2022. "Contextualising the role of external partnerships to innovate the core and enabling processes of an organisation: A resource and knowledge-based view," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 146-162.
    11. Annika Lorenz & Michael Raven & Knut Blind, 2019. "The role of standardization at the interface of product and process development in biotechnology," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 1097-1133, August.
    12. MahdaviMazdeh, Hossein & Saunders, Chad & Hawkins, Richard William & Dewald, Jim, 2021. "Reconsidering the dynamics of innovation in the natural resource industries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    13. Rachel Bocquet & Sandra Dubouloz, 2020. "Firm Openness and Managerial Innovation: Rebalancing Deliberate Actions and Institutional Pressures," Journal of Innovation Economics, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(2), pages 43-74.
    14. Szulanski, Gabriel, 2000. "The Process of Knowledge Transfer: A Diachronic Analysis of Stickiness," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 82(1), pages 9-27, May.
    15. Narula, R. & Ashok, M. & Martinez-Noya, A., 2014. "End-user collaboration for process innovation in services: The role of internal resources," MERIT Working Papers 2014-019, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    16. Onufrey, Ksenia & Bergek, Anna, 2020. "Second wind for exploitation: Pursuing high degrees of product and process innovativeness in mature industries," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    17. Ashok, Mona & Narula, Rajneesh & Martinez-Noya, Andrea, 2016. "How do collaboration and investments in knowledge management affect process innovation in services?," MERIT Working Papers 039, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    18. Andreas Braun & Laura Bockelmann, 2016. "An Individual Perspective On Open Innovation Capabilities In The Context Of Haute Cuisine," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(01), pages 1-24, January.
    19. Narula, R. & Ashok, M. & Martinez-Noya, A., 2014. "End-user collaboration for process innovation in services: The role of internal resources," MERIT Working Papers 019, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    20. Neirotti, Paolo & Pesce, Danilo & Battaglia, Daniele, 2021. "Algorithms for operational decision-making: An absorptive capacity perspective on the process of converting data into relevant knowledge," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:intemj:v:15:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11365-018-0550-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.