Open Innovation Process for Inter-Organizational Projects

Open Innovation (OI) research has covered various organizational forms in dimensions of durability (permanent versus temporary organizing) and organizational scope (intra- or inter-organizational). Inter-organizational forms - both temporary and permanent – are regarded mainly as modes of OI. However, these organizational forms also act as initiators of OI activities to extend knowledge transfer across the inter-organizational consortium borders, which is hardly researched. To address this gap, the research presented in this article develops an OI process for inter-organizational projects (IOP) as initiators of OI. The initial model is developed by action research with an IOP of museums and educational institutions implementing a series of hackathons. The model’s applicability is then evaluated for other IOPs by a survey, indicating the model’s suitability for practitioners. Findings point to the importance of collaborative activities for aligning the OI initiative with both individual partners’ and common project goals, while outbound activities are regarded least important despite the time-limitation of the project. The research is limited by its focus on the specific IOP environment of EU-funded projects and the small scope of the survey.

Impacto del modelo dual de TSU en logística área cadena de suministros en la ciudad de San Luis Potosí

The lack of professionals specialized in key issues for modern industry at the entrance of the digital supply chain and of accelerated changes in technology is a variable in most Latin American countries. At the international level, the “dual learning system” model has emerged that combines the theoretical training of the university with the practice in the organization, in a way that strengthens the knowledge of the apprentices to ensure business requirements and, at the same time, develop their own employability. The objective of the article is to publicize the acceptance of the dual model in the state of San Luis Potosí, covering the educational program in Higher University Technician in Logistics in the Supply Chain area based on interviews and surveys applied to students and internal staff of the organization. As a result, the deductive methodology was applied for the identification of fundamental variables in order to develop an analytical model that seeks to determine the processes of the logistics chain within the organizational scope.

Acceptance and Use of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE): Structural Equations Modeling of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology

UTAUT 2 is a model designed to be a starting point for investigating IT adoption and can be used to identify the factors that influence the intention to use it, as well as to be adopted by an organization. The main objective of this research is to validate the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model by applying the questionnaire to students of a university that has gone through the process of implementing a virtual learning environment. The method is the quantitative one, through the survey strategy. As for the time horizon of the survey, a transversal cut was chosen. The techniques and procedures adopted were the modeling of structural equations with partial least squares in the Smart-PLS 3 software. The instrument used in this article is an adaptation of the questionnaire of Venkatesh et al (2012). The results point to evidence of converging and descriminating validity. This research contributes to the Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use (UTAUT) as it is applied in different environments, evidencing characteristics that may allow its generalization. Finally, in the practical scope, it is possible to use this tool to evaluate and plan the acceptance of a new technology in the organizational scope.

Regional Integration Theory

Regional integration theory seeks to explain the establishment and development of regional international organizations. Key questions are why and under which conditions states decide to transfer political authority to regional organizations; how regional organizations expand their tasks, competencies, and members; and what impact they have on states and societies in their regions. Whereas regional integration theory started with a broad comparative regional and organizational scope in the 1950s and 1960s, it has since focused on European integration and the European Union. The main (families of) theories explaining the development of European integration—rather than decision making and policy making in the EU—are intergovernmentalism, neofunctionalism, and postfunctionalism. The key debates in regional integration theory have taken place between variants of intergovernmentalist and neofunctionalist integration theory. Intergovernmentalism assumes national governments to be the key actors in regional integration. Governments use regional integration to maximize their national security and economic interests in the context of regional interdependence. Integration outcomes result from intergovernmental bargaining and reflect the regional preference and power constellations. Governments delegate authority to regional organizations to secure their bargaining outcomes but remain in control of regional organizations and the integration process. By contrast, neofunctionalism disputes that governments are able to control the integration process. Transnational corporations and interest groups as well as supranational actors are empowered by the integration process and shape it in their own interest. In addition, integration creates a variety of “spillovers” and path-dependencies that push integration beyond the intergovernmental bargain. More recently, postfunctionalism has enriched and challenged the theoretical debate on regional integration. In contrast to neofunctionalism, postfunctionalism assumes a backlash mechanism of integration. As regional integration progresses and undermines national sovereignty and community, it creates economic and cultural losers who are mobilized by integration-skeptic parties. Identity-based and populist mass politicization constrains regional integration and may even cause disintegration. Regional integration theories have closely followed and adapted themselves to the development of European integration. They cover the establishment and progress of supranational policies and institutions but also the recent crisis of the EU. An exemplary review of their explanations of major development in European integration shows that they are more complementary than competing.

Power Distance as A National Culture Observed in Organizational Scope

Objective - Cultural factors have significant roles in creating behavior in an organization. This research claims that national culture like power distance that is usually measured in a national scope actually can have a better result when it is measured in the organizational scope. The goal of this research is to find out the level of power distance among private lecturers in Banjarmasin, Indonesia, and compare it to Hofstede's power distance for the whole country. Methodology/Technique - This research uses explanatory research that tries to understand the degree of power distance among private university lecturers in Banjarmasin. The populations used were all lecturers in private colleges in Banjarmasin City. The samples used were 86 lecturers who have become a lecturer for at least 2 years. The analysis is done through a descriptive quantitative method measuring the level of power distance among lecturers in Banjarmasin and with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to understand which indicators that have the strongest influence in creating power distance culture among lecturers in Banjarmasin. Findings – The results of the research show that power distance culture is low among the lecturers in Banjarmasin City, with indicator "The level of authority used by the leader" as the lowest factor. The result also finds that the indicator "subordinates Exclusion in decision-making" as the strongest indicator to form power distance culture. Novelty - This research conducted in the context of Indonesia using primary data. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: National culture; Organizational culture; Power distance; Hofstede; Banjarmasin City. JEL Classification: M50, M54.

Supply chain management research in management journals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and review empirical strategic management articles that pertain to supply chain management (SCM) and are published in top management journals. Design/methodology/approach – The researchers review all articles published in five top management journals, namely, Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, Management Science, Organization Science, and Strategic Management Journal, from 2004 to 2013, to identify empirical articles relevant to SCM. The researchers subsequently categorize the literature in thematic categories and subcategories, and they identify the theories informing the research and the methodologies applied. Findings – The most prevalent finding of this literature review is that abundant research pertaining to SCM is being published in top management journals. This demonstrates that SCM is a broad phenomenon studied by scholars across disciplines; thus, a broader literature perspective can be beneficial to those working in this area. Moreover, the reviewed studies are informed by theories that extend beyond the “traditionally used” resource-based view and transaction cost economics. Finally, the majority of the research suggests an inter-organizational scope. Originality/value – This study familiarizes logistics/SCM scholars with SCM-related research conducted in the strategic management field, informing them about the types of phenomena studied by strategic management scholars, the theoretical lenses and literature used to enhance understanding of these phenomena, and the empirical methodologies applied to examine those. Importantly, through this familiarization, logistics/SCM scholars can learn from but also contribute to the strategic management literature that pertains to SCM.