Résumés
Abstract
Spatially distributed knowledge in MNCs presents a challenge for the emergence of discontinuous innovations. Our study suggests that a firm’s ability to efficiently exploit international knowledge during the ‘fuzzy front end’ (FFE) depends on the relationship between international subsidiaries and the rest of the firm. Based on an in-depth case study in an international industrial firm, our empirical work identifies two coordination mechanisms firms can apply to manage their knowledge flows and thus reposition subsidiaries to favor discontinuous innovations: the managerial commitment towards local innovation activities, and the embeddedness of local employees into global innovation processes.
Keywords:
- Knowledge,
- Discontinuous innovation,
- MNCs,
- Global innovation process,
- Managerial Commitment
Résumé
Le fait que les connaissances sont localisées à distance représente un défi pour l’émergence des innovations discontinues dans les entreprises multinationales. Notre travail suggère que la capacité à exploiter efficacement les connaissances internationales au cours du processus d’innovation dépend de la relation entre les filiales internationales et le reste de l’entreprise. En s’appuyant sur une étude de cas dans une entreprise industrielle internationale, nous identifions deux mécanismes pour gérer ces flux de connaissances et ainsi repositionner les filiales pour favoriser les innovations discontinues : l’engagement managérial envers les activités d’innovation locales, et l’intégration des employés locaux dans les processus globaux.
Mots-clés :
- Connaissances,
- Innovations Discontinues,
- Entreprises Multinationales,
- Processus d’innovation global,
- Engagement managérial
Resumen
El hecho de que el conocimiento se localice a distancia representa un reto para la aparición de innovaciones discontinuas en las empresas multinacionales. Nuestro trabajo sugiere que la capacidad de explotar el conocimiento internacional durante el proceso de innovación depende de la relación entre las filiales internacionales y la empresa. A partir de un estudio de caso en una empresa industrial, identificamos dos mecanismos para gestionar estos flujos de conocimiento y reposicionar así a las filiales para fomentar las innovaciones discontinuas: el compromiso directivo con las actividades de innovación locales y la integración de los empleados en los procesos globales.
Palabras clave:
- Conocimiento,
- Innovaciones discontinuas,
- Empresas multinacionales,
- Proceso global de innovación,
- Compromiso directivo
Parties annexes
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