The editors are experienced, well published authors in the area of innovation and economic development. This book offers a wide coverage of issues within Europe.

In today’s world of business, gaining an advantage of competitors is a focal point for organizations and a driving force in the economy. New practices are being studied and implemented constantly by rivaling companies. Many industries have begun putting emphasis on intensive knowledge practices, with the belief that implementing cutting-edge learning practices will fuel research and innovation within the company. Understanding this dynamic method of management is critical for managers and executives who wish to propel the success of their organizations. Knowledge Management, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in a Changing World is a collection of pioneering research on the methods of gaining organizational advantages based on knowledge innovation and management. While highlighting topics including human-robot teaming, organizational learning, and e-collaboration, this book will explore the sustainable links between knowledge management influences and organizational capability. This book is ideally designed for managers, strategists, economists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, business professionals, researchers, students, and academics seeking research on recent trends in innovative economics and business technologies.

In the last four decades the developed economies have developed into veritable knowledge economies at the same time as more and more economies have entered the road to economic development. Typical for the developments during this time has been substantially increased investments in research and development (R&D) to generate new knowledge and new technologies and increased investments in diffusing existing knowledge by means of education and thereby raising the volume of human capital. However, many member states and regions within the EU are struggling with their economic development. This book explores the uneven patterns of development within the EU, discusses the relative effect of investments on innovation and productivity growth and looks at the mechanisms involved in economic development and policy.

Technology-based firms continue to compete primarily on innovation, and one continuously required to present new solutions to an exacting market. As technological complexity and specialization intensifies, firms increasingly need to integrate and co-ordinate knowledge by means of project groups, diversified organizations, inter-organizational partnerships, and strategic alliances. Innovation processes have progressively become interdisciplinary, collaborative, inter-organizational, and international, and a firm's ability to synthesize knowledge across disciplines, organizations, and geographical locations has a major influence on its viability and success. This book demonstrates how knowledge integration is crucial in facilitating innovation within modern firms. This book provides original, detailed empirical studies of prerequisites, mechanisms, and outcomes of knowledge integration processes on several organizational levels, from key individuals, projects, and internal organizations, to collaboration between firms. It stresses the need to understand knowledge integration as a multi-level phenomenon, which requires a broad repertoire of organizational and technical means. It further clarifies the need for strong internal capabilities for exploiting external knowledge, reveals how costs of knowledge integration affect outcomes and strategic decisions, and discusses the managerial implications of fostering knowledge integration, providing practical guidance and support for managers of knowledge integration in high technology enterprises.

This book analyzes a range of social contexts in which human decisions shape technology in the market economy. It comprises a critical review of both a select research literature and in-depth historical studies. Material is drawn from many social science disciplines to inform the reader of the reality of taking decisions on innovation.

A comprehensive exploration of technology's role in adult learning Technology and Innovation in Adult Learning introduces educators and students to the intersection of adult learning and the growing technological revolution. Written by an internationally recognized expert in the field, this book explores the theory, research, and practice driving innovation in both adult learning and learning technology, and illuminates a powerful approach to recognize and leverage these opportunities. Building on current trends and research in technology and its use, each chapter illustrates the need, opportunities, and examples of current and future technologies that scaffold adult learning, and provides comprehensive coverage of both current and emerging challenges. Many adult learning faculty, practitioners, and students realize that technology presents a growing and ever-present set of issues, yet few feel confident in identifying the opportunities that arise with each step forward. This book clarifies the interplay between adult learning and learning technology, and characterizes the cyclic exchange of information and opportunities that link these fields now and in the future. Understand the critical issues currently affecting adult learning Learn how technology is presenting both opportunities and challenges for the teaching and learning of adults in different contexts Examine recent research on learning technology for adult learners Discover how technological innovation can be applied now and how it will continue to shape the future of learning Adult learning is on the rise, and there is no mistaking technology's role; whether they're learning with or about technology, today's adult learners come with unique sets of needs and skills that demand specialized approaches. Traditional pedagogical techniques don't transfer directly, and learning technology requires its own unique approach to development and use. Technology and Innovation in Adult Learning equips practitioners to further adult learning and shape the future of the field, while providing a rich perspective for classroom inquiry and research.

The ways in which codified and tacit knowledge are sourced, transferred, and combined are critical in furthering open innovation. When used effectively, knowledge sharing and organizational success are significantly increased, improving products and services. The Role of Knowledge Transfer in Open Innovation is a collection of innovative research on a set of analyses, reflections, and recommendations within the framework of knowledge transfer practices in different areas of knowledge and in various industries. While highlighting topics including tacit knowledge, organizational culture, and knowledge representation, this book is ideally designed for professionals, academicians, and researchers seeking current research on the best practices for transfer of knowledge as an intermediate open innovation.

This open access book offers unique and novel views on the social innovation landscape, tools, practices, pedagogies, and research in the context of higher education. International, multi-disciplinary academics and industry leaders present new developments, research evidence, and practice expertise on social innovation in higher education institutions (HEIs), across academic and professional disciplines. The book includes a selected set of peer-reviewed chapters presenting different perspectives against which relevant actors can identify and analyse social innovation in HEIs. The volume demonstrates how HEIs can respond to societal challenges, support positive social change, and contribute to the development of international public policy discourse. It answers the question ‘how does the present higher education system, in different countries, promote social innovation and create social change and impact’. In answering this question, the book identifies factors driving success as well as obstacles. Furthermore, it examines how higher education innovation assists societal challenges and investigates the benefits of effective social innovation engagement by HEIs. The interdisciplinary approach of the volume makes it a must-read for scholars, students, policy-makers, and practitioners of economics, education, business and management, political science, and sociology interested in a better understanding of social innovation.

Internet and social networks play a critical role in the evolution of processes and functional areas that allow businesses to reach a wider base of end-users and achieve competitive advantage in their respective markets. Quality Innovation: Knowledge, Theory, and Practices presents a compilation of recent theoretical frameworks, case studies, and empirical research findings in the area of quality innovation. It highlights the theories, strategies, and potential concerns for organizations engaged in change management designed to address stakeholders’ needs. This reference volume serves as a valuable resource for researchers, business professionals, and students in a variety of fields and disciplines.

Knowledge Management focuses on identifying, sharing, storing, and exploiting internal knowledge, whereas Open Innovation is more concerned with sources of external knowledge. However, this simple dichotomy between open and closed approaches is unhelpful and not realistic. Instead, it is the interaction between internal and external knowledge that creates dynamic capabilities and the ability to innovate. In particular, we need to better understand the interactions between internal and external knowledge, and how these influence innovation outcomes under different conditions. This edited volume, Managing Knowledge, Absorptive Capacity, and Innovation, provides an opportunity to combine contemporary interests in Open Innovation with the classic notion of absorptive capacity, to better understand how organisations can manage the absorption and exploitation of inbound external sources of knowledge in order to innovate.