Level Of Technological Capabilities Research Articles

Depth of technological capability: a new approach to the technological development of latecomer oil service companies

Purpose The purpose of this study is to define and develop a new technological development path for latecomer firms in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach An analytical framework for development based on the technological capability (TC) dimensions is developed and examined in the drilling sector. Since the process of TC accumulation is dynamic, the case study approach is the best method for an exploratory theory-building study. Through a comparative case study of two Iranian drilling contractors, a new path for the technological development of latecomer oil service companies is proposed. Findings The study of two cases indicates that despite having similar scope and levels of TC, one of them demonstrated superior technical performance. To address this difference, the concept of operational efficiency is introduced which is considered the outcome of increasing the depth of TC. Practical implications Although upgrading the level of technological and innovation capability is an important path for technological development, latecomers that suffer from various disadvantages can perform their routine activities with superior performance and develop through their basic operational/production capabilities. Also, specialized indicators designed for assessing the level and depth of TC in the drilling industry have important insights for evaluating the technological and competitive position of oil service companies. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study takes the first step in defining and elaborating on the concept of depth of TC as a development path for latecomers. It also introduced a novel approach to the global operational/production efficiency frontier as a target for their catch-up.

How a timely policy contributes to technological capability building: insights from Iran’s biopharmaceutical sector

Abstract Building technological capabilities is influenced by different factors, notably policies. This paper explains the co-evolution of policies, i.e. policy tools, on the technological capabilities in Iran’s biopharmaceutical sector from 1995 to 2022. By adopting a qualitative research method, we gathered primary data through thirty-nine semi-structured as well as secondary data from reports and statistics. This paper explains technological capabilities enhancement from operational capabilities to innovative capabilities based on our proposed framework, which includes six levels. While the lack of an efficient policy tools, until the mid-2000s, was decisive in the inertia of biopharmaceutical sector capabilities, a proactive policy tools in recent years led to considerable promising results in terms of manufacturing and exporting advanced biosimilar products. Our findings shed light on the role of government support in the acceleration and directionality of technological capabilities building. Achieving advanced levels of technological capabilities requires learning, international collaboration, and export-oriented policies.

DIGITAL SUPPORT AS A FACTOR OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE COMMUNITIES

In the current military conditions, the problem of combining human intelligence and the capabilities of information and computer technologies is more relevant than ever. Such interaction will allow to create self-managed innovative communities, which provide for the coordinated interaction of business, authorities and the population. The work established that the increase in the competitiveness of innovative communities under the influence of digitalization will not happen as quickly as we would like. This is due to the fact that for the efficient operation of the system under the influence of the fourth industrial revolution, time is needed for its adaptation to the new order. And furthermore, the benefits of digital services do not have a market value and are not captured in overall performance and performance assessments. The work considers a new criterion according to which the population is grouped depending on its attitude and the possibilities of using the latest research in the field of technology - the socio-technographic factor of segmentation. It has been determined what potential benefits business entities can receive from the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies. It has been determined which 4.0 technologies are relevant today. It is indicated what steps should be taken by authorities and business entities for the development of innovative communities. They have been ranked. It has been established that the general increase in the level of technological capability will have an effective result only when the majority of the population has access to the latest technologies.

Environmentalism in photovoltaics substitution, nationalism in photovoltaics rivalry and youth’s choice of solar power banks in Lanzhou

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how environmentalism in photovoltaic (PV) substitution and nationalism in PV rivalry with the USA are associated with the trade-offs made by young consumers in Lanzhou when selecting Chinese brand portable solar power banks.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the choice-based conjoint survey was conducted to investigate mobile power bank consumers aged 18–28 in Lanzhou urban districts. A total of 2,004 valid questionnaires were collected and 1,813 sample was used in analyses. Logit and ordinary least squares regression models were run for empirical analyses.FindingsThe research results show that consumers tend to sacrifice certain levels of affordability for moderate technological capability, a reputable brand, better portability and advanced charging functions or sacrifice certain levels of technological capabilities for a moderate price. Consumers with stronger environmentalism in PV substitution tend to prioritize median price levels, larger battery capacity and better portability, while being less sensitive to brand and showing less preference for advanced charging functions. Consumers with stronger nationalism in PV rivalry tend to prioritize reasonably higher prices, bigger brands, enhanced portability, more solar panels and advanced charging functions.Practical implicationsThis research sheds light on consumer trade-offs between price, brand, portability, technological capability and charging function. It also explores how environmentalism and nationalism sentiments are associated with consumer decision-making. These insights carry valuable policy implications for fostering product innovation, supporting brand-building initiatives for small and medium-size enterprises, promoting market competition and preventing the weaponization of consumer nationalism.Originality/valueAs an emerging solar power product, the portable solar power bank holds significant potential for widespread adoption as a means to drive energy transition. Within the current context, two notable sentiments have surfaced: environmentalism, which pertains to the adoption of PV technology as a substitute for conventional energy sources and nationalism, which manifests in the PV rivalry between China and the USA. This research aims to investigate consumer preference related to this emerging product, specifically focusing on its relationship with these two sentiments.

TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES IN MEXICAN AGROBIOTECHNOLOGY: A PROPOSAL FOR THEIR MEASUREMENT

This article proposes a taxonomy to measure technological capabilities in biotechnology, specifically in agrobiotechnology. Based on this taxonomy, the case of Mexican companies is analyzed to identify the type and level of technological capabilities through a survey conducted between 2018 and 2019. The results show significant differences by type of company, it stands out that startups and multinational companies report predominantly basic levels in the areas of decision-making, linking, research and development, and generation of processes and products. While small and medium-sized companies have predominantly intermediate levels. These differences point to the need to generate differentiated industrial and technological policies that address the diversity of agrobiotechnology companies.

Understanding India’s low-carbon energy technology startup landscape

Low-carbon energy technology (LCET) startups could play a key role in accelerating India’s decarbonization. Yet, our understanding of the LCET startup landscape and what shapes it remains low. Here we provide an analysis of the Indian LCET startup landscape to fill this gap. Our descriptive analysis of quantitative data on investment and patenting activities of LCET startups from 2010 to 2020 and qualitative data from 25 semi-structured interviews shows a substantial increase in investment and patenting activity, particularly after 2017, driven in large part by market-creation measures undertaken by the Indian government. However, there are large differences between LCET startups in different sub-sectors and core value-creating activities. Our findings suggest that the level of technological capabilities moderates the relationship between market-creation measures and innovation outcomes—thus highlighting the need to complement market-creation policies with long-term measures to strengthen technological capabilities. Furthermore, we propose a research agenda to improve our understanding of LCET entrepreneurship in developing economies.

Seizing opportunities: ASEAN country cluster readiness in light of the fourth industrial revolution

Technological advances of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) threaten Southeast Asian countries’ industrialization model and expose its workforce to the risk of substitution. Using the Dynamic Pattern Synthesis method to ascertain how Southeast Asian countries are prepared to face these risks, we have identified three clusters based on manufacturing resources and associated them to different levels of technological capabilities. While the Cluster 1 countries Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar prove the least and Cluster 3 nations Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam the most advanced, the preparedness of Cluster 2 countries Indonesia and the Philippines shows mixed results. Our findings emphasize the importance of human capital and trade paired with strong institutions to advance technological abilities, based on which we discuss each cluster's readiness for the 4IR.

Organizational E-Readiness for the Digital Transformation of Primary Healthcare Providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many countries to implement a variety of restrictive measures to prevent it from spreading more widely, including the introduction of medical teleconsultations and the use of various tools in the field of inpatient telemedicine care. Digital technologies provide a wide range of treatment options for patients, and at the same time pose a number of organizational challenges for medical entities. Therefore, the question arises of whether organizations are ready to use modern telemedicine tools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this article is to examine two factors that impact the level of organizational e-readiness for digital transformation in Polish primary healthcare providers (PHC). The first factor comprises operational capabilities, which are the sum of valuable, scarce, unique, and irreplaceable resources and the ability to use them. The second factor comprises technological capabilities, which determine the adoption and usage of innovative technologies. Contrary to the commonly analyzed impacts of technology on operational capabilities, we state the reverse hypothesis. The verification confirms the significant influence of operational capabilities on technological capabilities. The research is conducted using a questionnaire covering organizational e-readiness for digital transformation prepared by the authors. Out of the 32 items examined, four are related to the operational capabilities and four to the technological capabilities. The result of our evaluation shows that: (i) a basic set of four variables can effectively measure the dimensions of OC, namely the degree of agility, level of process integration, quality of resources, and quality of cooperation; (ii) a basic set of three variables can effectively measure the dimensions of TC, namely adoption and usage of technologies, customer interaction, and process automation; (iii) the empirical results show that OC is on a higher level than TC in Polish PHCs; (iv) the assessment of the relationship between OC and TC reveals a significant influence of operational capabilities on technological capabilities with a structural coefficient of 0.697. We recommend increasing the level of technological capability in PHC providers in order to improve the contact between patients and general practitioners (GPs) via telemedicine in lockdown conditions.

Roles of Customers in Upgrading Manufacturing Firm Technological Capabilities Toward Industry 4.0

This paper empirically examines the effects of customers who invested in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on the technological capabilities of a firm for upgrading toward Industry 4.0. This paper focuses on three groups of firm technological capabilities such as production planning, inventory management, and data analysis. Each group consists of four levels of technological capabilities ranging from the fundamental to the most complex levels of technology usage. A hierarchical multiple linear regression method is used to analyze 141 respondents collected from the Thai manufacturing firms during March–April 2019. The results indicate that customers who invested in ICTs significantly and positively affect the technological capability upgrading of a firm in the groups of production planning, inventory management, and data analysis. However, there is no evidence to support that customers who invested in ICTs have positively affected firms to achieve the most complex levels of technology usage in these three groups. For the engineering implications, managers are encouraged to work closely with customers, especially customers with high technological capability. This could help a firm’s engineering teams to upgrade and catch up with customer technologies.

Identificación de las capacidades tecnológicas de la Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, Colombia

Para innovar es necesario contar con capacidades. ¿Cuáles son las capacidades tecnológicas de la Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud-FUCS de Colombia? Objetivo: identificarlas en el área de las ciencias médicas de la FUCS tomando en cuenta las siguientes dimensiones: capital humano, financiamiento en I+D+I, medición de la innovación, transferencia tecnológica, uso y apropiación de nuevas tecnologías, procesos de aprendizaje en la organización y productividad. Métodos y datos: investigación cualitativa en cuya primera fase se construyó un marco conceptual sobre capacidades tecnológicas de las universidades pues solo se encontraron referentes aplicados a la industria. En la segunda se aplicó una encuesta semiestructurada a actores clave para identificar aquellos productos y/o servicios de investigación o de otras áreas con potencial para comercializar y/o patentar. En una tercera fase se aplicó la metodología de trayectoria de vida (lifecourse) para profundizar en el ciclo de vida de los productos con el fin de identificar las dificultades para la toma de decisiones. Resultados: se logró establecer una línea para la vigilancia tecnológica en la organización, al contar con una base de datos de productos o servicios con potencial para comercializar y/o patentar que se gestan en la FUCS, a partir de una entrevista semiestructurada aplicada a actores clave. Otro de los hallazgos fue que uno de los principales retos es la construcción de una cultura organizacional orientada hacia la innovación continua y la normativa respecto a derechos de propiedad intelectual que definan las reglas de juego.

Developing a catch-up model of technology: a grounded theory approach

PurposeCatch-up is a process during which the countries that are behind the technological borders try to reduce their technological gaps. For a company or country in the catch-up process, a suitable level of technological capabilities and absorption capacity is necessary as a fixed advance requirement. This paper aims to develop a catch-up model of technology.Design/methodology/approachThis study reviewed 90 published articles in the field of business management in Q1 and Q2 journals from the very beginning to the year of 2018 so that a framework can be presented for a catch-up. This framework has been obtained according to the process of grounded theory and by combining the previous studies.FindingsAccordingly, a framework of six categories has been presented including causal factors, main category, background factors, intervening factors, strategies and consequences. Finally, three general approaches including independence, collaboration and cooperation, are introduced and each of these categories has been described in a spectrum of this approach.Originality/valueThis is the first study to conceptualize a catch-up model of technology by grounded theory.

The Influence of Value-Chain Governance on Innovation Performance: a Study of Italian Suppliers

This paper explores how value-chain governance affects the innovation performance of suppliers of intermediate products. We take advantage of a unique dataset of Italian firms to identify governance regimes along suppliers' technological capabilities and the level of explicit coordination in the value chain. Our results indicate that 'modular' value-chain governance is more conducive to innovation for suppliers, especially when these firms have medium capability levels. Conversely, market-based governance modes appear to strongly reduce the innovativeness of suppliers with low capability. These patterns are also reflected in export performances and sales of innovative products. Our results go partially against other findings in the GVC literature, whereby relational value chains are seen to provide the most favourable environment to learn and innovate. Interestingly, the highest levels of technological capabilities consistently reduce the correlation between supplying intermediates and innovation performance, which indicates that technology-gap is an important mediator of learning within value chains.

Technological capability dynamics through cluster organizations

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to portrait how members of cluster organizations (COs) perceive the role of COs in enabling them to accumulate technological capability (TC) significant for their innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe authors report the findings from their qualitative study based on an analysis of four COs. The organizational inertia and absorptive capacity theories are the theoretical underpinning of the research.FindingsThe study shows that the dynamics of TC of the cluster companies included in the study sample relates to their initial level of TC and cluster cooperation. The companies with relatively low initial TC increase it through COs if the clusters offer comparatively high benefits. On the other hand, those COs' members that present relatively high initial TC advance it, provided that the external knowledge and other benefits they can absorb in their clusters are suited to their technological trajectories.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is preliminary in nature and portrays how firms with different levels of TC cooperate within COs and how this cooperation translates into TC improvements. The findings add to the state-of-the-art knowledge on the link between TC and absorptive capacity of companies involved in COs by depicting the role of COs in providing knowledge and other cluster benefits that help cluster companies to accumulate TC and improve their absorptive capacity. Nevertheless, the applied methodology does not allow the authors to generalize the findings.Practical implicationsThe coordinators of COs should skillfully shape the levels of cluster cooperation, matching them to the desired level of the cluster companies. They should create smaller subgroups composed of companies with similar TC, which may translate into its higher dynamic.Originality/valueThe knowledge about the role of COs in providing cluster benefits that help cluster companies to accumulate TC and improve their absorptive capacity is still insufficient. The study shed new light on the key role of the levels of cluster cooperation and the types of commitment related to them (i.e. technological effort), which may be a matter of importance in the dynamics of TC accumulation.

Hierarchical Clustering for Functionalities E-Commerce Adoption

Web functionality is one driver for e-commerce adoption. It is appeared the level of technological capabilities as well as the accentuation of the strategy put on e-commerce by the organization. Web functionality is related to the level of e-commerce relocation. Website with more functionality will give way better benefits for shoppers and trade partners. Functionalities of web are components that support the achievement of adoption benefits. Hierarchical clustering and ranking availability of e-commerce functionality is a challenging task. Ward Linkage algorithm was used to measure distance. This study proposed to get a grouping of e-commerce functionalities that influence e-commerce adoption and to get the ranking of the groups that most influence the achievement of these benefits. Result shows that functionalities that supports the achievement of every benefit of e-commerce has been clustered into two or three clusters, where each cluster also has been ranked to facilitate the achievement of these benefits

Linking institutional environment with technological change: The rise of China's flat panel display industry

In view of the complex dynamic environment from technological change and uncertain government regulation, this study examines how business strategies improve technological capabilities under the dynamic interaction between technological change and institutional environment. Drawing on detailed evidence gathered from first-hand and second-hand data, we develop a framework and combine the framework with the rising process of China's flat panel display (FPD) industry to identify levels of technological capabilities in distinctive phases. The findings show that three phases of technological capability-building in China's FPD industry consist of basic operational and innovative capability-building, intermediate innovative capability-building, and advanced innovative capability-building. The findings also show that three levels of technological capability are determined by the distinctive portfolios of business strategies under the dynamic interaction of technology change and institutional environment. Specifically, we find that with the guidance of distinct intended strategies, firms adopt different actual strategies to enhance their technological capabilities. Firms employ strategies of the joint venture, and merger and acquisitions (M&As) to build basic operational and innovative capability under a mutually reinforcing local and central institutional environment, and industrial environment of technological substitution. Whereas strategies of the contractual arrangement and talent introduction result in building intermediate innovative capability, according to mutually offsetting local and central institutional environment, and industrial environment of technological upgrading. The strategies of the contractual arrangement and strategic alliance lead to building advanced innovative capability based on mutually reinforcing local and central institutional environment, and industrial environment of technological leapfrogging. Finally, the limitation of this study and the direction for further research are provided.

ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS ABILITIES IN INDONESIAN WAR SHIP IN ASIA

The assessment of technological competitiveness can be carried out at the level of a stage of transformation on a warship. With the dynamics of defence and security threats to the Indonesian state, both symmetrical and asymmetrical, warship technology must continue to improve combat capability and professionalism of human resources in accordance with technological developments towards the industrial revolution 4.0, in order to have a high level of competitiveness. The purpose of this study is to determine the strengths and weaknesses of warship performance through the assessment of technological capabilities. The research result, at the level of technological capability and the existing gap of fourth components, where the current level of capability on warships W has a gap of the technological development that is farthest away with countries Y and Z is the development of the level of technological capability on technical devices and followed by developments the level of technological capability in human resources (soldiers). The benefits of the research are expected to be used as material for consideration by planners and decision makers in integrating technological considerations into the planning of warship development in the modern era.Keywords: Technology Capability Assessment, Warship Technology, Techometrics

The impact of the scope of technological search on path-dependence in export specialization: evidence for European countries

Abstract This paper examines how product relatedness and the breadth of technological search affect the path-dependent development of export specializations across countries documented in prior research. The results of the econometric analysis in this paper show that broader technological search in an industry has a positive impact on the development of comparative advantages in the product lines it exports. The interplay between product relatedness and the scope of technological search has a two-edged character. On the one hand, broader technological search supports adjustments and consolidations of the export baskets on the extensive margin. This contributes to weaken path-dependency. On the other hand, it fosters the competitiveness of products that are related to current export specializations, and thereby promotes path-dependency on the intensive margin of trade. These results differ across countries with different levels of technological capabilities.

Does real exchange rate undervaluation really promote economic growth?

This article seeks to reassess the empirical literature on real exchange rate misalignment and growth in light of the extensive discussion about the relationship between income distribution and growth in developing economies. We state that the dynamic relationship between changes in the real exchange rate and output growth can be characterized by two conflicting partial effects, as follows: i) undervaluation promotes growth-enhancing changes in the productive structure of the economy by stimulating technological progress and knowledge spillovers, thus affecting positively output growth; ii) undervaluation raises income inequality and hence harms output growth. Though there are a vast number of empirical studies presenting robust evidence of a positive relationship between currency undervaluation and growth for developing economies, none has yet explicitly considered the potentially negative distributional effects of undervaluation on growth. Our empirical model adds to this literature by suggesting that, once both functional income distribution and the level of technological capabilities as relevant features of the structure of the economy are explicitly taken into account, the direct impact of real exchange rate misalignment on growth becomes statistically non-significant for a representative sample of developing countries. Further, based on our results, we state that the real exchange rate only affects growth indirectly through its impacts on functional income distribution and technological innovation. Our estimates have shown that the indirect impact of undervaluation on growth in developing countries is negatively signed. The results are robust to accounting for reverse causality through GMM-system analysis, using lagged observations in difference and level of endogenous variables as instruments.

The co-evolution of learning mechanisms and technological capabilities: Lessons from energy technologies in emerging economies

Despite a voluminous literature on firm-level technological capability building in developing countries, there is still limited knowledge about the relative importance of different learning mechanisms as firms deepen their technological capabilities. To address this knowledge gap, this paper investigates the sources of learning used by firms in the Malaysian biomass boiler industry and the Chinese wind turbine industry enabling them to advance from production capabilities to innovative capabilities. The paper presents a framework that distinguishes between sources of learning to the firm that are: internal, local and global in nature. The paper finds that the learning mechanisms shifts in a co-evolutionary pattern within and across these categories as firms develop increasingly higher levels of technological capabilities. The main contribution of the paper lies in the development and exploratory empirical application of a framework, which allow more systematic assessments of the relative importance of various types of learning sources as latecomer firms develop higher levels of technological capabilities.

Enfoque estratégico, orientación emprendedora y experiencia: factores que impulsan el desarrollo de capacidades tecnológicas en el sector automotriz

El nivel de capacidades tecnológicas que logra desarrollar una organización es de gran relevancia para generar ventajas competitivas. El estudio de las capacidades tecnológicas se ha centrado en analizar su relación con el desempeño empresarial, el aprendizaje, la internacionalización, las estrategias de cooperación, entre otros. Este estudio se enfoca en el análisis de la orientación emprendedora, el enfoque estratégico de la organización y la experiencia, y su impacto en el desarrollo de capacidades tecnológicas de las empresas del sector automotriz de la región centro de México. Los resultados muestran que las empresas que quieran mejorar su nivel de capacidades tecnológicas deben establecer una filosofía empresarial enfocada en la innovación, lo que conlleva a tomar decisiones de manera proactiva, escaneando continuamente el entorno y gestionar el conocimiento organizacional para aprender de las experiencias.