Abstract
The UK’s drive towards a low-carbon economy is an example of the challenges facing Small- to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). There is still a relatively low take-up of this initiative across all sectors. Is this because of the mindsets of the business managers in SMEs? Certainly research into entrepreneurial mindsets surrounding external environmental factors, particularly on the need to create, develop and deliver green values, suggests that adaptation is significantly influenced by their cognition processes. This paper reports on a longitudinal study into six enterprises involved in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) where uncertainty and ambiguity in their marketplace drove the need to change, and solicit outside help. We report on the business entrepreneurs belief systems, and their sensemaking associated with their business models during the medium-term KTP projects. A comparative analysis was performed between the six enterprises studied and a framework was developed from the four major emergent constructs: environmental factors, entrepreneurial sensemaking, strategic orientation and the business model.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Adams, R.S., Turns, J., et al.: Educating Effective Engineering Designers: the role of reflective practice. Design Studies 24(3), 275–295 (2003)
Alexander, D.E.: Cognitive Mapping as an Emergency Management Training Exercise. Journal of Contingencies & Crisis Management 12(4), 150–159 (2004)
Aragon-Sanchez, A., Sanchez-Maron, G.: Strategic Orientation, Management Characteristics, and Performance: A Study of Spanish SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management 43(3), 287–308 (2005)
Bates, R., Chen, H.-C.: Human resource development value orientations: a construct validation study. Human Resource Development International 7(3), 351–370 (2004)
BERR. SMEs in a Low Carbon Economy (2010), http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file49761.doc (retrieved 04/02/2010)
Brown, C., Proudlove, D.: Business Entrepreneur’s Mindsets on their Enterprises’ Business Model. In: EDINEB, pp. 1–25. Malaga, Spain (2008)
Brown, C. J. The Acquisition and Dissemination of Ideas: Managing the Innovative Initiative. Human Resource Management, Middlesex University Business School. Doctor of Philosophy, 274, London (2006)
Conrad, C., Poole, M.S.: Strategic Organizational Communication: Into the Twenty-first Century. Harcourt Brace Colleges Publishers, Troy (1998)
Dougherty, D.: Interpretive Barriers to Successful Product Innovation in Large Firms. Organization Science 3(2), 179 (1992)
Etzkowitz, H., Leydesdorff, L.: The dynamics of innovation: from National Systems and "mode 2" to a Triple Helix of university - industry - government relations. Research Policy 29, 109–123 (2000)
Glaser, D.A.: Basics of Grounded Theory Analysis. Sociology Press, Milley Valley (1992)
Greiner, L.E.: Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow. Harvard Business Review, 55–65 (May-June 1998)
Hekkert, M.P., Suurs, R.A.A., et al.: Functions of innovation systems: A new approach for analysing technological change. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 74(4), 413–432 (2007)
Kang, K.H., Kang, J.: How do Firms Source External Knowledge for Innovation? Analysing effects of diiferent knowledge sourcing methods. International Journal of Innovation Management 13(1), 1–17 (2009)
Kirkwood, J., Walton, S.: What Motivates Ecopreneurs to Start Businesses? International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research 16(3), 204–228 (2010)
Miles, R.E., Snow, C.C.: Organizational Strategy, Structure and Process. McGraw-Hill, New York (1978)
Morris, M., Schindehutte, M., et al.: The entrepreneur’s business model: toward a unified perspective. Journal of Business Research 58(6), 726–735 (2005)
Narayanan, V.K., Fahey, L.: The Relevance of the Institutional Underpinnings of Porter’s Five Forces Framework to Emerging Economies: An Epistemological Analysis. Journal of Management Studies 42(1), 207–223 (2005)
Neill, S., McKee, D., et al.: Developing the organization’s sensemaking capability: Precursor to an adaptive strategic marketing response. Industrial Marketing Management 36, 731–744 (2007)
Parker, L.D., Roffey, B.H.: Methodological Themes: back to the drawing board. Revising theories grounded theory and the everyday accountants’ and managers’ reality. Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal 10(4), 273–290 (1997)
Raelin, J.A.: A Model of Work-Based Learning. Organization Science 8(6), 563–578 (1997)
Rafiq, M., Ahmed, P.K.: Advances in the internal marketing concept: definition, synthesis and extension. Journal of Services Marketing 14(6/7), 449 (2000)
Schein, E.H.: Organizational culture and leadership. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco (2004)
Silverman, D.: Qualitative research: theory, method and practice. Sage, London (1997)
Smith, D.: Social Psychology and Human Values. Aldine Publishers, Chicago (1969)
University_Of_Cambridge, University of Cambridge: Comunity Engagement Report 2003-4, University of Cambridge (2003)
van Baalen, P., Bloemhof-Ruwaard, J., et al.: Knowledge Sharing in an Emerging Network of Practice: The Role of a Knowledge Portal. European Management Journal 23(3), 300–314 (2005)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Brown, C.J., Proudlove, D. (2011). Tri-partnerships in Knowledge Transfer: Changing Entrepreneurial Mindsets. In: Howlett, R.J. (eds) Innovation through Knowledge Transfer 2010. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20508-8_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20508-8_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-20507-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-20508-8
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)