Author: Stefan Heusinkveld
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134662432
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 156
Book Description
Although there has traditionally been considerable field-level attention on how consultants market their ideas and practices, there is still a lack of research that discusses the earlier intra-organizational phases in the development process. While the present literature provides important insights that enhance our understanding of consulting, the consultancy industry, and the way that consultants present their ideas and services on the market for management solutions, we know relatively little about the way knowledge-based innovations develop within consultancy firms and the mechanisms that shape the intra-organizational evolution of these ideas and practices. This book seeks to address this gap by revealing how the development of new ideas and practices takes shape in consultancies. The work addresses questions such as: In which way do consultancies sense the contemporary market needs? How do new ideas and practices become established within a consultancy? How do consultancies seek to maintain their repertoire? And what role do these new ideas and practices play in their assignments? To provide more insight into these different aspects of knowledge-based innovation in consultancies, the book draws on and integrates literature from diverse relevant fields such as product innovation and market orientation, but also uses institutional and practice-based perspectives. The research presented in this book can be seen in the light of emerging research into ‘knowledge-based innovation’ and ‘new concept development’ that concentrate on empirically studying how knowledge entrepreneurs seek to develop commercially viable ideas and practices that have the potential to have a significant impact on management and organizational praxis.
The Management Idea Factory
Author: Stefan Heusinkveld
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134662432
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 156
Book Description
Although there has traditionally been considerable field-level attention on how consultants market their ideas and practices, there is still a lack of research that discusses the earlier intra-organizational phases in the development process. While the present literature provides important insights that enhance our understanding of consulting, the consultancy industry, and the way that consultants present their ideas and services on the market for management solutions, we know relatively little about the way knowledge-based innovations develop within consultancy firms and the mechanisms that shape the intra-organizational evolution of these ideas and practices. This book seeks to address this gap by revealing how the development of new ideas and practices takes shape in consultancies. The work addresses questions such as: In which way do consultancies sense the contemporary market needs? How do new ideas and practices become established within a consultancy? How do consultancies seek to maintain their repertoire? And what role do these new ideas and practices play in their assignments? To provide more insight into these different aspects of knowledge-based innovation in consultancies, the book draws on and integrates literature from diverse relevant fields such as product innovation and market orientation, but also uses institutional and practice-based perspectives. The research presented in this book can be seen in the light of emerging research into ‘knowledge-based innovation’ and ‘new concept development’ that concentrate on empirically studying how knowledge entrepreneurs seek to develop commercially viable ideas and practices that have the potential to have a significant impact on management and organizational praxis.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134662432
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 156
Book Description
Although there has traditionally been considerable field-level attention on how consultants market their ideas and practices, there is still a lack of research that discusses the earlier intra-organizational phases in the development process. While the present literature provides important insights that enhance our understanding of consulting, the consultancy industry, and the way that consultants present their ideas and services on the market for management solutions, we know relatively little about the way knowledge-based innovations develop within consultancy firms and the mechanisms that shape the intra-organizational evolution of these ideas and practices. This book seeks to address this gap by revealing how the development of new ideas and practices takes shape in consultancies. The work addresses questions such as: In which way do consultancies sense the contemporary market needs? How do new ideas and practices become established within a consultancy? How do consultancies seek to maintain their repertoire? And what role do these new ideas and practices play in their assignments? To provide more insight into these different aspects of knowledge-based innovation in consultancies, the book draws on and integrates literature from diverse relevant fields such as product innovation and market orientation, but also uses institutional and practice-based perspectives. The research presented in this book can be seen in the light of emerging research into ‘knowledge-based innovation’ and ‘new concept development’ that concentrate on empirically studying how knowledge entrepreneurs seek to develop commercially viable ideas and practices that have the potential to have a significant impact on management and organizational praxis.
Theory and Practice of the Triple Helix Model in Developing Countries
Author: Mohammed Saad
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1136876065
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 337
Book Description
Theory and Practice of Triple Helix Model in Developing Countries contributes to the expanding literature on "triple helix" innovation - focusing on developing countries. The book is based on practical cases and experiences from Africa, Latin America and Asia. Relevant experiences and best practices from developed countries are also examined. The book is presented as a response to the growing awareness about the need for policy shift from the traditional technology transfer practice to a policy position that is capable of providing a sustainable basis for innovation and technological progress in developing countries. The book explores the triple helix system of innovation based on the dynamics of the interactive relationships between government, industry and universities in the creation, dissemination and sharing of knowledge in developing countries. A major point addressed by the book is the extent to which the ‘triple helix’ system of relationships between university, industry and government can enhance the effectiveness of universities in developing countries as agents of innovation, industrialization and sustainable development.
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1136876065
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 337
Book Description
Theory and Practice of Triple Helix Model in Developing Countries contributes to the expanding literature on "triple helix" innovation - focusing on developing countries. The book is based on practical cases and experiences from Africa, Latin America and Asia. Relevant experiences and best practices from developed countries are also examined. The book is presented as a response to the growing awareness about the need for policy shift from the traditional technology transfer practice to a policy position that is capable of providing a sustainable basis for innovation and technological progress in developing countries. The book explores the triple helix system of innovation based on the dynamics of the interactive relationships between government, industry and universities in the creation, dissemination and sharing of knowledge in developing countries. A major point addressed by the book is the extent to which the ‘triple helix’ system of relationships between university, industry and government can enhance the effectiveness of universities in developing countries as agents of innovation, industrialization and sustainable development.
IT Capability Maturity FrameworkTM (IT-CMFTM) 2nd edition
Author: Jim Kenneally
Publisher: Van Haren
ISBN: 9401806357
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 655
Book Description
Business organizations, both public and private, are constantly challenged to innovate and generate real value. CIOs are uniquely well-positioned to seize this opportunity and adopt the role of business transformation partner, helping their organizations to grow and prosper with innovative, IT-enabled products, services and processes. To succeed in this, however, the IT function needs to manage an array of inter-related and inter-dependent disciplines focused on the generation of business value. In response to this need, the Innovation Value Institute, a cross-industry international consortium, developed the IT Capability Maturity FrameworkTM (IT-CMFTM). This second edition of the IT Capability Maturity FrameworkTM (IT-CMFTM) is a comprehensive suite of tried and tested practices, organizational assessment approaches, and improvement roadmaps covering key IT capabilities needed to optimize value and innovation in the IT function and the wider organization. It enables organizations to devise more robust strategies, make better-informed decisions, and perform more effectively, efficiently and consistently. IT-CMF is: • An integrated management toolkit covering 36 key capability management disciplines, with organizational maturity profiles, assessment methods, and improvement roadmaps for each. • A coherent set of concepts and principles, expressed in business language, that can be used to guide discussions on setting goals and evaluating performance. • A unifying (or umbrella) framework that complements other, domain-specific frameworks already in use in the organization, helping to resolve conflicts between them, and filling gaps in their coverage. • Industry/sector and vendor independent. IT-CMF can be used in any organizational context to guide performance improvement. • A rigorously developed approach, underpinned by the principles of Open Innovation and guided by the Design Science Research methodology, synthesizing leading academic research with industry practitioner expertise ‘IT-CMF provides us with a structured and systematic approach to identify the capabilities we need, a way to assess our strengths and weaknesses, and clear pathways to improve our performance.’ Suresh Kumar, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, BNY Mellon ‘To successfully respond to competitive forces, organizations need to continually review and evolve their existing IT practices, processes, and cultural norms across the entire organization. IT-CMF provides a structured framework for them to do that.’ Christian Morales, Corporate Vice President and General Manager EMEA, Intel Corporation ‘We have successfully applied IT-CMF in over 200 assignments for clients. It just works. Or, as our clients confirm, it helps them create more value from IT.’ Ralf Dreischmeier, Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group ‘By using IT-CMF, business leaders can make sure that the tremendous potential of information technology is realized in their organizations.’ Professor Philip Nolan, President, Maynooth University ‘I believe IT-CMF to be comprehensive and credible. Using the framework helps organizations to objectively identify and confirm priorities as the basis for driving improvements.’ Dr Colin Ashurst, Senior Lecturer and Director of Innovation, Newcastle University Business School
Publisher: Van Haren
ISBN: 9401806357
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 655
Book Description
Business organizations, both public and private, are constantly challenged to innovate and generate real value. CIOs are uniquely well-positioned to seize this opportunity and adopt the role of business transformation partner, helping their organizations to grow and prosper with innovative, IT-enabled products, services and processes. To succeed in this, however, the IT function needs to manage an array of inter-related and inter-dependent disciplines focused on the generation of business value. In response to this need, the Innovation Value Institute, a cross-industry international consortium, developed the IT Capability Maturity FrameworkTM (IT-CMFTM). This second edition of the IT Capability Maturity FrameworkTM (IT-CMFTM) is a comprehensive suite of tried and tested practices, organizational assessment approaches, and improvement roadmaps covering key IT capabilities needed to optimize value and innovation in the IT function and the wider organization. It enables organizations to devise more robust strategies, make better-informed decisions, and perform more effectively, efficiently and consistently. IT-CMF is: • An integrated management toolkit covering 36 key capability management disciplines, with organizational maturity profiles, assessment methods, and improvement roadmaps for each. • A coherent set of concepts and principles, expressed in business language, that can be used to guide discussions on setting goals and evaluating performance. • A unifying (or umbrella) framework that complements other, domain-specific frameworks already in use in the organization, helping to resolve conflicts between them, and filling gaps in their coverage. • Industry/sector and vendor independent. IT-CMF can be used in any organizational context to guide performance improvement. • A rigorously developed approach, underpinned by the principles of Open Innovation and guided by the Design Science Research methodology, synthesizing leading academic research with industry practitioner expertise ‘IT-CMF provides us with a structured and systematic approach to identify the capabilities we need, a way to assess our strengths and weaknesses, and clear pathways to improve our performance.’ Suresh Kumar, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, BNY Mellon ‘To successfully respond to competitive forces, organizations need to continually review and evolve their existing IT practices, processes, and cultural norms across the entire organization. IT-CMF provides a structured framework for them to do that.’ Christian Morales, Corporate Vice President and General Manager EMEA, Intel Corporation ‘We have successfully applied IT-CMF in over 200 assignments for clients. It just works. Or, as our clients confirm, it helps them create more value from IT.’ Ralf Dreischmeier, Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group ‘By using IT-CMF, business leaders can make sure that the tremendous potential of information technology is realized in their organizations.’ Professor Philip Nolan, President, Maynooth University ‘I believe IT-CMF to be comprehensive and credible. Using the framework helps organizations to objectively identify and confirm priorities as the basis for driving improvements.’ Dr Colin Ashurst, Senior Lecturer and Director of Innovation, Newcastle University Business School
Management and Information Technology
Author: Peter Ekman
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136481869
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 292
Book Description
Information technology has come to play an important role in organizations over the last few decades. Though it began as an entity dealt with by specialists, IT has evolved to become an everyday tool with both operational and strategic impacts. Most modern organizations have adopted different forms of IT, and become dependent on their computer-based information systems and their peripherals for everyday operations. Information technology offers opportunities to increase efficiency, customer value, and competitiveness. Given the financial investment in IT required by organizations to remain competitive, IT has become a resource that needs to be managed. Management and Information Technology evaluates organizations’ utilization of IT including knowledge management and e-learning, accounting, and business relationships. Presenting theories to help the reader understand the varying roles IT can occupy in different organizations, this volume illustrates the ways in which IT has become a key strategic tool.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136481869
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 292
Book Description
Information technology has come to play an important role in organizations over the last few decades. Though it began as an entity dealt with by specialists, IT has evolved to become an everyday tool with both operational and strategic impacts. Most modern organizations have adopted different forms of IT, and become dependent on their computer-based information systems and their peripherals for everyday operations. Information technology offers opportunities to increase efficiency, customer value, and competitiveness. Given the financial investment in IT required by organizations to remain competitive, IT has become a resource that needs to be managed. Management and Information Technology evaluates organizations’ utilization of IT including knowledge management and e-learning, accounting, and business relationships. Presenting theories to help the reader understand the varying roles IT can occupy in different organizations, this volume illustrates the ways in which IT has become a key strategic tool.
Creativity and Innovation in Business and Beyond
Author: Leon Mann
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136840648
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
Creativity and Innovation in Business and Beyond illustrates the ways in which creativity spurs innovation – not only in the realms of business and management, where the innovation is regularly acknowledged and discussed, but throughout the social sciences. With contributions from experts in fields as far-flung as policy, history, economics, law, psychology, and education, in addition to business and management, this volume explores the manifold avenues for creativity and innovation within and across a multitude of disciplines.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136840648
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
Creativity and Innovation in Business and Beyond illustrates the ways in which creativity spurs innovation – not only in the realms of business and management, where the innovation is regularly acknowledged and discussed, but throughout the social sciences. With contributions from experts in fields as far-flung as policy, history, economics, law, psychology, and education, in addition to business and management, this volume explores the manifold avenues for creativity and innovation within and across a multitude of disciplines.
New Trends in Finance and Accounting
Author: David Procházka
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319495593
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 823
Book Description
This book presents the most current trends in the field of finance and accounting from an international perspective. Featuring contributions presented at the 17th Annual Conference on Finance and Accounting at the University of Economics in Prague, this title provides a mix of research methods used to uncover the hidden consequences of accounting convergence in the private (IFRS) and public sectors (IPSAS). Topics covered include international taxation (from both the micro- and macroeconomic level), international investment, monetary economics, risk management, management accounting, auditing, investment capital, corporate finance and banking, among others. The global business environment shapes the international financial flows of finance and the demand for international harmonization of accounting. As such, the field of global finance and accounting has encountered some new challenges. For example, policy-makers and regulators are forced to restructure their tools to tackle with new features of trading at global capital markets and international investment. This book complements this global view of development with country-specific studies, focusing on emerging and transitioning economies, which are affected indirectly and in unforeseen ways. The combination of global perspective and local specifics makes this volume attractive and useful to academics, researchers, regulators and policy-makers in the field of finance and accounting.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319495593
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 823
Book Description
This book presents the most current trends in the field of finance and accounting from an international perspective. Featuring contributions presented at the 17th Annual Conference on Finance and Accounting at the University of Economics in Prague, this title provides a mix of research methods used to uncover the hidden consequences of accounting convergence in the private (IFRS) and public sectors (IPSAS). Topics covered include international taxation (from both the micro- and macroeconomic level), international investment, monetary economics, risk management, management accounting, auditing, investment capital, corporate finance and banking, among others. The global business environment shapes the international financial flows of finance and the demand for international harmonization of accounting. As such, the field of global finance and accounting has encountered some new challenges. For example, policy-makers and regulators are forced to restructure their tools to tackle with new features of trading at global capital markets and international investment. This book complements this global view of development with country-specific studies, focusing on emerging and transitioning economies, which are affected indirectly and in unforeseen ways. The combination of global perspective and local specifics makes this volume attractive and useful to academics, researchers, regulators and policy-makers in the field of finance and accounting.
Organisational Capital
Author: Ahmed Bounfour
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 113407297X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 378
Book Description
There is much debate as to how companies carry out their activities in the context of new information and communication technologies influencing organizations to decentralize and develop new managerial practises including outsourcing and networking. Recent theories have emphasized the importance of organization as a key component for building corporate competitive advantage and scholars have looked at this from a range of perspectives including in relation to intangible assets, human capital, work training and the process dimension. Yet the concept of organisational capital as such – in spite of its indubitable relevance and attractiveness- is still to be clarified until now. In this book the subject is approached in four ways. Firstly from an analytical perspective: what is the status of organisational capital as a concept and how is the defined; secondly from a ontological perspective: what type of (implicit) orders can be designed and implemented around organisations; thirdly from the measurement perspective: what kind of frameworks and what type of metrics can be prototyped; and finally the implementation perspective: how should organizations integrate the organisational capital perspective in the definition and implementation of their strategies for resources’ allocation. The book provides the first multifaceted and international effort from a broad perspective, aiming at clarifying the concept of organisational capital and determining its analytical and operational implications.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 113407297X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 378
Book Description
There is much debate as to how companies carry out their activities in the context of new information and communication technologies influencing organizations to decentralize and develop new managerial practises including outsourcing and networking. Recent theories have emphasized the importance of organization as a key component for building corporate competitive advantage and scholars have looked at this from a range of perspectives including in relation to intangible assets, human capital, work training and the process dimension. Yet the concept of organisational capital as such – in spite of its indubitable relevance and attractiveness- is still to be clarified until now. In this book the subject is approached in four ways. Firstly from an analytical perspective: what is the status of organisational capital as a concept and how is the defined; secondly from a ontological perspective: what type of (implicit) orders can be designed and implemented around organisations; thirdly from the measurement perspective: what kind of frameworks and what type of metrics can be prototyped; and finally the implementation perspective: how should organizations integrate the organisational capital perspective in the definition and implementation of their strategies for resources’ allocation. The book provides the first multifaceted and international effort from a broad perspective, aiming at clarifying the concept of organisational capital and determining its analytical and operational implications.
Management of Broadband Technology and Innovation
Author: Jyoti Choudrie
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135014779
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 363
Book Description
When one considers broadband, the Internet immediately springs to mind. However, broadband is impacting society in many ways. For instance, broadband networks can be used to deliver healthcare or community related services to individuals who don't have computers, have distance as an issue to contend with, or don't use the internet. Broadband can support better management of scarce energy resources with the advent of smart grids, enables improved teleworking capacity and opens up a world of new entertainment possibilities. Yet scholarly examinations of broadband technology have so far examined adoption, usage, or diffusion but missed exploring the capacity of broadband networks to enable new applications, the management aspects of funding and developing broadband-enabled services, or the policy environment in which such networks are developed. This book explores a wide range of issues associated with the deployment and use of broadband including its impacts on individuals, organizations, and society, and offers a generalist understanding of the technical aspects of broadband. Management of Broadband Technology and Innovation offers insights on broadband from the perspectives of Information Systems, Management, Strategy, and Communications Policy scholars, drawing on research from these disciplines to inform diverse aspects of broadband deployment, policy, and use. Issues associated with a subject technical in nature, but now researched in many ways, are emphasised. This book explains various softer aspects of broadband deployment and use, focusing on the benefits of broadband rather than on details of the technology.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135014779
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 363
Book Description
When one considers broadband, the Internet immediately springs to mind. However, broadband is impacting society in many ways. For instance, broadband networks can be used to deliver healthcare or community related services to individuals who don't have computers, have distance as an issue to contend with, or don't use the internet. Broadband can support better management of scarce energy resources with the advent of smart grids, enables improved teleworking capacity and opens up a world of new entertainment possibilities. Yet scholarly examinations of broadband technology have so far examined adoption, usage, or diffusion but missed exploring the capacity of broadband networks to enable new applications, the management aspects of funding and developing broadband-enabled services, or the policy environment in which such networks are developed. This book explores a wide range of issues associated with the deployment and use of broadband including its impacts on individuals, organizations, and society, and offers a generalist understanding of the technical aspects of broadband. Management of Broadband Technology and Innovation offers insights on broadband from the perspectives of Information Systems, Management, Strategy, and Communications Policy scholars, drawing on research from these disciplines to inform diverse aspects of broadband deployment, policy, and use. Issues associated with a subject technical in nature, but now researched in many ways, are emphasised. This book explains various softer aspects of broadband deployment and use, focusing on the benefits of broadband rather than on details of the technology.
Eco-Innovation and Sustainability Management
Author: Bart Bossink
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136680799
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 194
Book Description
Sustainability is a phenomenon that must be pursued in a complex system of interrelated elements of business, society, and ecology. It is important to gain an understanding of these elements, the interplay between them, and the behavior of the system. This book explores the business-societal-and-ecological system in which sustainable innovation has to be envisioned, conceptualized, realized, and improved. Author Bart Bossink offers insight into the systematic coherence of drivers of eco-innovation and sustainability utilizing a three-part approach: (1) eco- and sustainable innovation in business is based on ideas and people who cooperatively develop these ideas; (2) groups of people, organized in commercial firms, must realize these ideas cooperatively and create the innovations that can conquer the market; and (3) that people from governmental, non-governmental, not-for-profit, research, and commercial organizations can build institutional arrangements that stimulate these sustainable innovations, changing both industry and society. Adopting a managerial perspective and discussing concepts and methods to manage eco-innovation in business, this book highlights the interrelated roles of the individual, the firm, partnerships, and business environments. Researchers and practitioners who want to combine a commercial and economical approach with an ethical and social ambition to create an ecologically sustainable firm stand to learn much from these pages.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136680799
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 194
Book Description
Sustainability is a phenomenon that must be pursued in a complex system of interrelated elements of business, society, and ecology. It is important to gain an understanding of these elements, the interplay between them, and the behavior of the system. This book explores the business-societal-and-ecological system in which sustainable innovation has to be envisioned, conceptualized, realized, and improved. Author Bart Bossink offers insight into the systematic coherence of drivers of eco-innovation and sustainability utilizing a three-part approach: (1) eco- and sustainable innovation in business is based on ideas and people who cooperatively develop these ideas; (2) groups of people, organized in commercial firms, must realize these ideas cooperatively and create the innovations that can conquer the market; and (3) that people from governmental, non-governmental, not-for-profit, research, and commercial organizations can build institutional arrangements that stimulate these sustainable innovations, changing both industry and society. Adopting a managerial perspective and discussing concepts and methods to manage eco-innovation in business, this book highlights the interrelated roles of the individual, the firm, partnerships, and business environments. Researchers and practitioners who want to combine a commercial and economical approach with an ethical and social ambition to create an ecologically sustainable firm stand to learn much from these pages.
Working on Innovation
Author: Christophe Midler
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135213445
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 254
Book Description
Since the mid-1980s, the development of competitive strategies based on intensive innovation has deeply transformed the design of new products and services. Much has been written about new methods and organizations that are likely to develop economically competitive and creative capacities in companies. But much less has been written about transformation of work and identity of professionals involved in these transitions : engineers, industrial designers, researchers, professionals in marketing strategy and especially project managers. The work of “innovation professionals” is truly difficult to observe because of its very nature (intangible work done over a long period of time), its inaccessibility, and its status. The purpose of this book is to put forward a number of keys for understanding the ongoing dynamics for working professionals in the field of innovation. Examining reorganizations in both large-scale firms and start-ups, the authors explore diverse sectors such as hi-tech, consumer goods and equipment, chemistry, aeronautics as well as upstream companies working for subsidiaries and traditional small-scale production such. The result is to show a world of networks where a large-scale firm undertakes research in partnership with a start-up, develops its products with independent designers and involves upstream suppliers in its developments. Also analyzed are the industrial strategies, the organizational conditions of product conception, and the dynamics of the professional identities of the actors who are at the core of these transformations. This impressive and unique volume will be of interest to all those interested in innovation studies, new technology policy and management as well as engineers and designers themselves.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135213445
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 254
Book Description
Since the mid-1980s, the development of competitive strategies based on intensive innovation has deeply transformed the design of new products and services. Much has been written about new methods and organizations that are likely to develop economically competitive and creative capacities in companies. But much less has been written about transformation of work and identity of professionals involved in these transitions : engineers, industrial designers, researchers, professionals in marketing strategy and especially project managers. The work of “innovation professionals” is truly difficult to observe because of its very nature (intangible work done over a long period of time), its inaccessibility, and its status. The purpose of this book is to put forward a number of keys for understanding the ongoing dynamics for working professionals in the field of innovation. Examining reorganizations in both large-scale firms and start-ups, the authors explore diverse sectors such as hi-tech, consumer goods and equipment, chemistry, aeronautics as well as upstream companies working for subsidiaries and traditional small-scale production such. The result is to show a world of networks where a large-scale firm undertakes research in partnership with a start-up, develops its products with independent designers and involves upstream suppliers in its developments. Also analyzed are the industrial strategies, the organizational conditions of product conception, and the dynamics of the professional identities of the actors who are at the core of these transformations. This impressive and unique volume will be of interest to all those interested in innovation studies, new technology policy and management as well as engineers and designers themselves.