Purpose – Recently, Gamification is a significant trend among practitioners and scholars. Defined as “the use of game design elements in non-game contexts”(Deterding et al.,2011a), gamification is useful to engage/fun users in solving problems and increase their contributions, drawing on the strengths of co-creation, leading to a wider understanding/adoption of applied co-creation practices. Stemming from these premises, we aim at discussing gamification as an application to foster creativity, understand how such a perspective may become a core driver in supporting existing brands and helping them in involving customers throughout the (co)design process of new products/services. Analyzing MulinoBianco digital strategy, our purpose is twofold:how gamification changes behaviors, develops skills and drives innovation in various industries(Hamari et al.,2014b);how gamification would shape the future of knowledge creation(Hamari,2013). Design/methodology/approach – Our article dwells on the theoretical analysis of gamification and its applicability on the engagement of consumers, throughout the design process, broadly definable as ‘any act of collective creativity’(Sanders,Stappers,2008), by using elements of game thinking and mechanics in a non-game contexts, integrating consumers into advertising and brand-building, which would enable even a boost to companies’ outcomes. Practical implications – What emerges from our paper is that gamification applied to a food company digital strategy brings it into direct contact with consumers and their creativity, also creating new opportunities for business. It is quite interesting to stress how gamification, intertwining with interaction design, pulls consumers into the brand and engages them in exhilarating/addictive ways of developing non-game products and services “having more engaged customers, to crowdsourcing innovation or improving employee performance”(Burke,2012).

Purpose – Knowledge, innovation and creativity are the fundamental drivers for an entrepreneur to improve business performance. Often the proposed analyses focus on the economic performance of a company that is considered a stand-alone entity and not an organization correlated with the macroeconomic system. The purpose of this paper is to provide to the entrepreneurs, and propose to the scientific community, a newly structured knowledge system that includes the quality of customers and suppliers, to facilitate learning processes about the current state of the enterprise and new strategic approaches. Design/methodology/approach – The knowledge system is elaborated combining a long day by day experience in a specific Italian field (the Independent After Market -IAM) with the theoretical knowledge of both economic and financial issues and multiple criteria methods of decision aid. The economic and financial key performance indicators are generated ad hoc for a specific sector and created with the concept that a company is in the center of a network composed of its suppliers, customers, competitors and the State. A multiple criteria (MC) model easily and consistently includes aspects that are different in terms of source and formal language. An MC method transparently synthesizes all these elements in relation to a specific decision problem. Integrating the potential of MC models and methods with economic and financial issues and context experience facilitates an effective knowledge transfer to the operators of the sector. Originality/value – The added value of this approach is to allow even small and medium enterprises, without an internal know-how for economic analyses, to use tools that clarify their relations with the interested parties of the macroeconomic system and facilitate the quality assessment of their portfolio of customers/suppliers. For the companies already equipped with business intelligence tools, a comparison with this new approach can be a stimulus to confirm or question their own analysis method. Practical implications – This methodology is oriented to the companies involved in the IAM and in particular to the Manufacture, Distributor and Spare Parts Dealer categories (in Italy almost 500 manufacturers, 150 distributors and 5.000 dealers). Manufacturers can use the methodology and its results to know the economic and financial performances of their customers, distributors can identify their strengths and weaknesses and the situation of their competitors and dealers can identify the most reliable future partners. Also foreign manufacturers may be interested in this analysis, before selling in Italy, and banks and financiers could consult our knowledge frameworks to analyse the risk default.

Purpose – There is an increasing attention on the entrepreneurial dimensions that enable academia to pursue innovation development and commercialization, for example in the form of intellectual asset management, university spin-offs and technology transfer and brokering (Shane 2004a; Wright et al. 2009). The economic revenues generated by these forms of academic entrepreneurship are becoming more and more attractive for higher education institutions in order to develop new revenue value streams and sustain financial viability (Shane 2004b; Wright et al. 2007; Wong 2011). In addition, it is pointed out that academic entrepreneurship plays an important role toward the creation of societal value (Botes 2005). This paper aims to prospect academic entrepreneurship as a way to connect academia with external stakeholders in order to jointly create value (Kingma 2011). The stakeholders’ value network centred on academic entrepreneurship can respond to different wants and needs, not necessarily aligned, and focusing on various forms of value to be created. The holistic integration of such value network is a key issue. This paper draws insights from the investigation of how SENSEable City Lab – an academic lab nested within the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA) – uses design as a translational mechanism to connect and align different stakeholders in the process of value creation in academic entrepreneurship. Design materials such as sketches, data visualization and interactive prototypes are used at various stages to coordinate the stakeholders: through the design process, ideas and concepts undergo semiotic translations and are materialized into visual, audio, tangible formats. Design can even be employed to facilitate participatory design session where all the stakeholders directly contribute to the design process, jointly creating visual representations and prototypes (Simonsen and Robertson 2013). Design/methodology/approach – The study is the result of an investigation – also based on ethnographic methods – conducted over a period of 4 years (2011-2014) at SENSEable City Lab of MIT (USA). This research methodology to investigate a real case study has proven to be an appropriate method to investigate particularly complex phenomena that require a direct involvement of researchers in the field (Czarniawska 2012). Originality/value – This paper analyses the role of design-as-translation and enabling factor in academic entrepreneurship. This is a perspective currently under-investigated in design research. Practical implications – Design can play a relevant role in supporting entrepreneurial activities in academia. These entrepreneurial activities are nowadays particularly important, especially at a time when in most countries public funding for academic institutions is decreasing.

Purpose – In the experience of a business incubator a particular aspect is represented by the complexity of adapting its methodologies and strategies to the changing exigencies of the final market and to the growing request for creativity in the content and carriers of the products supplied by the new companies. Creativity is not only fantasy or imagination, but also study of new occasions of use and new ways of dressing, traveling, reading and so on. Design/methodology/approach – The UK’s definition of the creative industries includes thirteen sectors: advertising, architecture, the art and antiques market, crafts, design, designer fashion, film, interactive leisure software (ie. video games), music, the performing arts, publishing, software, and television and radio. Because it was the first definition offered by a government, this original UK definition has been widely adopted by other countries, with sectors adapted based on local commercial and cultural importance. UNCTAD’s 2008 report Creative Economy suggested a more inclusive definition which brought this term into popular use and recognized the wider societal impact: ‘the interface between creativity, culture, economics and technology as expressed in the ability to create and circulate intellectual capital, with the potential to generate income, jobs and export earnings while at the same time promoting social inclusion, cultural diversity and human development. Basing on this definition our work is concerned with putting together creativity, technology and entrepreneurship in a typical incubation activity , enhancing the entrepreneurial potential of the region and promoting real occasions of jobs creation. Originality/value – This methodology puts in evidence that this is a phenomenon of small figures and not an industrial production process : creative industries are strongly based on the human talent but in a right mix with technologies and how –to-do competences. An incubator can cover in particular this last aspect but not to supply missing creativity or the technological illiteracy. Incubators are living a changing period: the original model based on fixed packages of consultancy about marketing, administration and finance, production is totally outdated. Incubation experts are looking for less structured models and much more networked organizational solutions. Practical implications – The outcomes of the application of the described methodological approach are new lines of action for incubators and similar structures and suggest interesting opportunities of exploiting research results or sub-products of the academic research as row material in the new companies creation process.

Purpose – “Are our region’s achievements in technology-driven entrepreneurship (TdE) productive of growth?”; “How are regional achievements in TdE emerging, and what forces propel or hinder TdE in our regional contest?”. Answering to these questions within a Learning Region requires an assessment effort based on openness, which includes several sources of information and viewpoints, and cooperation of stakeholders and experts. At this purpose, this paper aims to present a prototype of a “Knowledge Hub” focused on the evaluation of innovative early-stage startups. We focus on the architecture of the Knowledge Hub, its founding principles, the evaluation criteria, as well as the main results achieved after its preliminary application in evaluating 36 innovative startups who won a contest in the Apulia region (Italy) from 2008 onward. Design/methodology/approach – The Hub leverages on crowdsourcing and collective intelligence from experts and professionals sharing information and discussing viewpoints about technology startups, with the aim to evaluate their performance. The crowdsourcing dimension refers to the data sources (typology and ownership) used to perform the evaluation of a given startup, whereas the collective intelligence mechanisms inspire the evaluation method. Originality/value – When talking about technology startups, our national and regional experience today shows that “hypes” dominate over evidence-based information. Refusing transplanted approaches and imitated policies means also promoting reflexivity and evidence-based new knowledge. Practical implications – The adoption of Knowledge Hub’s processes and methodology for monitoring the impact of innovative startups, and the active involvement of actors and stakeholders in the Technology Startup Ecosystem, may support a continuing assessment of TdE to improve the quality of regional strategies and programmes designed for the development and growth of specific territories. Evidence from the preliminary analyses shows peaks of dissimilarity between common sense powered by conventional media and actual outcomes,so suggesting the need for a more realistic approach in policy making for regional development.

Purpose – Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are contributing to widespread the access to digital knowledge and the development of competencies and skills based on free and open sharing, use and re-use of digitized material available in purposeful on-line systems. Worldwide, the development of MOOCs has gained popularity also in the management and entrepreneurship domain, where a number of providers have started to offer MOOCs addressed to diffuse entrepreneurial competencies and skills. This paper presents an application of MOOCs to support the development of entrepreneurial competencies. A purposeful roadmap has been set up to identify the set of actors and activities involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of an entrepreneurial project. Each activity of the roadmap is defined in terms of inputs, outputs, tasks and enabling competences to be acquired. Based on the roadmap, a customized open platform for MOOC delivery has been thus developed along with a set of experimental courses and some guidelines to better engage learners and instructors. Design/methodology/approach – The article is grounded on behaviourism, constructivism and connectivism learning theories, and their relationship with ICT, in the aim to frame MOOC as an emergent pedagogical approach capable to experiment networked learning. A preliminary analysis of literature on MOOC methodology and approach, as well as on the study of international cases of MOOC adoption in entrepreneurship education has been made. Then, based on a design science approach, a MOOC platform dedicated to stimulate entrepreneurial culture and competencies has been realized, and preliminary feedbacks have been collected from instructors and learners. The six phases of design science approach have been set up, problem identification, definition of research goal, artefact development, demonstration, evaluation and research communication. Originality/value – The value of the article can be identified in three main elements: i) the personalized approach to access MOOCs based on a structured roadmap of the entrepreneurial process; ii) the role that companies can play in the MOOC platform (e.g. course design, content production, course delivery, feedback analysis); iii) the possibility to experiment a blended approach in the use of MOOCs as a tool for competence development in the entrepreneurship domain. Practical implications – The article provides useful insights for the design of effective MOOC-based learning experiences in the technology entrepreneurship domain. In particular, a set of guidelines concerning the role of each actor of the learning process (including companies) and the implementation of effective blended (physical and on-line) experience are provided. Finally, the study presents a practical discussion about how to capitalize the value generated by MOOCs.

Purpose – The first aim is to show how governments support the creation and development of Communities of Innovation (CoI) in two different institutional settings, namely Puglia Region and Guangdong Province, highlighting both the differences and similarities in the implementation of such policies. The second objective is to measure the effort of governments in implementing policies for innovation. The overall aim is to shed light on whether, and if so, to what extent the “public hand” may be desirable for the development of CoI. Design/methodology/approach – Through a comparative study of Puglia and Guangdong, we first explore the innovation programs implemented by each government in the attempt of identifying those explicitly designed or having as an effect the promotion of CoI. We analyse characteristics, recipients, and objectives of the programs and highlight differences and similarities. The analysis of these programs brings us to the selection of indicators measuring the efforts made by governments for the promotion of innovation policies. We use these indicators for the computation of composite indices measuring the intensity of policies and compare the two areas in terms of public policy efforts for innovation. Originality/value – Considering two regions that greatly differ in terms of economy, and political and social background, we show whether and how local governments are involved in the promotion of innovation and in particular of CoI. Furthermore, we contribute to the debate that focuses on understanding the extent to which the involvement of the governments in the promotion of innovation produces desirable results. Finally, from a practical perspective, this work offers a critical analysis of a number of policy levers for the promotion of investments and initiatives aimed at creating favourable conditions for the flourishing of formal and informal CoI. Practical implications – The outcomes of the work gives strength to the idea that in the last few years innovation has become the main objective of governments, and CoI are one of the privileged mechanisms to achieve this objective. The comparison of Puglia and Guangdong, taken as two diametrically opposed examples in terms of institutional setting, may lead to uncover similar roles and uses of public interventions in the establishment and development of CoI. The demonstration of consistencies between the two areas in the implementation of policies would contribute to the more general industrial policy debate heralding the importance of public policies in favour of innovation, even in places where industrial policies are not clearly institutionalized.

Purpose – This study concerns the antecedents of the effectiveness for autonomous inter-organizational (IO) teams guided by leaders adopting a direct leadership behaviour. We analyse the effect of the density of the team social networks and the environmental uncertainty on the team performances. Design/methodology/approach – We propose an approach based on the Ising model developed in statistical physics to simulate the opinion formation process inside the team. Originality/value –Main results show that the density has a beneficial effect on team opinion dispersion, in particular when the environmental uncertainty is high, whereas has respectively a positive or negative influence on the time needed to reach a stable configuration of opinions, when the environmental uncertainty is low or high. Practical implications – In order to improve team effectiveness and speed up the opinion formation process, we suggest to increase the density of the team social networks by means of socialization practices, only in case of low-medium environmental uncertainty. For high uncertainty, we caution that density has a negative effect on the time to reach a solution and in such a case, a moderate level of density should be better.

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to present a computational laboratory to explore how to support the development of Regional Innovation Systems (RISs) in so-called lagging regions. Over the years, models and tools to define effective innovation policies have been developed. Notwithstanding, there is a strong discrepancy among proposed theoretical frameworks, innovation policies and related regional performance. The research questions we attempt to answer are: i) what are critical masses of resources and competencies necessary to sustain the growth of RISs? ii) how much effective are current innovation policies; iii) what are the most effective policies to reassess their current pattern? Design/methodology/approach – To address the research questions we adopt an approach grounded on complexity science and we consider RISs as Complex Adaptive Systems (CASs) (Squazzoni and Boero, 2002). Agent-Based Modeling is one of the most suited methodological approaches to analyze CASs (Heath et al, 2009) and it has been increasingly recognized as a useful tool to support policy-making in different fields and at different levels (OECD, 2009; Brenner and Werker, 2009). Therefore, according to this, we propose an agent-based computational laboratory to support policy-makers in assessing and defining the most adequate regional innovation policies. Originality/value –The proposed lab introduces the CAS approach in the analysis of RISs by integrating the key concepts of traditional perspectives on territorial innovation systems with new ones. Although the complexity has been recognized as a distinctive feature of territorial innovation systems, it has been poorly used to develop innovation policies to support the competitiveness of regions. Additionally, while the agent-based models proposed in the literature are used mainly with the aim of theory building and are poorly validated against reality, the CARIS lab has been built to be a simulation tool for policy advice (Brenner and Werker, 2009). Practical implications – Once fully developed, the CARIS laboratory should help researchers and practitioners to better investigate what are critical masses of resources and competencies necessary to sustain the growth of RISs, how much effective are current innovation policies and what are the most effective policies to reassess the current pattern. According to the European Commission indications, such topic is very relevant, in particular, for lagging Regions, which, despite conspicuous policy interventions, have been unable to develop significant innovation patterns. As the validation process will be completed, the computational laboratory could be used as a policy advice tool.

Purpose – The idea of business model innovation and releasing of IC gets into problems if the theoretical works of Veblen acts as corner-stone in order to understand BM Eco-systems. IC – per definition – meets a systemic framework where the normative idea of meaning becomes part of the theoretical and practical discussion. We have mish-match between what the economy is able to produce compared with what the economy in practice produce. We have a cavalry of actors (IC) with specific intentional acting. Taken together the interplay between these elements create specific conditions for the context dependant term “sustainability” (McNeill, 2000). Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a theoretical study of the Veblenian framework conditions to BMI, ecosystems and the requirements to sustainabily BM from a Veblenian perspective. The empiric research methodology is primarily an action research approach. Mapping our findings with reference to Veblen and a BM ecosystem perspective we get a new picture of BM-Ecosystems relations to IC? Methodologically the idea of national innovation systems (Lundwall 1992, 2010), eco-system (Heikkilä & Kuivaniemi (2012), BMI processes and empiric illustrations are linked to Veblen . This illustrates how releasing of IC depends upon economic organization combined with the general rules of the game. Originality/value – The research reveals that BMI with absentee ownership prevents release of radical BMI IC. Because of the rules of the game these businesses per definition don’t have the incentive. Businesses are at management level hereby not able to create, capture, deliver, receive and consume the real potential of different business model ecosystems. The only way to secure sustainability is the creation of a fundamental change – a transformation. Point of departure must be defined as the institution Politics or pressure from the outside (Horn Rasmussen 2008 inspired by Veblen 1914, 1923a). Practical implications Businesses struggle continuously with releasing valuable IC. This challenge exists because of the economic organization and the inherent conservative institutions including the institution of “Make-believe”. The absence of important potential IC to develop their business introduces a need for a discussion of new strategies at both a micro- and macroeconomic level to improve and increase the release of IC to BMI. Business should be more structured about their mapping and releasing methods to IC inside and outside their business, focus on the different roles of actors and the general framework conditions for releasing IC in the economic system.

Businesses today use enormous resources to search for Intellectual Capital (IC) that can value their Business Model Innovation. However business often focus the search for IC in their nearest Business Model Ecosystem and do often not “see” and “sense” valuable IC in BM ecosystems that are not or only peripheral related. Thereby many business rely their business model innovation on the same “pool” of IC – preventing them to release different IC that could eventually give valuable advantage to their business. Some research indicate that it is a good idea to search for IC in different BM Ecosystems – however there is a lack of research on Why this does not take place more and – How to release and relate to Intellectual Capital (IC) in BM Ecosystems that are different to those that the business is already operating in? The paper shows 3 case examples on how 3 different business relates to IC in different BM Ecosystems and value their business model innovation. The paper address the potential and challenges to release IC from different Business Model Ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides case studies of IC exchange between different BM ecosystems. It shows a map of different business model ecosystems and maps the challenges to releasing IC.. The research methology was chosen as to be an action research approach and was carried out from 2010 to 2014. The findings shows characteristic of different BM Eco systems related to the multi business model approach (Lindgren & Horn Rasmussen, 2013). Mapping our findings in a BM ecosystem perspective and the BM relation axiom enabled us to get a first picture of – What is the business BM relations to IC in different BM ecosystems? The mapping enabled us and the business to “see” and “sense” potentials but also challenges to release valuable IC to Business Model Innovation (BMI) from different BM Ecosystems? Originality/value – The paper illustrates how business by using IC from different BM Ecosystems potentially can improve their BMI results and the sustainability of their BMs. The research reveals that Business mainly focusing and releasing IC internal or from their nearest BM ecosystem prevents themselves from valuable BMI. Practical implications Business struggle with releasing valuable IC from their business BM´s. The research shows that they potentially could get value able IC from different BM ecosystems that are outside their BM Ecosystem. This is however a challenge to many businesses when they cannot “see” and “sense” the IC in different BM ecosystems. They hereby miss the opportunity to adapt important IC to develop their business and escape “red ocean” business model ecosystems (Chan and Mahoughne 2008, Markides 2008). One consequence of this is that the practice of multi business model innovation and releasing intellectual capital (IC) becomes more difficult and complex to carry out than necessary.

Purpose — The purpose of the paper is to explore the question of alignment between knowledge strategy and business model. These two elements are considered as a central parts of organizational strategy at early stages of start-up development. The empirical investigation of the alignment of business model and knowledge strategy is the main long-term objective of this study. However in this paper we concentrate on theoretical foundations of the alignment between knowledge strategy and business model. Design/methodology — This study uses ground theory as a general approach. As the context of the study we choose Russian IT satart-ups. This choice of this setting is driven both by specificity of the setting that makes it easier to indicate particular practice or instrument. Originality/value – There are several things by which our research adds value for management theory. First, we integrate two important domains of strategy research, which is crucially important for the development of the field. Second, we clarify the concept of knowledge strategy and its’ formulation. Next, we explain the process of business model development in very specific settings. Finally, main theoretical concepts are considered at the startup stage. Practical implications – The perspective discussed in this work also has important managerial implications, as it represents a bridge between academic research and managerial practice. The reason for this is the topic itself, which has high priority in managerial and entrepreneurial practice. Moreover, qualitative method used depicts real managerial practice rather then purely theoretical constructs. We also provide directions for the start-uppers on the issue of the development of knowledge strategy and business model. Moreover, we explain the importance of the alignment between these two issues. Finally, we give directions on how it should be done.

The aim of this paper is to realize a first explanatory analysis of Business model considering three different aspects: the definition stated by IIRC and within its documents, the existing International literature where there is not an univocal definition and the empirical side represented by the Pilot Program of IIRC. The research question is to identify which aspects of the BM should be considered in the light of these different contributions to better represent and report the sustainable growth and value creation dynamics according to a sustainable growth perspective. The paper also has the purpose to put in evidence eventually critical aspects in the BM rules and applications trying to shed more light on how this aspect could be really useful in the successful development of the Integrated Reporting. This aspect is also relevant since IR represents a recent innovation it is not so much analysed by academics and it would require to be analysed basing on a theoretical perspective. Three different methodologies are adopted: after an explanatory analysis of the International literature review about Business Model we would realize a Document analysis approach (Bowen, 2009) about the documents issued by the IIRC and a Case study approach for the empirical side of the research (Stake, 1993; Yin, 1995). The empirical side will cover 18 Companies included in the Database of the IIRC. The originality of this paper is related both to the fact that it addresses a new issue that is not particularly analysed since it is young and since it is still developing, and to the complete approach of the analysis combining the theoretical aspects with the empirical applications of the companies. Practical implications of this paper are connected to the fact that the findings could help companies in finding a better way of analysing, implementing and representing their Business Model generating a good outcome both for the entity and for its stakeholders. The results could also be useful for the IIRC that is still developing its standards.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of negative emotions in modern work life. The paper aims to identify antecedents and consequences of negative emotions especially in the context of knowledge work performance. The viewpoint is managerial and underlying assumption that negative emotions are not always bad. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a literature review. First, the nature and roles of negative emotions in organizational context are investigated by analysing models and theories explaining how emotions are linked to workplace events, behaviors and outcomes. Second, antecedents and consequences of negative emotions and affective states (e.g., angry, frustrated, worried, sad) are explored. The paper aims to construct a conceptual model for the basis of later empirical research. Originality/value – This paper introduces a managerial approach to identify and manage the triggers and impacts of negative emotions in knowledge-intensive organizations. To complement the more conventional approach of preventing and eliminating negative factors, this paper focuses on the positive aspects of negative emotions. Practical implications – The outcomes of the paper provide new understanding for managing negative emotions in companies in a way that they can be transformed into positive asset and business value. This paper identifies various events and behavioral links that could be intervened and influenced in order to attain positive performance outcomes.

Purpose – The present contribution addresses the implementation of an Integrated Management Control System which aims to combine the company’s intangible resources, known in literature as Intellectual Capital (IC), with long-term sustainability factors. The study concerns a company operating within the Aerospace and Defence field which has developed an Intellectual Capital report in order to manage sustainability projects and meet the stringent criteria required for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative research approach underlying the investigation is Interpretivism; more specifically, the study was conducted in the light of “action research” (Dumay, 2010). Data were gathered from in-depth interviews with managers as well as from group discussions. A framework aiming at fostering a sustainable management strategy was elaborated and successfully applied to a series of specific corporate initiatives. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the extant literature by questioning whether it is possible to link IC and sustainability initiatives in order to have a positive impact on the assessment process companies are subject to for inclusion in the DJSI. As per today, in fact, no research paper has addressed this topic. Practical implications – The outcomes of the research suggest that the adoption of an integrated management control system, providing a link between intangible assets and capabilities that create value within a sustainability framework, not only provides an effective support to general management but it could be reasonably assumed to have a positive impact on the assessment process companies are subject to for inclusion in the Index.

Purpose – In the last years, researchers have shown that innovation processes are veering towards an “open innovation” approach whereby innovating firms rely increasingly on contributions by external partners (Chesbrough, 2003). In particular, the automobile manufacturing industry is a typically complex technical environment where the cooperation in knowledge creation is very extensive (Lin and Cao, 2012). On these basis, this paper aims to analyze if and to what extent, innovation output in terms of patent quantity and value differs depending on whether an automaker engages in a (certain type of) collaboration for its R&D activities. Design/methodology/approach – To reach our aims, we selected a quali-quantitative approach based on the collection of two datasets about four among the world largest automakers: the former contains a total of around 4,400 relationship pairs of automakers and suppliers, allied companies and subsidiaries; the latter includes the automakers’ EPO patent portfolios, and related information, since 2004 which provide the names of the co-assignees. Matching the company names of the two data sources allowed us to obtain the final dataset used to carry out the extensive descriptive analysis and regression analysis. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the scientific literature by investigating the presence of differences across the patenting activities of a selection of automakers and their supplier, allied and subsidiary firms. Moreover, the issue related to patent value represents an emerging area of interest in the field of collaborations for innovation. Also the methodology constitutes a novelty in this field, since the examined database is generated by matching two different sources. Furthermore, the process for cleaning and standardizing the company names (“name game”) combined an automated algorithm with a double manual check, by searching the company websites and querying the corporate tree. Practical implications – The outcomes of the study show that the four selected automakers adopt different strategies regarding co-patenting with their R&D partners. On this basis, a framework including four main strategies -contingent, purposive, watchful and advanced- have been identified and lays the foundation for further research in this field. In addition, the present study reveals that co-patented inventions with suppliers and subsidiaries seem to be more valuable than with allies. Evidences emerging from our paper may support firms in making aware choice regarding the management of knowledge collaborative activities and co-patenting.

Intellectual capital (IC) is a key driver in value creation. According with the above more and more companies, for profit as well as no profit organizations (NPOs), direct their attention to new tools able to communicate to the stakeholders their intangible assets as value creator driver. IC in for-profit companies, but especially in NPOs is positively correlated with the performance. For this reason, during the last years the interest in the importance of IC in NPOs is increased. IC report becomes a fundamental tool in the disclosure of the NPOs’activities. Nowadays is necessary to use a correct frame work to represent the IC in terms of knowledge, skill, procedures and relationship spread into the organization. The aim of the paper is to propose an original framework for IC report addressed to NPOs. To reach paper’s aim the work is developed as follow: first of all is examined existing literature on NPOs and IC in order to identify relevant features of IC in NPOs, and are focused relevant aspects to be measured by IC indicators and disclosed by IC report in the above context. Then are outlined extant frameworks for IC report in order to verify if they fit the aspects qualified as relevant in NPOs and point out what they lack with reference to NPOs context. On these basis the work proposes an original framework, with a new set of indicators inside, that would better fit to NPOs features. Finally the proposed framework is tested in an Italian NPO. The result is to disclose new aspects of the activity carried on by NPOs on the side of knowledge, skill and relationship with the surrounding community. Purpose – The research is focused to build an original IC framework through a set of indicators able to disclose IC in the NPOs context. Design/methodology/approach – After a review of existing literature and of IC in order to identify relevant features of IC in NPOs, and are focused relevant aspects to be measured by IC indicators and disclosed by IC framework in the above context. Then the model is tested on an existing Italian NPO Originality/value – An original IC framework and a new set of indicators for IC in the NPOs, tested an Italian NPO, offer a new disclosure of the activity carried on by the organization on the side of knowledge, skills and relationship with the surrounding . Practical implications – The findings appear to suggest an innovative model of IC framework for NPOs with a significative set of indicators. The work is tested only on an Italian NPO which can be extended in the future to other NPOs both Italian and non Italian.

Purpose – The paper reports on the impact of designing a creativity workshop schedule in terms of successful cooperation and project generation. It is based on a series of creativity workshops designed and conducted by researchers of Knowledge Architecture, a new scientific field at TU Dresden. Knowledge architecture utilizes architectural processes and tools in order to develop conceptions of non-architectural items, as organizational design, product development, innovation- or knowledge management. Whereas groups and teams of divergent scientific fields and professions are focused. Background – These days scientific research and industrial development are getting more and more complex. To find appropriate and problem-oriented solutions, different disciplines have to cooperate and collaborate closely. Design/methodology/approach – In order to focus on the interplay of the design of the workshop and the success of the interdisciplinary teamwork a systematic framework is derived from several case studies. These workshops were documented and analysed systematically. Creative techniques were developed and successfully implemented into workshop practice. Originality / Value / Practical implications – From the observations so far, a number of findings can be stated. Generally, the implementation of architectural methods was quite successful, and appears to be a way to increase variety, creativity, and innovations. But not only the creative techniques themselves are influencing the workshop results, moreover the design of the procedure and the arrangement of different tools, methods and sequences evolved as a key driver of successful interdisciplinary cooperation. Interdisciplinary cooperation has to be taught, learned and practiced in a long-term. Therefore a theory of creative for collectives is needed. This may be facilitated by discussed systematic and customized program of workshop design and methods of Knowledge Architecture to foster Creativity in Teamwork to design cross–disciplinary innovation.

Purpose – In contemporary city the competitiveness is increasingly played on creative regeneration to achieve a more comprehensive and sustainable development. As regards, the paper aims at illustrating the case study of creative urban regeneration of Lyon Confluence. Thanks to the Confluence renewal, that will be explained focusing on history of places, urban projects implemented, sustainable socio-economic regeneration and participation policies, Lyon is part of the Creative City Network promoted by UNESCO and is reaching quite a good ranking among world cities in Quality of living. A first assessment of critical and positive factors of this process, still under development, will conclude the paper. Design/methodology/approach – Our approach is focused on creative cities, which has its origin in the research into reasons why several cities gain attractiveness and competitiveness in recent decades. Such cities improve the interaction among urban regeneration, economic development and social renewal. These experiences show that their competitiveness is based on local peculiarities shaping the city brand. This case study is part of a broader research programme Innovation and competitivity in the global economy, in development by IRAT CNR. The objectives are: creation of a methodology aimed at identifying and designing the creative and identity resources in emblematic areas of urban transformation; identification of urban regeneration best practices; identification of guidelines for sustainable urban regenerations. Originality/value – The case study highlights, in an original way, an integrated approach to sustainable urban creative regeneration. In fact, Lyon is an emblematic case of urban regeneration among the French cities since the main project Lyon Confluence appears a singular example. It regards a particular territory with a strong identity, and its renewal seems to be able to both preserve nature and landscape, and revitalizing local economy consistent with the culture and vision of the residents. In 1995 Lyon started the renewal process aimed at launching the city at an international level, and attempted to change the Lyonnaise identity, based on silk and industrial production, redefining it on quality of life, attractiveness and creativity. Practical implications – The study described in this paper is related to the identification of the best practices of urban regeneration in Europe, and the conducted analysis is also aimed at gather suggestions and advice for policy makers. Although the Lyon Confluence renewal project is still under development, a first assessment of critical and positive factors of this process which will be described in the paper, could be carried out. This include the problems observed within the urban regeneration of Confluence which are essentially of physical and relational/cultural nature.

Purpose – Recently, suggestions to advance Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) have been voiced in order to provide the missing support tools for the rising Creative Class. Based on the assumption of autonomous capacities and nourished by the creative conversation of many individuals’ PKM devices, the systems are supposed to support the notion that knowledge and skills of knowledge workers are portable and mobile and that a technology ought to back their options on how to maintain and develop their knowledge and on where, how, and for whom they will put it to work. Design/methodology/approach – Currently, a prototype system pursuing this concept is about to be converted into a marketable PKM system (PKMS) by the author. This applied research paper complements a series of twelve papers which share the common verdict that a technology is overdue that aims to aid teamwork, life-long-learning, resourcefulness, and creativity of individuals throughout their academic and professional life and as contributors and beneficiaries of organizational performance. This particular paper focusses on an important concern since the realization of these kind of novel PKM solutions presently face severe barriers caused by the current paradigm, logics and logistics of centralized institutional systems thinking. Originality/value – PKM has been placed historically in a narrow individualistic confinement negating its importance relating to group member performance, new technologies, or business processes. The recent papers have discussed different views and expectations and introduced a concept and prototype system following a novel meme-based rather than document-centric approach. One of the current papers ‘PKM Devices – The next Co-evolutionary Driver of Human Development?!’ also looked at it in the context of human civilization and has fully agreed with Levy’s statement: “Just as computer science underwent a revolution in the 1980s with the widespread use of personal computers, it is possible that KM will in the twenty-first century experience a decentralizing revolution that gives more power and autonomy to individuals and self-organized groups.” Practical implications – As enablers of personal development and people empowerment, decentralized autonomous PKMS capacities will give individuals a better chance of navigating today’s abundance of information and changing career patterns. At the same time, one of the most important functions of teaching will be to encourage in students the sustainable growth of autonomous capacities in Personal KM. It follows, that PKMS are also predestined to offer appealing and viable opportunities for other stakeholders in the educational, professional, societal, and developmental context.