Who is working on the study, and how is it financed?
This study is part of ongoing research on regional economic development by the Spaces of Economy and Society Research Cluster at the Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. The research cluster maintains close links with the Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) and the Centre for Business Research (CBR) in the Judge Business School.
The researcher Franz Huber is in charge of the project.
This project is funded by a Gates Scholarship of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is the purpose of the study?
The study investigates innovation practices
and knowledge
relations of firms in the IT industry (hardware and
software) clustered in the
Greater
Cambridge Region. This research critically investigates whether
geographical clustering represents an advantage for firms, and
it explores specific mechanisms of knowledge acquisition through
personal networks of employees. This helps to understand the
functioning of industry clusters, and the output is relevant for
organisational and strategic decisions of firms as well as
policy makers.
What does the study look like?
Interviews with employees working on research or
development of new products are conducted. This will lead to
qualitative insights into innovation practices of knowledge workers,
the processes of knowledge acquisition and social interaction.
There will be no interviews with executives or senior managers who are
not involved in research or development. Within the interview
also more structured survey questions will be asked,
which enables statistical investigations.
How do the participating firms benefit?
Through interviewing the
employees will become aware of often hidden dimensions of knowledge
acquisition through personal networks. This can lead the
participating
employees to critically reflect on their current situation and
to think about how they can acquire knowledge most effectively
to be successful in the workplace.
Furthermore, the participating
employees and firms will receive an executive summary of the
results of the project (and additional information if requested). This research output can be of relevance
for organisational and strategic decisions of the firm and the
employees.
How will the data be used?
The interview and survey data will be used for academic
publications only. All data will be kept anonymous and
confidential. That is, the data will just be published in an
aggregated form, and no individual or firm will be identifiable.
The aggregated results will also be presented to several policy makers (in
regional and industrial policy).
How can I get further information?
Contact
Franz Huber by phone, email or post:
|
Phone: |
07912510371 |
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Email: |
fh259 @ cam . ac . uk [without spaces] |
|
Post: |
Franz Huber Department of Geography Downing Place CB2 3EN Cambridge |