Innovation Insights from North American Forest Sector Research: A Literature Review

Abstract

Abstract:The promise of increased industry competitiveness through innovation has driven interest in innovation by industry managers, policy makers and academicians. Forest sector researchers have produced a strong body of work in recent years. This article provides a review of work originating in North America during the period 2000-2013. The review includes 28 journal articles focused on the forest sector in the U.S. and Canada. Seven important themes from the literature are identified and discussed: defining innovation and innovativeness; measuring innovativeness; factors influencing innovativeness; new product development; climate/culture; innovation systems; and innovativeness and firm performance. The positive culture and climate within a company has a clear connection to improved innovativeness and firm performance. Generally, findings describing the culture of the forest sector show a conservative group that fails to sufficiently invest in innovativeness and innovation. Culture change presents a significant opportunity within the industry to strive toward the improved development of new products, processes and business systems to reap the rewards of improved performance. The implications for managers and researchers are outlined.

Características, obstáculos y efectos de la innovación en empresas del sector maderero de la región del Maule, Chile

“…La investigación del comportamiento innovador en el sector forestal y madera avanzó principalmente a través de estudios comparativos globales y estudios de caso en aquellos países líderes en la industria forestal global como son Australia y Nueva Zelanda (Bull y Ferguson 2006), Canadá (Schaan y Anderson 2002), China (Song et al 2004), Estados Unidos de América (Hansen et al 2014), Rusia (Akim et al 2014) y los Países Nórdicos (Stendahl y Roos 2008). En términos generales, la evidencia que se recopiló en estos trabajos revela que, a pesar de la ingente disponibilidad de recursos forestales de los países líderes, el dinamismo del intercambio comercial y el crecimiento del sector forestal global, los procesos de cambio tecnológico y adopción de innovaciones en la industria forestal tienen un ritmo menor a otras industrias igualmente relevantes y maduras a escala global como la agricultura o la industria farmacéutica (Hammett y Youngs 2002).…”

“…En términos generales, la evidencia que se recopiló en estos trabajos revela que, a pesar de la ingente disponibilidad de recursos forestales de los países líderes, el dinamismo del intercambio comercial y el crecimiento del sector forestal global, los procesos de cambio tecnológico y adopción de innovaciones en la industria forestal tienen un ritmo menor a otras industrias igualmente relevantes y maduras a escala global como la agricultura o la industria farmacéutica (Hammett y Youngs 2002). Dentro de las causas que explican este hecho se identifican problemas tales como la alta fragmentación y falta de acceso a información tecnológica relevante para las empresas forestales (Rosenberg et al 1990); inadecuadas estructuras de gestión empresarial para la innovación (Bull y Ferguson 2006); gobernanza institucional centralista e insuficientes incentivos públicos a la innovación empresarial (Song et al 2004); y predominio de una cultura o clima organizacional conservador poco proclive a la innovación (Hansen et al 2014); como los factores más relevantes.…”

Managing Innovation Paradox in the Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study of Ambidextrous Capability in a Focal Firm

“…The promise of increased industry competitiveness through innovation has driven interest in innovation by industry managers, policy-makers, and academics [19]. The innovation system has existed for several decades [20,21].…”

“…Thus, an effective organizational context or innovation atmosphere should be established to encourage staff to pursue innovation through the paradoxical conduct of exploitation and exploration simultaneously and promote a sustainable innovation product [56]. The positive culture and climate within a company has a clear connection to improved innovativeness and firm performance [19]. The overall system design, as a significant innovation work for complex aerospace products, highly integrates advanced technologies instead of pursuing one single advanced technology [57].…”

Long-term outlook for wood construction in Europe

“…That is, Hansen et al (2014) characterise the North American wood products industry as conservative, which based on the results of this study seems to be appropriate in Europe as well. Indeed, the risk analysis carried out by Lindblad and Schauerte (2015) clearly shows that a minute share of the wood products suppliers operate in a segment with elevated financial or operational risks.…”