Knowledge-intensive Services and Urban Innovativeness

Abstract

This paper addresses three issues in the context of knowledge-intensive service (KIS) development, related to the competitive base of cities and the degree to which they possess distinctive sources of innovativeness. The first is, how may growing KIS, or consultancy, use influence client innovation? Although this is inherently difficult to demonstrate, the expertise and modes of operation of consultancies suggest that they do influence technical and organisational change amongst clients. The second issue is the segmentation of consultancy influence, especially by sector and types of firm. Finally, how far does the urban base of consultancy supply imply local, specifically urban, benefits for client innovation? Consultancy services are often delivered over wide areas from their urban bases, within national and international nexuses of corporate and public-sector service exchange. This question cannot be answered by focusing only on local exchange. Urban client-consultancy interaction needs to be set within a national and even an international context of specialist expertise exchange.

A pragmatic service typology: capturing the distinctive dynamics of services in time and space

“…On the other hand, there has also been an emergence of new services in the market. Given the ever more global competition, accelerating innovation cycles and an ongoing specialization in product markets, management labour has experienced an increasing division of labour (Wood 2002). As a consequence, corporate management has produced new demand for expert services and stimulated an ongoing growth and diversity of business services (Glückler 2004).…”

Networked or Un-Networked? A Preliminary Study on KIBS-Based Sustainable Urban Development: The Case of China

“…KIBS offers problem-oriented tailored services to clients by inputs of human capital and specialist knowledge, characterized by knowledge demand-driven [45], dynamic flow [46], and collaborative interaction [47]. Based on these features, the location of KIBS is arguably determined by geographical proximity to customers, linkage with clients, accessibility of good information, and availability of skilled staff and technological capital [48].…”

Co-Innovation by Kibs in Environmental Services — A Knowledge-Based Perspective

“…The focus of this study is on which resources and capabilities determine whether or not KIBS firms perform this last role. Therefore, co-innovation is defined as an innovation occurring at a client firm with inputs of both the client and KIBS firm that would not have happened without the support of the KIBS firm (Wood, 2004).…”

“…Client firms with a deep commitment to innovation, a high absorptive capacity and large networking capabilities are more likely to use KIBS as specialised knowledge providers and engage in cooperative innovation (Tether and Tajar, 2008). Co-innovation is defined as innovation occurring at a client firm with inputs of both the client and KIBS firm, which would not have occurred without the support of the KIBS firm (Wood, 2004). In the typology proposed by Gallouj and Weinstein (1997), co-innovation corresponds to 'ad hoc innovation', requiring changes in competences, technologies and an interactive construction of new outcomes (De Vries, 2006).…”