The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of boundary objects in interaction processes within business networks. From a single case study in the grocery retail industry, we find that such objects are used within interaction processes for collaboration, but are also used extensively for handling conflict, facilitating economic negotiations, and power execution. As such, network-level boundary objects do not require broad consensus by all the involved actors, but instead narrow consensus in a particular interaction process.
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2018)
Venture Capital Systemic Synergies and Networked Management Control in Rapid Scaling Innovative New Business Ventures
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the roles of deals in innovations processes, based on the definition of a deal as the interaction of social-material value-creating processes with money-handing processes. Design/methodology/approach:The paper is based on a study of the historical emergence of transaortic valve implantation (TAVI) as an innovative new technology in the area of thoracic surgery in a global setting. The study is based on a combination of interviews and secondary data analysis. Findings:The authors found that deals play important roles in innovation processes as critical junctions that mark entries to different phases and generate major shifts in location as well as combination of resources, activities and actors. These shifts include radical changes in control, where actors in possession of resources necessary to bring the project through the next phase, move in to take control – thereby expanding their businesses to new growth niches. Based on the analysis of seven deals, the authors argue that the innovation process is a combined push and pull process where later stage entrepreneurial interests play very significant roles. Deals may also represent radical turning points and moves of the projects that set the project off in a different direction, usually also associated with shifting ownership control rights through the innovation and scaling process. The authors also argue that inventions in the periphery will tend to move to the areas with the most competent relevant business networks capable of adopting and expanding the innovation to a global business operation. The innovation process is not primarily about creating new resources and activities, but about recombining existing resources, competencies and activities. Supplier networks play particularly important roles in these processes. Research limitations/implications: The authors suggest that the study indicates that IMP researchers should turn more attention to studying business deals and financial flows and influences – in particular in studies of innovations and innovation processes – to investigate the mechanisms by which new innovations interact with and transform existing business networks. Social implications: This work highlights why and how an innovation that may initiate anywhere in the periphery, will tend to move to the most competent and capable networks around the globe, that are the most relevant to the needs of the innovation project. Hence, the more powerful business networks and eco-systems will tend to pull interesting inventions in from their periphery, and grow them effectively. Originality/value: The paper expands the efforts in IMP theorizing to include financial/monetary interactions more explicitly into business network theory. It also aims at clarifying core IMP arguments toward entrepreneurship research, in particular research on international new ventures.
Nybakk, Erlend; Olsen, Per Ingvar & Pettersen, Ivar (2016)
Norsk matindustri: veier til framtidig forbedring av produktivitet og konkurranseevne
, s. 179- 204.
Mikhailova, Olga & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2016)
Internationalization of an academic invention through successive science-business networks: The case of TAVI
The aim of this paper is to explain how new technology ventures move, grow, and scale. Such ventures internationalize much faster than depicted by the traditional Uppsala model (Johanson and Vahlne, J Int Bus Stud 8:23–32, 1977; Johanson and Vahlne, Mark Rev 7(4), 1990; Johanson and Vahlne, J Int Entrep 1:83–101, 2003; Johanson and Vahlne, Manag Int Rev 46:165–178, 2006; Oviatt and McDougall, J Int Bus Stud 25:45–64, 1994). According to the Uppsala model, the main reason it takes time is that entrepreneurs need to build networks and learn. Many scholars have investigated how they may be able to learn faster and grow networks more effectively. While these explanations contribute to a better understanding of the process, they appear disturbingly insufficient. By means of an in-depth case study, we aim at identifying how learning and network-building constraints may be circumvented. We have investigated the internationalization process of an invention at a Danish university hospital that became a new technology within minimally invasive heart surgery. While the invention took place in the periphery of the international medical network, the venture circulated to the most competent international science-business networks to mobilize resources and competencies. We found that its ability to succeed resulted from its roots in international academic networks and its connecting to core nodes in these as well as in adequate business networks—including, in particular, Venture Capital firms that are in the business of developing and scaling such technology ventures. We also found that the innovation process evolved through phases that called for different resources and capabilities. It thereby offered opportunities for actors, networks, and companies that control such capabilities to move in to take control and pull the venture through the next phase. The process is less like a long distance run, and more like a relay race. This radically reduces the need to learn as the new venture expands and scales.
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2015)
Kjøpermakt i verdikjeden for mat
, s. 87- 116.
Håkansson, Håkan & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2015)
The roles of money and business deals in network structures
In this article we attempt interpreting and conceptualizing the roles of monetary processes and business deals in relation to IMP methodology and theory. This suggests that we have to separate the way the money is handled. We point to the need to analyse the specific situations within which money is involved as “deals”. Each deal has its own history as it is a construction of two interacting firms that are influenced both by the joint social-material value creation processes and the specific features of monetary flows and appropriations of gains and losses that result from these interactions. The money distributive dimension should not be seen as a parallel activity layer of such business interactions - such as we may interpret accounting - but should be seen as a different, related network. We use a single case study to extract interpretations of different deals and deal-structures and use these to discuss the particularities of deals, their various roles and functions, and finally also how we may proceed to better study and theorize the roles of money in relation to IMP network theory.
Olsen, Per Ingvar; Prenkert, Frans, Hoholm, Thomas & Harrison, Debbie (2014)
The Dynamics of Networked Power in a Concentrated Business Network
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamics of networked power in a concentrated business network. Power is a long standing theme in inter-organizational research, yet there is a paucity of studies about how power emerges and is constructed over time at the network level. The paper adopts process, systems and network theory to interpret a rich single case study from the food industry. Three power mechanisms are identified, gatekeeping, decoupling and resource allocation, which form the basis of a model of networked power dynamics. Empirically tracing the dynamics of networked power highlights the economic contents of interactions. The paper extends current understandings of power as ‘conflict and coercion’ to include influencing, leveraging and strategic maneuvering in the actual performance of networked power.
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2013)
IMP theory in light of process- and system theories
7(3) , s. 159- 170.
Håkansson, Håkan; Olsen, Per Ingvar & Bakken, Tore (2013)
Agency and Economizing in Interacted Economies
Volume 7(2) , s. 106- 111.
Olsen, Per Ingvar & Håkansson, Håkan (2012)
Innovation management in networked economies
5(2) , s. 79- 105.
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2012)
Below the surface: How (seafood-) networks work - and how they change
6(3) , s. 186- 193.
Hoholm, Thomas & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2012)
The contrary forces of innovation: A conceptual model for studying networked innovation processes
In this paper, we argue that industrial innovation processes can productively be analyzed as consisting of two sub-processes that over time create and mobilize contrary forces within both internal and external interactions of the innovation project. One of these forces emerges from the process of mobilizing resources, activities, and actors in ensuring commitments to the project over time. The other is the process of explorative learning, which continues to create revised or even new propositions about the realities of the project and its opportunities. We argue that this analytical distinction permits us to expand our understanding of how friction forces develop over time in business networks (Håkansson & Waluszewski, 2001ab), the patterns of divergence and convergence in innovation processes as identified by Van de Ven et al. (1999) and the processes of “path creation through mindful deviation” as argued by Garud and Karnøe (2001).
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2011)
The Relevance and Applicability of Process Metaphysics to Organizational Research
Process metaphysics (process philosophy) has been suggested as a route, to a more “process-based” approach to organizational studies, as opposed to a “substance-based” view said to be dominant in Western thinking - including most contemporary organizational researchers. This paper explores into some of the ideas of early 20th century process thinkers and provides an interpretation of some of the major work of Alfred N. Whitehead. The objective is to evaluate its possible relevance to modern organizational research. The paper argues that Whitehead’s radical ontology - that was based on a generalization of quantum theory in physics - appears largely to have been refuted or disregarded by succeeding process philosophers. Furthermore, his epistemology is found to represent a process view on scientific knowledge creation taken for granted by most contemporary researchers. For different reasons, major elements of his theories do not appear to be directly relevant to efforts to advance organizational theory into more radical process based theories. On the other hand, the paper argues that the early 20th century process thinkers – including Whitehead - offer a plurality of analytical conceptions that may serve as useful and inspirational contributions to further development of methods and perspectives to investigate into organizations, change and innovation processes. There are also particular approaches within the domain that have properties quite similar to some of those conceptions in process philosophy – like “sensemaking processes” as represented by Karl Weick and others, which may in particular benefit from exploring the area of process philosophy.
Olsen, Per Ingvar; Ojastu, Deniss & Chiu, Richard (2011)
Cognitive Model of Entrepreneurship and its Reflection in Education
This paper employs a novel method for assessing the appropriateness of different types of entrepreneurial education. With the help of cognitive mapping as a research tool, it visualizes entrepreneurship as a skill-and-attitude-demanding activity and compares a generated model of required entrepreneurship capabilities derived from cognitive mapping of engaged entrepreneurs, with mapping of three Scandinavian graduate programmes in entrepreneurship; at BI Norwegian School of Management, University of Oslo and Lund University. The cognitive maps are discussed and compared, focusing on elements that are under- or over-represented in the programmes when compared to our model. Based on our findings, a number of recommendations to people involved in creating and managing entrepreneurship programs are proposed: More attention to selection of students with appropriate attitudes, increased attention to certain under-represented topics (employee management, social networks, marketing and sales skills), more application of experiential and networking approaches, and increased focus on self-learning.
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2011)
Knowledge, transparency and power in business networks
5(2) , s. 94- 106.
Hernes, Tor; Bakken, Tore & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2006)
Spaces as processes: Developing a recursive perspective on organizational space
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2005)
The re-formatting of electricity, and the making of a market
Stortinget skal nå ta stilling til ny e-helselov. Lovforslaget høstet mye kritikk i høringsrunden, men fremmes så godt som uendret. Vi mener at forslaget er mangelfullt på flere måter og bør forbedres før loven vedtas.
Olsen, Per Ingvar; Sande, Jon Bingen & Abrahamsen, Morten H. (2020)
Tre tiltak som gir helsevesenet utstyret det trenger
[Kronikk]
Abrahamsen, Morten Høie & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2023)
Innovasjonspartnerskap - Hva det kan og ikke kan bidra med
Abrahamsen, Morten Høie & Olsen, Per Ingvar (red.). Innovasjonspartnerskap - Hva det kan og ikke kan bidra med
Olsen, Per Ingvar & Abrahamsen, Morten Høie (2023)
Hvordan skalere nye digitale helsetjenester i krisetider - Lærdommer fra covid-19 pandemien i Oslo Kommune
Olsen, Per Ingvar & Abrahamsen, Morten Høie (red.). Hvordan skalere nye digitale helsetjenester i krisetider - Lærdommer fra covid-19 pandemien i Oslo Kommune
Abrahamsen, Morten H. & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2021)
The role of innovation partnerships as a policy tool in healthcare innovation
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Abrahamsen, Morten H. & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2020)
The role of innovation partnerships as a public innovation policy tool
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Peavy, Keith Herbert; Hoholm, Thomas, Olsen, Per Ingvar & Mørk, Bjørn Erik (2019)
Emerging solidarities: A Collective articulation of relationally-based practices of care
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Kvaerner, Kari Jorunn; Olsen, Per Ingvar & Sampietro-Colom, Laura (2018)
Innovative procurement with early decisional support: Accelerating value-based health.The HTAi Conference in Vancouver
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar; Mørk, Bjørn Erik, Hoholm, Thomas & Nicolini, Davide (2018)
How global medical innovation processes evolve: The case of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Peavy, Keith Herbert; Hoholm, Thomas, Olsen, Per Ingvar & Mørk, Bjørn Erik (2018)
Emerging solidarities and the transformation of caring practices
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Mørk, Bjørn Erik; Olsen, Per Ingvar, Nicolini, Davide & Hoholm, Thomas (2017)
Tracing connections in action to understand how medical innovation processes unfold
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar; Nicolini, Davide, Mørk, Bjørn Erik & Hoholm, Thomas (2017)
Tracing connections in action to under stand how medical innovations unfold
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Bygballe, Lena Elisabeth; Harrison, Debbie, Hoholm, Thomas, Rocca, Antonella La & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2015)
Interaction as a process: An expanded view of the ‘spiral’?
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2014)
Innovation in medical technology and medical procedures - in between global innovation drivers and complex local settings
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2013)
Implementation of new technologies in advanced medical procedures
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Håkansson, Håkan; Olsen, Per Ingvar & Waluszewski, Alexandra (2013)
Value Creation and economic deal structures in IMP analysis
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2013)
Value creation and economic deal structures in IMP analysis
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2013)
Styrker, svakheter og løsningsmodeller i verdikjeden for korn, mel og bakervarer
[Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2013)
Samvirke sine strategiske veivalg
[Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2013)
Verdiskaping og eierskap til verdiskaping i samvirkeforetak
[Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2013)
Samvirke, nå og i framtida
[Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2013)
Samvirke i globalt og historisk pespektiv
[Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2011)
Knowledge and power in business networks
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar; Harrison, Debbie, Prenkert, Frans & Hoholm, Thomas (2011)
Boundary objects in multi-actor interactions within tightly structured networks
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar (2011)
Smarte forretningsmodeller
[Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar & Joly, Carlos (2011)
The Nordic, the Welfare State and the Eurozone Crisis
[Popular Science Article].
Olsen, Per Ingvar; Harrison, Debbie, Prenkert, Frans & Hoholm, Thomas (2011)
Power Games in Networks
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar & Håkansson, Håkan (2011)
Innovation in Interaction
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Hoholm, Thomas & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2010)
The contrary forces of innovation: A conceptual model for studying networked innovation processes
[Conference Lecture]. Event
Olsen, Per Ingvar & Lervik, Jon Erland (2006)
Eierstyring, innovasjon og internasjonalisering i integrerte samvirkekonsern
[Report Research].
Denne rapporten er leveransen fra fase III av forskningsprogrammet ”Norsk jordbruksvaresektor. Strategi og forretningsutvikling mot år 2010”. Den representerer en avrunding av et program som over 4 år har utforsket ulike sider ved de utfordringer norsk landbruk og landbrukets matvareindustri står overfor, og noen av de veier som kan være mulig å gå for å sikre langsiktig fornyelse og bærekraft for denne delen av norsk økonomi. Prosjektet har vært gjennomført som et brukerstyrt program ved Senter for samvirkeforskning ved Handelshøyskolen BI, der brukerinteressene har vært Norsk Landbrukssamvirke, Tine BA, Gilde Norsk Kjøtt BA og Statens nærings- og distriktsutviklingsfond (SND, nå Innovasjon Norge). I prosjektets fase III har Norsk Landbrukssamvirke vært oppdragsgiver sammen med Tine og Gilde. Dette prosjektet har således hatt et klart fokus på noen av de sentrale strategiske utfordringene landbrukssamvirkene står overfor.
Hernes, Tor; Olsen, Per Ingvar & Espelien, Anne (2004)
Jordbruksvaresektorens muligheter i sjømatbasert næringsutvikling
[Report Research].
Hovedfokuset i dette prosjekt har vært å avdekke noen av de mulighetsrom som måtte finnes i krysningen mellom agro- og marin sektor. At det foreligger slike muligheter er for så vidt allerede vel forstått innenfor jordbruksvarenæringen og ikke minst innenfor forskningsmiljøer som er engasjert på tvers av de to næringene. Rapportens diskusjon representerer derfor mer en forlengelse og forsøk på utdypning, enn et forsøk på å reise nye strategiske diskusjoner. Vi konstaterer også at det allerede er etablert en rekke utviklingsaktiviteter og engasjementer som må kunne kategoriseres som ”agro-marine”. Utviklingen av en omfattende oppdrettsnæring i Norge har på flere viktige områder vært tuftet på kompetanser og ressurser hentet fra landbruket. Både fôrindustrien, genetikk/avls virksomheten og dyrehelse relaterte aktiviteter har spunnet ut av og delvis sammen igjen med tilsvarende aktiviteter på landbrukssiden. På sett og vis kan vi konstatere at sjømatsektoren er en forlengelse av landbruket vel så mye som en forlengelse av fiskerinæringen. Integrasjon mot sjømatsektorens mangeartede aktiviteter er én av flere mulige retninger for målrettede satsinger som kan bidra til å styrke bærekraftigheten i jordbruksvaresektorens fremtidige forretningsaktiviteter. Kanskje er det den viktigste når det gjelder å skape et grunnlag for offensive internasjonaliseringsstrategier fra norsk territorium. Vår studie indikerer en utstrakt bevissthet i begge næringer om muligheter som måtte ligge i samarbeid mellom dem. Behovet for slik integrasjon synes å oppleves som mer kritisk fra landbrukssiden. Samtidig indikerer studien at de to næringene har ulikt syn på hva samarbeidet bør fokusere på.
Olsen, Per Ingvar & Espelien, Anne (2003)
Næringsutvikling i norsk jordbruksvaresektor: Kommersialisering av teknologiske nisjer
[Report Research].
Denne rapporten utgjør den teknologiorienterte delen av fase 2 av forskningsprosjektet ”Norsk jordbruksvaresektor: Strategi og forretningsutvikling mot år 2010”. Prosjektet ledes av førsteamanuensis Per Ingvar Olsen, Institutt for innovasjon og økonomisk organisering ved Handelshøyskolen BI. Rapporten diskuterer de utfordringene den norske jordbruksvaresektoren og de norske landbrukssamvirkeselskapene møter i arbeidet med å utvikle nye teknologiorienterte forretningsaktiviteter. Med utgangspunkt i en innovasjonsfaglig synsvinkel, og med ulike teoretiske bidrag, drøftes både innovasjonsstrategiske og organisatoriske utfordringer for industriselskapene og forsknings- og utviklingsinstitusjonene. I lys av teori om innovative foretak, innovasjonsdrevne økonomier og innovative nisjesatsingers utviklingsdynamikk diskuterer rapporten ulike potensielle teknologiske nisjesatsninger. Nisjesatsningene kan oppfattes som strategiske realopsjoner for foretakets ledelse og representerer i denne sammenhengen et økonomisk utviklingsprosjekt der det antatte framtidige inntektspotensialet er vesentlig relativt til utviklingskostnadene. Selskapet står fritt til å velge om prosjektet skal utvikles fram mot moden markeds-messig høste-fase, eller om ”realopsjonen” skal utløses gjennom salg i tidligere faser for å finansiere andre strategiske utviklings-, ekspansjons- eller restruktureringsprosesser. Rapporten belyser fire cases. Disse diskuteres som selvstendige forretnings-prosjekter der meningen er å bidra til å sikre framtiden for norsk mat-foredlings-industri gjennom en målrettet utdifferensi-erings-strategi. Casene som blir diskutert er: 1) Modellbedrift 2010 – Matforedling i lukkede celler, 2) Verdikjede-optimering; Enterprise Resource Management System, 3) Foredling av myse og 4) Teknologi for ferskvare-logistikk.
Kvam, Gunn Turid; Hålien, Eivind & Olsen, Per Ingvar (2003)
Utvikling av nisjematorientert næringsutvikling i distriktene - lokale organisasjonsbehov og muligheter?