Towards identifying knowledge bases in KIBS through their service development process
ISSN: 1463-6689
Article publication date: 15 December 2021
Issue publication date: 14 February 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS), to understand how they implement their service development (SD) processes and how these processes are related to their knowledge bases (KB) as not enough studies have focussed on the understanding of KIBS heterogeneity, by analysing the nature and essence of these firms’ activities.
Design/methodology/approach
The work adopts the case study approach involving 12 KIBS firms with different KB according to Bjorn Asheim and colleagues’ “synthetic, analytical, symbolic model”, which identifies synthetic, analytical and symbolic primary KB.
Findings
The research results showed how the SD processes are systemised in KIBS companies depending on the KB. The proposed empirical method for defining KB confirmed the assumed existence of a new type or subtype of KB for legal companies “Compliance/Interpretive”.
Research limitations/implications
Further research, based on a larger number of companies, is needed to confirm or complement the results of this research, as well as to find more methods to define and evaluate KB on an empirical basis.
Practical implications
The correct classification of the applied KB can help a company to create effective processes for developing innovative services, while understanding of knowledge dynamic in general – to organise a working process that corresponds to employees’ needs and is more adaptable to the changes in society.
Originality/value
The study proposed a new empirical method for defining and evaluating KB in KIBS companies based on their SD processes. This study makes a significant contribution to research by identifying knowledge-integration practices needed to enhance innovation performance.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research was conducted for the PhD thesis in the University of Padua, Department Management and Engineering (Ingegneria Economico Gestionale), in collaboration with Business School of Southampton University.
Citation
Krupskaya, A. and Pina, K.O. (2022), "Towards identifying knowledge bases in KIBS through their service development process", Foresight, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 55-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-01-2021-0028
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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