1st Edition

Knowledge and Innovation A Comparative Study of the USA, the UK and Japan

By Helen Brown Copyright 2008
    220 Pages 39 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    224 Pages 39 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This new book presents case studies from the US, the UK and Japan. Packed full of vignettes from cases studies and subscribing to a socio-cultural approach rather than the often tacit assumption that knowledge and ‘technology transfer’ is a logistical problem, this excellent volume illuminates the often misunderstood process of knowledge transfer.

    Arguing that partnership between public and private sector organizations can take many forms, some of which are very complicated Brown shows that 'partnership' should not be prescribed as a panacea for the delivery of complex policy in education, health and economic regeneration. Instead policy makers need to adopt a much more subtle and sophisticated concept of multi-agency partnership that acknowledges the time and effort needed to build trust and new shared practices.

    Taking issue with weak theories of change endemic in some policies and emphasizing the process of knowledge creation and the significance of consequent changes in the dynamics of human relations Brown conceptualizes innovation as collaboration between diverse organizations and individuals, the result of which is organizational learning.

    This book will be of great interest to students and researchers interested in policy studies, business and management and education, as well as policy makers engaged with communities of practice theory.

     

    1. Introductionand Overview 2. The Theoretical Lanscapeof Knowledge Transfer 3.A Natural HistoryofmyResearchMethodology 4. Reconstruction Subject Perspectives 5. Horizontal Expansionof theObjectby Collaborationof Experts6. Mediation between Activity Systemsof Unequal Agency 7. The Impact ofComplexityand Power Dynamicson Organizational Learning 8. Using Evaluationas a Toolfor Learning 9. Insightsfrom theResearch Findings 10. A Toolkit to Support Organizational Learning 11. Conclusions

    Biography

    Helen Brown