0000000000009370
AUTHOR
Jan Inge Jenssen
Introduction to the special issue
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to set the papers included in the special issue into their unique contextual stage of entrepreneurial eco-systems in Nordic and Baltic countries. Design/methodology/approach – The editorial first presents the current status of entrepreneurship in the Nordic and Baltic regions. It then provides an overview of the papers included in this special issue, while highlighting their contributions. Finally, it concludes with suggestions for further research, while pointing out promising areas for future investigations. Findings – The papers included in this special issue help advance the understanding of important aspects of entrepreneurship in general, and wi…
The importance of social networks in the Norwegian firewood industry
Accepted version of an article from journal of Biomass and Bioenergy This study examines the relationship between social network size, innovation and firm performance among firewood producers in Norway. Moreover, it investigates how this relationship is affected both by the structure and variations in networks and by firm size and age. A questionnaire-based survey was sent to managers of firms (including one-person firms) in the firewood industry in Norway. A total of 645 usable replies were received, and the theoretical model was tested using structural equation modeling. The findings show that social network size has a positive effect on firm performance via innovation by firewood produce…
Leadership and church identity
This article discusses how the theological-spiritual dimension, which has to do with the specific identity of the church, has implications for and partly determines the application of leadership theories and tools in the local church. The article also examines how leadership research can provide the means to realize a church’s theological or spiritual identity or its true nature. This implies a two-directional relationship between theology and leadership. On the one hand, theology should influence how churches are led, and on the other hand, leadership may facilitate the realization of the theological-spiritual dimension.
 There are a number of important articles on the theology of lea…
Inter-organizational networks and innovation in small, knowledge-intensive firms: A literature review
Published version of article from the journal: International Journal of Innovation Management In this study, we address the effect of innovation strategy and an innovative working climate on financial performance in the Norwegian wood industry. Innovation strategy embodies four dimensions: the degrees to which innovation in the form of products, processes, and business systems are embedded in the management values and priorities as well as the degree of expenditure in R&D. An innovative working climate is exemplified by team cohesion, supervisory encouragement, resources, autonomy, challenge, and openness to innovation. Previous studies have indicated a lack of research in traditional manuf…
INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL INNOVATION PROMOTERS IN SMALL, KNOWLEDGE-INTENSIVE FIRMS
This paper examines the relationship between external relations and innovation in small, knowledge-intensive Norwegian firms. Our findings indicate that external relations are beneficial for innovation. The analysis shows that it is necessary to treat innovation as more than a concept. Our independent variables related differently to product innovation, process innovation, and market innovation.We found that market participation in product development has a positive impact on product, process and market innovation. We also found that top management interaction with other firms had a positive effect on market innovation and that top management interaction with external R&D had a positive…
Organizational Innovation Promoters and Performance Effects in Small, Knowledge-Intensive Firms
This paper investigates the impacts of organizational factors on innovation and performance in small, knowledge-intensive firms. The study focused on Norwegian firms with 5 to 30 employees. The findings indicate that differentiating between product, process and market innovation provides a better understanding of the factors that drive innovation. This strategy seems to influence innovation. For instance, low-cost strategy positively impacts on both process innovation and market innovation. Also, external relationships significantly influence innovation: for instance, market participation in a product development context has a significant influence on product development.
How Can Strategic Leadership be Applied to the Development of the Local Church? A Discussion of Content and Process
Whether you want to or not, strategies are formed. Increased awareness of strategic choices increases the chances that one arrives where one intends to. This is probably an important reason why some local churches work to develop and implement strategies. At the same time, the discussion in this article shows that there is very little research literature that provides a guide to how strategic leadership can be done in a good way in a local church. In this article, it is argued that the strategic leadership ideas developed in businesses can be used in the local church, taking into account the church’s peculiarities. The church’s theological-spiritual dimension must provide guidelines on how …
INNOVATION STRATEGY, WORKING CLIMATE, AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN TRADITIONAL MANUFACTURING FIRMS: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS
In this study, we address the effect of innovation strategy and an innovative working climate on financial performance in the Norwegian wood industry. Innovation strategy embodies four dimensions: the degrees to which innovation in the form of products, processes, and business systems are embedded in the management values and priorities as well as the degree of expenditure in R&D. An innovative working climate is exemplified by team cohesion, supervisory encouragement, resources, autonomy, challenge, and openness to innovation. Previous studies have indicated a lack of research in traditional manufacturing firms on both innovation strategy and a supportive working climate. Our survey w…
Hvordan bør menigheter arbeide med endring? En drøfting av relevansen av organisasjonsteoretiske perspektiver for endringstiltak i menigheter
How ahould congregations work with change? A discussion of the relevance of organizational theoretical perspectives for change in congregations The purpose of this article is to discuss the contribution to congregations of theoretical perspectives on change in the organizational literature. The contribution of the discussion is on the evaluation of the relevance. I discuss the relevance of planned change, lifecycle theory, external influences, power, and coincidence and conclude that organizational perspectives are relevant as long as they applies in a context sensitive manner. I suggests a bounded rational planning process for congregational development. The arguments for this is that cong…
Gender and entrepreneurial intentions
Author's version of a chapter in the book: L. Kelley (Ed.), Entrepreneurial women : new management and leadership models. The paper identifies commonalities and differences between women and men in terms of eleven key factors’ impact on the formation of entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) among Norwegian students. The analysis is based on a sample of 1,782 Norwegian students from a variety of faculties and degree programs. A path analysis methodological approach is used, while being based on multiple regressions so as to gradually refine model complexities. Findings show that common to both sexes are the effects of entrepreneurial experience, social norms, self-efficacy, and age. The direct ef…
Ledelse, organisering og nådegaver i menigheter
Published version of an article in the journal: Scandinavian Journal for Leadership & Theology. Also available from the publisher at: http://sjlt-journal.com/ Open Access In this article, we discuss whether leadership and organisational structure can influence and facilitate the use of spiritual gifts in congregations. The purpose is to substantiate a link and give some examples of what this relationship may be like. We argue that leaders contribute to the design of organisational structures and that they apply different leadership styles, which may have implications for the development of spiritual gifts. For instance, we try to show that proactive construction of various arenas; the size …