Echnological Innovation Is Not Enough

Technological innovation is not enough

Firstly, the importance of knowledge is not limited to high-tech sectors (Smith, 2002), and the organization modes, production methods and the outputs of sectors apparently low tech have also been transformed, with an increased role for the "foundations of knowledge.” The knowledge-based economy implies taking account of information and its management as a fundamental element of the competitiveness of a company. It means responsiveness, adaptability, flexibility... Thus, to make the enterprise and a fortiori the territory competitive, it would not be so to increase the share of Information and Communications Technology to improve the ability of the company to reorganize. The world organization of labor also appears to play a key role in this knowledge-based economy. Reactivity requested from the worker finds themselves at the level of the entire company. Companies, particularly in the developed countries, develop for the last 20 years an innovative work practices (high-performance), or yet flexible, which should gradually replace the taylorist model. These inspired organizational changes many of the related theoretical concepts developed over the past 30 years that have highlighted the role of methods Organization of work (Ichniowski and al., 1996). Econometric work have implemented evidence that companies combining these practices with the use of ICT were superior performance to companies who invest in these technologies (Arnal and al., 2001, for a review; Black and Lynch, 2001).

The implementation of a dynamic of innovation requires a skilled workforce: education, training, research & development. Therefore, the organizational and human capital are at least as important as technological innovation.

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Arnal E., Ok W,...