As small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) face new challenges in a complex and dynamic competitive environment, they need to cooperate due to their restricted resources and limited capacities. At this, Enterprise 2.0 is seen as a supporting approach. To this date, there is a lack of academic publications concerning recommendations for the application of Web 2.0 artifacts in SME-networks. This paper aims at bridging this gap by suggesting a conceptual base following the design science approach. Based on technical and organizational requirements resulting from exploratory interviews with representatives of SMEs participating in a regional SME-network, we transfer the requirements in a prototypic concept. This developed artifact provides a basis for a field test to evaluate the concept and for further research.
With respect to nowadays economic conditions, standards are widely seen as drivers for innovations. They are influencing innovation as indirect, but crucial framework condition. At the same time, T-KIBS play an increasing economic role. The paper aims at depicting the role of standardization within T-KIBS innovations. Within recent research, scholars already confirmed the positive effects of standardization on product innovations. Thus, we bring into focus how the T-KIBS innovations benefit from standardization in various ways. Within a case study, standardization of T-KIBS is shown after a theoretical discussion. The presented IT-based T-KIBS was developed in order to support customer service organizations with service-related information on-site while integrating the manufacturer of the machinery or plant in the information flow.
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