Dissertation: Networks offer a variety of resources for service innovation

​In her dissertation in the field of marketing, Helena Rusanen examines resource access and creation in networks in the context of service innovation in technical/engineering services, e.g. in the wind power field and in construction and maintenance services. Even though the significance of resources and networks in innovating has been recognized for a long time, Rusanen’s dissertation is the first study that concentrates on the interaction between actors in order to access and create resources for the service innovation process.

The research provides information on the different types of resources offered by networks for service innovation, and on the various kinds of relationships and strategies that can be utilized to access and create resources.

Innovation Benefits from a Wide Range of Relationships

Research in the field has traditionally emphasized the importance of formal partnerships between companies, such as joint ventures, in accessing innovation resources. Rusanen’s dissertation demonstrates that it is equally possible to access resources through social and business networks.

- Different types of relationships give access to different resources. Through interaction with others, for example at trade fairs or seminars, a company can gain important information on the business field and on the companies operating in it. While even relatively distant business relationships are usually sufficient to acquire ready-made technology as a part of the service solution, close and trusted business relationships open up a chance to develop services in a real-life setting and gain in-depth information on the customers, Rusanen says.

Collaborative service innovation requires time

Rusanen’s dissertation shows that the most challenging resource to utilize is the knowhow, expertise and experience of others, since this requires active participation of the persons with the necessary knowhow and expertise in the innovation process.

- In the study, integration of this kind of knowledge-based resources proved to be particularly important, because this in turn makes it possible to create new resources and pursue significant innovations. For this reason, it is important to establish close development relationships with actors that have valuable knowledge and expertise.

Rusanen stresses that it is also important to take care that the persons with the best competence and knowhow are involved in the innovation process, and that they are able to devote enough time and effort to the process. After all, resource integration is based on active interaction between the actors.

- Too often, companies view service innovation as a something that happens on the side, as a supplementary activity to their core business, and fail to allocate enough time or personnel for it. The organization of service development also needs improvement. Companies fail to access and utilize important resources, when different actors work separately without contact with each other, even though they pursue a common goal.

In her study, Rusanen found out that one reason for insufficient interaction during service innovation is the lack of a shared knowledge base. In technical services, in-depth knowhow concerning a particular technical field is often emphasized in service innovation.

- It is easier for experts in the same field to cooperate in creating something new, since they talk the same language and have a shared understanding of the basic concepts and issues. However, in cases where innovation would benefit from the input of different kinds of knowledge and knowhow, it is essential to take careful consideration beforehand on how to best bring them together.

The dissertation emphasizes the need to examine service innovation from a broader perspective also in research.

- Previous studies have mainly concentrated on individual actors or formal partnerships between companies and on access to information as a resource.
The main data of the dissertation consist of 57 interviews conducted longitudinally at three case companies and in five innovation projects during three years.

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Helena Rusanen publicly defended her doctoral dissertation “Resource access and creation in networks for service innovation” at the University of Turku on Friday, 21 November 2014. The opponent was Professor Enrico Baraldi from Uppsala University, Sweden, and the custos Professor Aino Halinen-Kaila from the University of Turku.

M.A. Helena Rusanen was born in 1966 in Valkeakoski and graduated from Valkeakosken lukio (upper secondary school) in 1985. She completed her Master of Arts degree at the University of Tampere in 1992. Currently she works as a university lecturer at Turku School of Economics. Her dissertation is in the field of marketing.

Picture of the doctoral candidate: https://apps.utu.fi/media/vaittelijat/rusanen_helena.jpg

The dissertation can be bought from: Turun yliopiston verkkokauppa UTUshop, https://utushop.utu.fi/c/2-annales-universitatis-turkuensis/

The dissertation is available online: https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/100095