Terje Grønning

Grønning, Terje (2021). "Non-metropolitan Science and Innovation Initiatives in Japan: A Multi-dimensional Analysis". The Australia-Japan Forum on The Innovation-Hub Ecosystem, 29 November, 2021.   

Grønning, Terje (2020). "A high-tech trajectory in a commodity-dependent economy: Modern biotechnology in Norway", Ch. 2, pp.  11-43, in Gråsjö, U, Karlsson, C. & Bernhard, I. (eds.) (2020). Diversity, Innovation and Clusters: Spatial Perspectives. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publ

Grønning, Terje,and Parisa Afshin (2019). "Interorganizational relations within innovation systems" in Chen, Jin, Alexander Brem, Eric Viardot & Poh Kam Wong (eds.) The Routledge Companion to Innovation Management.

Grønning, Terje (2017). "Co-existence of Bureaucracy and Post-bureaucracy: The Case of a Contract Research Organization”, in  Maimone, Fabrizio (ed.). Evolution of the Post-Bureaucratic Organization.

Grønning, Terje (2017). "Ideal Type", in Turner, Bryan S. (ed.) The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory.

Grønning, Terje (2017). "Cloning", in Turner, Bryan S. (ed.) The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory.

Grønning, T. (2016). “What Do Organizations Think Are Their Risks and Uncertainties? Risk Self-Assessments Within Securities Reports as a New Source for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Research”, in Berger, Elisabeth S.C., and Andreas Kuckertz (eds.) Complexity in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Research: Applications of Emergent and Neglected Methods. 

Grønning, Terje, and Siw M. Fosstenløkken (2015). "The Learning Concept Within Innovation Systems Theorizing: A Narrative Review of Selected Publications on National and Regional Innovation Systems", in Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Volume 6, Issue 2.

• Grønning, Terje (2020). A high-tech trajectory in a commodity-dependent economy: Modern biotechnology in Norway. I Bernhard, Iréne; Gråsjö, Urban & Karlsson, Charlie (Red.), Diversity, Innovation and Clusters: Spatial Perspectives. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781789902570. s. 11–43. doi: 10.4337/9781789902587.00006. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The chapter contributes to studies of technological trajectories, that is, trajectories as the paths by which innovations in a given field occur. Studies of technological trajectories have usually addressed the global level, whereas there has been little attention on how various nations relate to such global trajectories. Treating modern biotechnology as a technological trajectory, the chapter maps the biotechnology related firms and policies for the case of Norway, a location which is allegedly peripheral in relation to the spearhead of the global trajectory. For firms, there was a period of initial emergence and first results, followed by periods of attempted consolidation and contradictions. For policies, there was a period of policy formation followed by a period of mainly basic research and marine biotech focus and a period with a new pluralistic policy. Overall the country’s part of the global biotechnology trajectory has not yet reached a mature phase.

• Grønning, Terje & Afshin, Parisa (2019). Interorganizational relations within innovation systems. I Chen, Jin; Brem, Alexander; Viardot, Eric & Wong, Poh Kam (Red.), The Routledge Companion to Innovation Management. Routledge. ISSN 9781138244719. doi: 10.4324/9781315276670-19. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  n this chapter we present and discuss selected works that focus in various ways on the management of interorganizational relations within innovation systems. The insight that corporations innovate more often than not in relation to other organizations draws attention to understanding the need for managing the relations between organizations, in addition to understanding factors enabling or hindering innovation at the corporate level. There are various types of such interorganizational relations, and the chapter is structured into five sections where five predominant types are being presented and discussed in sequence. First, we present research that focuses on modularity-based innovation and innovation through various forms of labor division between client and subsidiary organizations or between collaborating peer organizations. Next we turn to the university as an “engine” for innovation in the case of successful relations between industry and academia. Third, we delve into selected works within the field of strategic alliances for innovation. Whereas in the first three sections we have focused on subfields that discuss interorganizational relations as analyzed at the level of the relations as such (modularity, industry-academia, and alliances), the final two sections look at various relations contextualized within larger systems. Thus we review briefly in the fourth and fifth sections some of the works theorizing the importance of multiple relations between organizations in the context of regional innovation ecosystems and some of the works applying the concept of national innovation systems while theorizing the importance of such systems to corporate innovation within such systems. Each of the sections identifies key perspectives within the subfield, as well as works within the subfield that focus on specific aspects relevant to research on the management of interorganizational relations

• Grønning, Terje (2017). Co-Existence of Bureaucracy and Post-Bureaucracy: The Case of a Contract Research Organization. I Malizia, Pierfranco; Cannavale, Chiara & Maimone, Fabrizio (Red.), Evolution of the Post-Bureaucratic Organization. IGI Global. ISSN 9781522519836. s. 105–125. doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-1983-6.ch006. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  A contract research organization within fine chemicals is described as for its main characteristics between 1972 and 2012 while identifying drivers pulling towards bureaucratic and post-bureaucratic traits within organizations. The drivers are in the form of three dimensions: Presence versus relative absence of centralized control, presence versus relative absence of specified targets, and presence versus relative absence of formal monitoring and reporting of performances. While identifying and analyzing these dimensions, the contexts in which they occur are conceptualized according to prevalent frameworks on a firm's evolutionary stages or event tracks. The analysis shows that the firm has been through four distinct stages or event tracks during its 40 year period, and three of these stages had seemingly contradictory co-existence between bureaucratic and post-bureaucratic organizational principles.

• Grønning, Terje (2016). Working Without a Boss: Lattice Organization With Direct Person-to-Person Communication at W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Sage Business Cases. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781473947542. doi: 10.4135/9781473947542. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2016). What Do Organizations Think Are Their Risks and Uncertainties? Risk Self-Assessments Within Securities Reports as a New Source for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Research. I Berger, Elisabeth S.C. & Kuckertz, Andreas (Red.), Complexity in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Research: Applications of Emergent and Neglected Methods. Springer. ISSN 9783319271064. s. 439–458. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-27108-8_21. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  One of themajor complexities of innovation aswell as entrepreneurship and technological change processes is that larger or lesser financial and non-financial risks and uncertainties are parts of these processes, since the courses as well as outcomes of the processes are not known in beforehand. Assuming that managers and employees within entrepreneurship, innovation and technology firms are themselves concerned about this aspect of their businesses, it becomes pertinent for researchers to gain an understanding of what their perceptions regarding risks and uncertainties are. Relevant research designs could include e.g. surveys or interviews, whereas this chapter focuses on a possible supplementary approach consisting in using the securities reports submitted to the authorities as a new kind of source for relevant information. The chapter makes use of illustrative quotes from the sections in the securities reports of four biotechnology companies located in the USA and Japan, countries where selfassessments regarding risks the company is facing was made mandatory from 2005 and 2004 respectively. The chapter also includes a sectionwith some suggestions as for how this new source may be utilized within future entrepreneurship, innovation and technology research, and concludes with stating that there are significant promises in connection with using the source, although there are also some challenges.

• Grønning, Terje & FOSSTENLØKKEN, Siw Marita (2015). The learning concept within innovation systems theorizing: A narrative review of selected publications on national and regional innovation systems. Journal of the Knowledge Economy. ISSN 1868-7865. 6(2), s. 420–436. doi: 10.1007/s13132-014-0216-5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Learning is highlighted as key to innovativeness in the innovation systems literature, yet there seems to lack clarification about the meaning of learning in the literature. There is thus a need for a systematic scrutiny of how the concept of learning has been used. In an attempt to address this issue, this paper offers a narrative and longitudinal critical analysis of 29 articles, pertaining to parts of the literature about national and regional innovation systems. Due to differences in main assumptions, foundations, and vocabulary, we have found it useful to categorize these works into five theoretical streams: Interactive Learning, Learning Economy, Innovation Modes, Knowledge Bases, and Political Economy. These streams operate with vague definitions of learning (if defined at all). There is neither a uniform usage of the term learning nor a strong connection to existing learning theories of other disciplines. Subsequently, we have developed five suggestions on how to relate this indigenous learning concept to relevant learning theories from educational science and organization theory literature. By doing so, we seek to contribute to more sophisticated theories regarding innovation systems and the centrality of the learning concept.

• Grønning, Terje (2013). Business Models and Innovation Activities Within New Industries: The Case of Medical Biotechnology. I Ran, Bing (Red.), Global Perspectives on Technological Innovation. Information Age Publishing. ISSN 9781623960599. s. 437–461. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The concept of business models has in recent years become popular in connection with researching company level organizational change. Using the example of medical biotechnology this chapter introduces, after a brief review of the business models literature, a perspective which theorizes business models as belonging to various business model classes. These business model classes are organized according to two dimensions, where the first is running between a focus predominantly on exploration of knowledge and a focus predominantly on exploitation of knowledge. The second dimension is running between end market proximity versus end market distance. The market distant business models exclusively serve other firms, whereas end market proximate business models serve the end market with finished products or services. This analytical way of envisioning the medical biotechnology sector differs from perspectives which may overgeneralize similarities, and it also differs from descriptive perspectives operating with a great amount of detail when distinguishing between business models. The matrix with nine classes of business models may be especially useful in policy contexts, since firms and their business models may be grouped according to the analytical dimensions, and subsequent policy measures can become more adapted to subaggregate levels.

• Fevolden, Arne Martin & Grønning, Terje (2010). Combining Innovation and Capacity Utilization in High Throughput Systems: Moving Beyond the Product Life Cycle Model by Introducing Second-Order Innovations. Industry and Innovation. ISSN 1366-2716. 17(6), s. 609–628. doi: 10.1080/13662716.2010.530840. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The literature on the product life cycle and on high throughput systems has been preoccupied with studying an apparent lack of flexibility in capital-intensive production systems. Companies in capitalintensive industries need to maintain a high level of capacity utilization in order to stay economically viable, however, their efforts to uphold the throughput of their systems often have the unforeseen and unintended consequence of limiting their ability to introduce new products and services. Nevertheless, some companies have managed to resolve these tensions by introducing what we describe as “second-order innovations”, a type of innovation which acts on the innovation process itself and enables new products and services to be introduced without a steep decline in capacity utilization. By focusing on these cases and discussing their theoretical implications, we want to contribute to the existing literature on high throughput systems by identifying key mechanisms for introducing and maintaining such second-order innovations and describing the patterns of industrial evolution that they create.

• Grønning, Terje (2009). The Biotechnology Industry in Norway: A Marginal Sector or Future Core Activity? I Fagerberg, Jan; Mowery, David & Verspagen, Hubertus (Red.), Innovation, path dependency and policy. The Norwegian case. Oxford University Press. ISSN 9780199551552. s. 235–263. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje; Moen, Svein Erik & Olsen, Dorothy Sutherland (2008). Low innovation intensity, high growth and specialized trajectories: Norway. I Edquist, Charles & Hommen, Leif (Red.), Small Country Innovation Systems: Globalization, Change and Policy in Asia and Europe. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781845425845. s. 281–318. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje; Olsen, Dorothy Sutherland; Dobos, Eva; Knell, Mark Stephen & Veistein, Bjørg Kristin (2006). Summary of Country Studies - Norway. I Enzing, Christien (Red.), Innovation in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Comparing National Innovation Systems at the Sectoral Level. OECD Publishing. ISSN 9789264014039. s. 86–95. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2006). Comparison of Selected Demand-side Factors. I Enzing, Christien (Red.), Innovation in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Comparing National Innovation Systems at the Sectoral Level. OECD Publishing. ISSN 9789264014039. s. 131–146. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This chapter examines whether specific demand-side factors influence the biopharmaceutical innovation process and the potential effects on innovation. It looks at each country’s pharmaceutical market, its role as lead market compared to other biopharmaceuticals markets, the role of national regulations and cost-containment measures and of socio-ethical debates as well as differences and similarities in the role and function of specific demand-side actors in the innovation process. It is based on comparative material collected for the purpose of performing as consistent an analysis as possible as well as information from the national reports. Information on the United Kingdom and the United States is included owing to their importance for certain aspects of biopharmaceutical innovation.

• Grønning, Terje (2005). Vinduer mot Japan. I Grønning, Terje (Red.), Vinduer mot Japan: Perspektiver på samfunn, kultur og språk. Tapir Akademisk Forlag. ISSN 9788251920469. s. 11–18. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2005). Forord. I Grønning, Terje (Red.), Vinduer mot Japan: Perspektiver på samfunn, kultur og språk. Tapir Akademisk Forlag. ISSN 9788251920469. s. 5–5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2005). Økonomisk utvikling og bedriftsstrategier: Slutt på "den japanske modellen"? I Grønning, Terje (Red.), Vinduer mot Japan: Perspektiver på samfunn, kultur og språk. Tapir Akademisk Forlag. ISSN 9788251920469. s. 157–173. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje; Kristiansen, Morten & Bakkebråten, Wenche (2003). Fortellinger om informasjonssamfunnet: Visjoner og praksis innen norsk og svensk bredbåndspolitikk. I Lundby, Knut (Red.), Flyt og forførelse. Fortellinger om IKT. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 9788205315204. s. 23–43. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2001). "Kanri to kyodo kettei" (Control and Co-determination). I Shinoda, Takeshi (Red.), Sweden no rodo to sangyo (Labour and Industry in Sweden). Gakubunsha, Tokyo. ISSN 9784762010101. s. 164–175. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

Se alle arbeider i NVA

• Grønning, Terje (2005). Vinduer mot Japan: Perspektiver på samfunn, kultur og språk. Tapir Akademisk Forlag. ISBN 9788251920469. 296 s. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2005). Vinduer mot Japan. Tapir Akademisk Forlag. ISBN 9788251920469. 296 s. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

Se alle arbeider i NVA

• Grønning, Terje (2025). Golden opportunity or recipe for failure? A heuristic for assessing a science-and technology-based innovation initiative in a peripheral location. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  There is a consensus that we live in an age of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) with a series of challenges ranging from environmental concerns to demography, security and societal development issues. One potential contribution towards solving some of these problems has been the development of science and technology-based innovation (STI) initiatives comprised of research organizations, businesses and authorities. These are often associated with urban and suburban locations, whereas some peripheral cases have also been presented in literature highlighting some possible determinants for success such as the existence of visionary actors, distinctive forms of transformative leadership, ingenuity in resource usage, or specific fortunate circumstances. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the advancement of research on peripheral STI initiatives by developing and applying a heuristic framework for assessing in a systematic fashion their characteristics. The heuristic framework consists of the four dimensions organizational density, related variety, distinctiveness of activities and reproduction of skills as adapted from preceding literature on clustering and on complex adaptive systems. The case of a locally planned peripheral high-tech initiative with a university subsidiary institute in its center, Tsuruoka Bio Community, Japan, serves as an illustrative example. The paper thus provides a systems-based methodology and insights supplementing the existing literature focusing on visionary actors, leadership traits, ingenuity in resource usage and fortunate circumstances as explanatory factors.

• Grønning, Terje (2024). Process-tracing the evolution of a biotech cluster in a peripheral region: Tsuruoka Bio Community, Japan. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  There have in recent years been attempts at theorizing the characteristics and evolutionary processes of clusters. Based on insights from parts of this existing literature, the main aim of this paper is to apply a heuristic framework theorizing that three types of endogenous evolutionary processes are likely to be present in varying degrees within the evolution of a cluster, i.e.: An expansionary process consisting in conditional increase of knowledge plurality, a consolidatory process consisting in increased cohesion of interactions, and a mediatory process consisting in governing and leading the cluster. This framework is then applied to the analysis of a particular type of clusters, the locally planned rural or “peripheral” high-tech cluster with a university subsidiary in its center. The first 25 years of Tsuruoka Bio Community, Japan, is examined according to process-tracing principles. Based on this case the relative significance of expansionary, consolidatory, and mediatory processes are subsequently assessed along with reflections regarding the overall usefulness of the suggested approach. Whereas some traits of the case may be described according to the proposed framework including the way both expansionary and consolidatory processes have at least in some ways evolved as expected during the first years of activity, other aspects such as the relatively direct albeit informal manner of mediation is unexpected given the size and complexity of the cluster.

• Grønning, Terje (2024). 制度ロジック理論および関係存在論の視点から分析した鶴岡のイノベーション・エコシステム (The innovation ecosystem in Tsuruoka analyzed from an institutional logic and relational ontology perspective). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  約3年間に渡り収集した鶴岡バイオコミュニティを対象にした情報に基づいてエコシステムの形成プロセスに焦点を当てている。組織集積のメンバーがどのように相互作用し、戦略を共同決定するかを理解しようとする際に、制度ロジック理論と当事者間の関連性を明らかにしようとする関係存在論を組み合わせた新しい枠組みを提案する。

• Grønning, Terje (2022). Nihon ni okeru seimei kagaku-kei chiho hatsu innovation initiatives ni kansuru jirei kenkyu (Case studies on life science and related regional innovation initiatives in Japan). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2021). Non-metropolitan Science and Innovation Initiatives in Japan: A Multi-dimensional Analysis. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This is a collective case study where I try to understand the rationale and characteristics of five Japanese life science and innovation initiatives which have emerged in peripheral, rather than in suburban or urban, areas. I develop a framework which allows for comparison between relatively different types of inititatives by way of formulating six different dimensions. The descriptions and analyses are based on collected descriptions of purpose, activities, and organizational features. The initiatives are subsequently classified as hub-based, semi-hub based and network based.

• Grønning, Terje (2017). Ideal Type. I Turner, Bryan S. (Red.), The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory. Wiley-Blackwell. ISSN 9781118430866. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2017). Læring bør være et kollektivt prosjekt: Det er ikke om å gjøre å bli ferdig med en sak raskest mulig, men å lære av erfaringene. Sikkerhet. 63(4), s. 26–28. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2017). Cloning. I Turner, Bryan S. (Red.), The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory. Wiley-Blackwell. ISSN 9781118430866. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2016). Karoshi - når stresset blir ordentlig farlig. [Radio]. NRK – Ekko - et aktuelt samfunnsprogram. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Jelle, Bjørn Petter; Tilset, Bente Gilbu; Grandcolas, Mathieu; Gao, Tao; Løvvik, Ole Martin & Bohne, Rolf André [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2016). Mer effektiv varmeisolasjon med nanoporer. Byggeindustrien. ISSN 0332-7086. s. 42–42. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2016). “Astellas Pharma”, “Daiichi Sankyo”, “Eisai”, & “Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.”. I Boslaugh, Sarah E. (Red.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Society. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781483350004. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2016). Nycomed. I Boslaugh, Sarah E. (Red.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Society. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781483350004. s. 990–992. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2015). Ambidexterity in business models: Case studies from Kansai, Japan. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2015). Just-In-Time Production. I Wherry, Frederick & Schor, Juliet (Red.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Economics and Society. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781452226439. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2015). Pharmaceutical Industry. I Wherry, Frederick & Schor, Juliet (Red.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Economics and Society. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781452226439. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2015). History of Cancer. I Colditz, Graham A (Red.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Cancer and Society, second edition. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781483345734. doi: 10.4135/9781483345758.n261. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2015). Artisanal Production. I Wherry, Frederick & Schor, Juliet (Red.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Economics and Society. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781452226439. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2015). Competence ambidexterity: Challenges and opportunities when expanding a small organization’s competence domains. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In this paper I pursue the concept “competence ambidexterity” by way of illustrating from the experiences of a Japanese fine chemicals contract research organization. Compared to its former main activities consisting of predominantly relatively foreseeable and highly specified contract research the company has in recent years tried to expand into other and higher value added activities. Although still within a broader domain of fine chemicals competences the new activities also require competences new to the company. The company has subsequently undergone a process of competence ambidexterity in the sense that the knowledge it has traditionally held continue to be exploited at the same time as competences new to the company have been explored. The paper is thus a response to the recent call for more research into various aspects of “domain ambidexterity” as a kind of ambidexterity supplemental to sequential, spatial and contextual ambidexterity, and is a contribution to both the domain focused emerging body of ambidexterity research as well as an inspiration for businesses contemplating venturing into competence ambidexterity of some sort or the other.

• Grønning, Terje (2015). "Astellas Pharma (Japan)", "Daiichi Sankyo (Japan)", "Eisai (Japan)", "Ono Pharmaceutical (Japan)" & "Takeda Pharmaceutical (Japan)". I Colditz, Graham A (Red.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Cancer and Society, second edition. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781483345734. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2014). Business model characteristics and evolution: A qualitative case study from biopharmaceuticals, 2002-2012, extending the Amit & Zott approach. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Recently a "business model"-focused literature highlighting the value creation and capture processes of organizations has attracted attention. Much of this literature is still conceptual in its orientation, and the matter of how to apply this focus to empirical research is largely unresolved. This paper aspires to contribute to this emerging body of literature on business models by way of selecting nine dimensions which may be used for characterizing the way a particular business model is composed, as well as measuring to what extent any change or evolution of a business model has occurred. The dimensions are created as an operationalization of the three-part conceptualization proposed by Zott and Amit distinguishing between three design elements of a business model, i.e. content, structure and governance. These nine dimensions are subsequently tested in a case study of the Japanese biopharmaceutical company AnGes MG2002-2012

• Grønning, Terje & Tsuji, Katsuji (2014). Career Patterns within a “Lean” Organization: A Historical Case Study of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Inc., 1948-2004. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In this paper we thus ask whether lean organization employees have specific career patterns, which in turn distinguish the lean organization as a particular organizational form. We aim at contributing to the field of studies into lean organizations in specific and to organization theory in general by way of presenting findings regarding career patterns of selected employees in a particular lean organization, the renowned forerunner of lean principles Toyota Motor Corporation, Inc. (hereafter “Toyota”). The paper is based on data regarding of 692 employees. The data were constructed from in-company and labor union sources, such as personnel information regarding the time of promotion etc. Our data reveals to some extent the career patterns of the 692 persons hired in either 1948, 1960 or 1970, and we construct and analyze a “career tree” for each of these cohorts. We conclude by stating that the lean career pattern model we can derive from the data on Toyota shares, as of the late 1990s, some traits with existing models, such as e.g. the “tournament” (Rosenbaum, 1979) model. It is however a separate and new model, with a special emphasis on contest-based principles concerning the “narrowing-down” to specific individuals when it comes to the first promotion into a particular post, as well as a high degree of differentiation between employees through several rounds of promotions.

• Grønning, Terje & FOSSTENLØKKEN, Siw Marita (2013). The learning concept within selected innovation system approaches. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2013). Creating and sustaining knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship. Science and Public Policy. ISSN 0302-3427. doi: 10.1093/scipol/sct081. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Review of Managing Knowledge Intensive Entrepreneurship by Maureen McKelvey, and Astrid Heidemann Lassen. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, and Northampton, MA, 2013, ix + 200 pages, US$110:00, ISBN 9781781005514

• Grønning, Terje & FOSSTENLØKKEN, Siw Marita (2013). The Learning Concept within Selected Innovation System Approaches. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2013). Hybrid business models in medical biotechnology: Combining activities differing in knowledge intensity. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2013). Japanese Transplants. I Smith, Vicki (Red.), Sociology of Work: An Encyclopedia. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781452205069. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2013). Skilled Work. I Smith, Vicki (Red.), Sociology of Work: An Encyclopedia. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781452205069. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2012). Business models and cluster activities in medical biotech: Examples from the Kansai region in Japan. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2012). Science. I Stanton, Andrea L.; Ramsamy, Edward; Seybolt, Peter J. & Elliott, Carolyn M. (Red.), Cultural Sociology of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781412981767. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2012). Geography of Innovation, Innovation in Low-tech Industries, Labor-Management Relations in Start-Ups, Location Strategy, Product Innovation & Service Innovation. I Marvel, Matthew R. (Red.), Encyclopedia of New Venture Management. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781412990813. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  New venture management requires all the skills obtained within the typical MBA program, and then some. While those entering traditional management positions within established companies might expect to find established customers, a degree of predictability, formalized procedures, and earnings that may be taken more-or-less for granted, new ventures often are launched into highly dynamic environments characterized by rapid technological change, inherent unpredictability, and an uncertain cash flow. Such ventures often require rapid growth to succeed. While new ventures offer those who initiate them a high degree of independence, excitement, and potential for great reward, they also bring high risk, stress, and greater potential for failure. Thus, it takes a special set of skills, techniques, and temperament to succeed. These skills, along with the potential risks and rewards and environmental settings and characteristics, are explored in the Encyclopedia of New Venture Management.

• Grønning, Terje (2011). Radioselskapet. [Radio]. NRK P2. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Ukas selskapsløve har vokst opp i Japan, skrevet doktoravhandling om livet på Toyota-fabrikken, og har den siste uka vært søvnløs om nettene og sett på japansk tv for å følge med på katastrofene i landet. Japan-ekspert Terje Grønning svarer på alt du måtte lure på rundt situasjonen i Japan nå.

• Grønning, Terje (2011). Norgesglasset. [Radio]. NRK P1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Intervju om keiserfamilien i Japan

• Grønning, Terje (2011). Innovation and Commercialisation in the Biopharmaceutical Industry: Creating and Capturing Value. Science and Public Policy. ISSN 0302-3427. 38(6), s. 504–505. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2011). Tohoku-regionen i Japan. [TV]. TV2 Nyhetskanalen. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2011). A learning at work-matrix: Analyzing learning at work in terms of tasks performed, required knowledge and persons involved in the work experience. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  There has during the last couple of decades been a wave of theoretical advances focused on job quality and workplace learning respectively. However, there is within the job quality discourse a notable lack of explicit reference to the ongoing parallel discussion on workplace (lifelong) learning, except for some references to the importance of skill and literacy. In this paper I make an attempt at presenting a review and synthesis, resulting in a “learning at work matrix” which to some extent integrates aspects within the two discourses for the purpose of further discussion and analyses.

• Grønning, Terje (2011). Ikke nytt New Orelans i Japan. [Journal]. Journalen, Høgskolen i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2009). Research frontiers regarding practices in working life and new challenges for research design: Researching careers across space and time. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2009). Sweden. I Wankel, Charles (Red.), Encyclopedia of Business in Today's World. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781412964272. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2009). Asian Tigers. I Wankel, Charles (Red.), Encyclopedia of Business in Today's World. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781412964272. s. 78–80. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2009). Education Allowance. I Wankel, Charles (Red.), Encyclopedia of Business in Today's World. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781412964272. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2009). Norway. I Wankel, Charles (Red.), Encyclopedia of Business in Today's World. Sage Publications. ISSN 9781412964272. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2009). Læring og kreativitet innen evolusjonær økonomi. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2008). Discovering the basis for learning-enabling work: A heuristic device for comparative analyses and policy formulation. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2008). Institutions and innovation systems: The meanings and roles of the institution concept within systems of innovation approaches. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In recent years there have been suggested several approaches which conceive of systems of innovation at regional, national or sectoral levels. Regardless of the analytical levels addressed, one point of commonality between the approaches is the emphasis on the important role of institutions in the sense of rules or norms governing organizational and individual patterns of behavior within the innovation systems. The purpose of the paper is to review selected parts of the literature on innovations systems and arrive at some conclusions regarding the degrees of consensus versus variety when it comes to usage of the institution concept. Findings include the observation that there are differences when it comes to the meaning of the concept of institutions, a variation which could result in disadvantages for the further advancement of a “school” of innovation systems research.

• Andersen, Ragnhild & Grønning, Terje (2008). Karoshi - å jobbe seg ihjel. [Journal]. Ukeavisen Ledelse. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2007). Hva skjer på jobben i kunnskapssamfunnet? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje & Moen, Svein Erik (2007). Path creation, path dependence and the role of organizational agency: A framework for assessing national industrial paths. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The literature on path dependency shows little, if any interest in the actions undertaken by agents. The phenomena under study are typically explained by referring to increasing returns mechanisms. These mechanisms have previously been formalized in ways that make agents prisoners of their paths. We argue that this is a problem when explaining not only change of national industrial paths, but also their persistence. Drawing upon the path dependency literature and the emerging path creation literature, which emphasizes the “mindful deviation” of agents (Garud and Karnøe 2001), we suggest a heuristic device which may serve as a starting point for the systematic comparison of the role of organizations and collections of organizations as agents under path creation and path dependence

• Grønning, Terje (2007). ‘Trialogical learning’ and organization theory: some methodological considerations. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The “trialogical” approach has been proposed as an alternative way of approaching and understanding learning processes. This “knowledge creation metaphor” has been defined as a contrast or supplement to the “learning by acquisition” and “learning by participation” metaphors for learning (Sfard 1998) since it entails “collaborative effort directed toward developing some mediated artifacts, broadly defined as including knowledge, ideas, practices, and material or conceptual artifacts” Paavola et al. 2004). However two questions arise when relating to this new approach: - when applying the ideas to empirical cases, it is not entirely clear how one may observe and analyze the processes and implications, and - the main thoughts seem to be similar to some existing perspectives within organization theory, and does the trialogical perspective in fact constitute a continuation of these thoughts or constitute something essentially new? In this essay my contention is that it will be possible further the field by relating to both of the above questions at once (indeed not answer both question at once - they are in any case both quite far reaching and impossible to cover in just one short paper). By examining in what ways organization theory perspectives in a methodological sense differ from or are similar to the proposed trialogical framework, it is possible to critique the latter’s problems thus far when it comes to applying the perspective to field studies.

• Grønning, Terje (2007). Norway in Red, White and/or Blue? Biotechnology in Norway. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje & Moen, Svein Erik (2007). Path creation and path dependence: The role of organizational agency in the case of "technological trajectories". Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2007). Innovasjon og inter-organisatorisk læring. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2006). Prosalong med Terje Grønning: Vinduer mot Japan.Kveldens vert: Jens Harald Eilertsen. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2006). Degrees of Trialogical Learning. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2005). Globalisering av forskning og utvikling. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje & Kallerud, Egil (2005). En framtid for norsk bioteknologisk industri? [Journal]. Forskningspolitikk 1/2005. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje & Asdal, Fred Arthur (2005). Et patriarkat i endring. [Journal]. Tidsskriftet Henne. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje; Moen, Svein Erik; Steinsland, Ingunn & Olsen, Dorothy Sutherland (2005). The Norwegian System of Innovation. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2004). OECD Case-studie i biofarmasi og marin bioteknologi innovasjonssystemer. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2004). OECD Case studie i biofarmasi innovasjonssystemer: Norge. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje & Lye, Tone Ellefsen (2004). Jobbjakt på japansk. [Journal]. Under Dusken. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje; Moen, Svein Erik; Olsen, Dorothy Sutherland & Steinsland, Ingunn (2004). The Norwegian System of Innovation. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2003). ?ESST, Master of Arts, Society, Science and Technology?, et veletablert program ved Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje; Dobos, Eva & Knell, Mark Stephen (2003). Case study on biotech innovation systems:Norway. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje & Wibe, Mona Domaas (2003). Transnational sectoral systems of innovation: An emerging trend mainly for firms based in small open economies? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Toft, Martin & Grønning, Terje (2003). Forskar på nyskaping i små land i Asia og Europa. [Journal]. Uniforum. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2002). Multidisciplinary, problem-based studies: Experiences from Norway. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje & Fosstenløkken, Siw (2001). The learning concept within selected innovation system approaches. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2001). Policies for Sustainable Technological Innovation in the 21st Century: Character and Results of a Project. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  We have within the POSTI project focussed on "sustainable technological innovation" in two complementary senses. Innovation aimed at saving the environment constitutes one main area, whereas the other area may be termed as the issue of socially acceptable innovation. In addition there are obviously cases where these two areas are integrated to a larger or lesser degree. The network was in the first period of activity predominantly focussed on the first area of issues, i.e. issues in connection with innovation aimed at saving the environment, whereas the second area of focus, i.e. socially acceptable innovation, has become a stronger part of the focus area during the second year. During the two years of activity we have made certain types of reflections relevant to policy formation (see Audétat and Grønning 2000 for a preliminary and detailed discussion). For example, the project has assumed that market forces are "blind" when it comes to the relationship between innovation and the environment. Therefore, environmental policies and pro-active strategies are critical to social and technological innovation aiming at sustainability. But a preliminary question that should be raised is the following: What is actually environmental policy? A distinction between explicit and implicit policies appears to be needed due to assess the huge discrepancies which seem to exist. Many policies are today explicitly embedding or directly aimed at environmental improvements. But the policies of e.g. a country is also constituted by its implicit policy regarding the environment within all other domains of policy making. In other words, what are the environmental aspects of the trade policy, the industrial policies aimed at competitiveness, the tax system, financial policy, defence industry policy, systems of subsidies, public health, education, policies towards developing countries, etc.? There are thus three broad categories of public policies regarding sustainability. The first category is composed of the explicit environmental policies. The second category is made of the implicit environmental policies, so all other domains of public policy may come into consideration. The third and intermediary category is composed of particular cases, often belonging to traditional policy making, which have a critical impact on environmental performances, like the energy sector, the building industry and the urban development, or the transportation sector. A similar distinction could be made regarding the relationship between innovation and social acceptability, i.e. explicit policies regarding social exclusion etc., implicit policies and particular cases. A majority of cases presented at the first three conferences thus far belong to the first category within the sets, i.e. studies and discussions of explicit policies.

• Grønning, Terje (2001). Towards the "integrated network" as an organisational mode for the globalization of R&D? A comparative study of the two Japanese pharmaceutical corporations Eisai and Chugai. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The study serves as an illustration of cases which represent a hybrid mode between the integrated network mode and other modes, with an affinity to the former. The difficulty of fitting these two cases into either of the categories shows, however, that further research is needed in order to fruitfully describe and understand the innovative activities of MNEs. It seems to be necessary to expand and develop further upon the notion of integrated networks in order to allow for temporal and substantial variations of the type presented in this paper.

• Solem, Silja & Grønning, Terje (2025). Refleksjon på farten. Om glenner for refleksjon i komplekse samferdselsprosjekter. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Denne masteroppgaven undersøker hvordan prosjektledere i komplekse samferdselsprosjekter lærer gjennom refleksjon og problemløsning. Prosjektlederne er profesjonsutøvere som daglig står i situasjoner preget av usikkerhet, tverrfaglige avveininger og ofte motstridende krav til tid, kvalitet og kostnad. Studien utforsker hvordan refleksjon inngår i arbeidshverdagen, hvordan den bidrar til å håndtere komplekse utfordringer, og hvilke forhold som støtter eller utfordrer refleksjon som læringsmekanisme. For å undersøke dette formulerte jeg følgende problemstilling: Hvordan lærer prosjektledere gjennom refleksjon og problemløsning i komplekse samferdselsprosjekter? For å besvare problemstillingen har jeg formulert to forskningsspørsmål: - Hvordan beskriver prosjektlederne refleksjon og problemløsning i prosjektene, både individuelt og i fellesskap? - Hvilke betingelser opplever prosjektlederne at hemmer eller fremmer refleksjon og læring, og hvordan kommer variasjoner i refleksjonens dybde til uttrykk i lys av disse? Teorigrunnlaget bygger på Schöns teori om den reflekterende praktiker (1983/2001) og Hartmann et al. (2023) sitt rammeverk for refleksjonsprosesser i prosjektbaserte organisasjoner. Schöns begreper knyttet til refleksjon-i-handling, gir et perspektiv på hvordan profesjonelle lærer gjennom å utforske og redefinere problemer i møte med usikre situasjoner. Hartmann et al. bidrar med en struktur som analyserer variasjoner i refleksjonens dybde, fra raske vurderinger til dialogiske prosesser og kritisk refleksjon. I tillegg understrekes det hvordan motivasjon, evne og mulighet virker inn på refleksjonsprosessene. Datamaterialet i denne oppgaven er basert på ti kvalitative intervjuer med prosjektledere i Rambølls transportavdeling, som leder store prosjekter med tverrfaglig samarbeid. Intervjuene viser hvordan læring oppstår i en arbeidshverdag preget av tidspress, digitale møtearenaer og stadig nye krav fra prosjektenes kompleksitet, men også av høy motivasjon og evne til å håndtere utfordringer. Prosjektlederne beskriver hvordan refleksjon ofte må finne sted «på farten», i korte refleksjonsglenner som gir rom for å sortere tanker og klargjøre veien videre. Slike glenner bidrar til individuell og kollektiv læring, og har en viktig plass i problemløsning i prosjektgruppene. Informantene framhever at avdelingen tilrettelegger for refleksjon gjennom både formelle arenaer, som faste møter og strukturerte erfaringsutvekslinger, og uformelle arenaer, som spontane samtaler og kollegial støtte. Samtidig beskriver de hvordan en tett møtekultur, med hyppige møter, kan begrense muligheten for fordypning. I tillegg trekkes tilgjengelighet fram som en utfordring. Når prosjektdeltakere sitter spredt og møtene i hovedsak foregår digitalt, mister man noe av den spontane kontakten og de små uformelle samtalene som ellers kan utløse refleksjon. Prosjektlederne understreker derfor også sin egen rolle som tilretteleggere, der de aktivt forsøker å skape rom for refleksjon og oppmuntrer kolleger til å dele erfaringer og idéer. Når refleksjon løftes inn i fellesskapet på denne måten, særlig i møte med uforutsette utfordringer og verdimessige dilemmaer, oppstår dypere innsikt, mer kreative løsninger og prosesser som bidrar til å videreutvikle arbeidsmåtene i prosjektene. Oppgaven konkluderer med at refleksjon er avgjørende for læringsprosesser i komplekse prosjekter. Den viser hvordan individuelle refleksjoner kan kobles til kollektive arenaer for å styrke læringsutbyttet, og hvordan både organisatoriske strukturer og prosjektledernes aktive tilrettelegging er nødvendige forutsetninger. Teoretisk bidrar oppgaven ved å sammenstille Schöns (2001) teori og Hartmann et al. (2023) sitt rammeverk, og samtidig introdusere begrepet refleksjonsglenner, som beskriver en dimensjon av refleksjon i pressede arbeidssituasjoner som de etablerte teoriene ikke fullt ut dekker. For ledere gir studien innsikt i hvordan man kan videreutvikle rammer som fremmer meningsfulle refleksjonsprosesser og styrker både individuell og kollektiv læring. For forskere gir den et empirisk og teoretisk grunnlag for videre undersøkelser av refleksjonens rolle i profesjonell praksis, og hvordan refleksjon kan utvikles til dypere læring i prosjektbaserte organisasjoner.

• Andresen, Finn Christian & Grønning, Terje (2018). ’’Det handler om å bli kjent med folk’’ Om psykologiske kontrakter i et prosjekt. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Tema og problemstilling Denne oppgaven handler om kunnskapsarbeideres håndtering av forventningsbrudd, uforutsette hendelser, samt forventinger, løfter og forpliktelser til organisasjoner og til et prosjekt. Når det kommer til prosjektet, er dette et samarbeid mellom Sintef, UiO og NTNU. De skal utvikle en ny type veggisolasjon som er tynnere, mer miljøvennlig og har bedre isoleringsevne enn de tradisjonelle isolasjonsmaterialene på markedet. For å kunne muliggjøre dette, må personer fra flere fagdisipliner være involvert, noe som gjør dette til et tverrfaglig prosjekt. Temaet for denne undersøkelsen kommer til å være å se på de forskjellige sidene ved dette prosjektet, blant annet samarbeid, forventninger til prosjektet og uforutsette hendelser som dukker opp underveis. Det teoretiske rammeverket for oppgaven baserer seg primært på Rousseaus (1995) teori om psykologiske kontakter, som er «individuell tro, formet av organisasjonen, om vilkår for en bytteavtale mellom enkeltpersoner og deres organisasjoner» (s. 9 fritt oversatt). Samtidig blir nyere teori på området inkludert i form av Sverdrups (2012) antagelser om horisontale psykologiske kontrakter, som handler om avtaler, forpliktelser og forventinger mellom kollegaer. Problemstillingen og forskningsspørsmålene til oppgaven er som følger: - Hvordan forholder kunnskapsarbeidere seg til samarbeid i en prosjektgruppe? For å kunne besvare problemstillingen, er følgende forskningsspørsmål undersøkt: - Finnes det former for psykologiske kontrakter i kunnskapsintensive prosjekter? - Gitt at det finnes psykologiske kontrakter, på hvilken måte påvirker uforutsette hendelser den psykologiske kontrakten? - Gitt at det finnes psykologiske kontrakter, på hvilken måte håndterer kunnskapsarbeidere brudd på den psykologiske kontrakten? Datainnsamling og metode Oppgaven er organisert som et Case der informasjonen består av at informantene snakket om erfaring rundt et kunnskapsintensivt innovasjonsprosjekt, og hvordan det er å arbeide for virksomhetene Sintef og/eller NTNU. Totalt ble det intervjuet 7 informanter fra Sintef og NTNU. Prosjektmedlemmene er spredt geografisk, og arbeiderene jobber både fra Oslo og Trondheim. Dette gjorte at jeg fløy opp til Trondheim for å intervjue fire av informantene, samtidig som jeg deltok på det eneste fysiske møtet de hadde dette vårsemesteret (Vår 2018). Intervjuet ble utført som semistrukturert, der jeg hadde en liste med ferdigformulerte spørsmål som var utgangspunktet for intervjuet. Denne ble ikke fulgt slavisk, og det ble flere oppfølgingsspørsmål underveis for å få et dypere innblikk i informantenes arbeidshverdag. Hovedfunn Ut i fra Rousseaus (1990, 1995) teori om håndteringsteknikker ved kontraktbrudd, finner jeg flere forbindelser til det empiriske materialet. Hvis konflikter oppstår mellom kolleger, håndterer man disse ved å konfrontere vedkommende. Dette gjør at arbeidere håndterer arbeidsutforinger på en aktiv og konstruktiv måte, som samsvarer med det Rousseau (1995) skriver om kontraktsbrudd. Samtidig har det blitt avdekket funn som samsvarer med Sverdrups (2012) teori om horisontale psykologiske kontrakter. Funnene indikerer at kunnskapsarbeidere i Sintef og NTNU har en klar autonomistyrt hverdag, som gjør at avtaler og forpliktelser de har til andre arbeidere styrer mye av arbeidshverdagen deres. Dette gjør at horisontale psykologiske kontrakter er mest fremtredende sammenliknet med de ordinære vertikale. Måten arbeiderene håndterer uforutsette hendelser i prosjektet på, er det mulig å forklare i forbindelse med hvor involvert vedkommende er i arbeidsaktiviteten. Funnene tyder på at personer som er svakt involvert, har mindre sjanse for å bli påvirket av hendelsene, sammenliknet med de som er sterkt involvert.

• Grønning, Terje & Strømnes, Dimakis Kristoffer (2017). “Du trenger ikke å skjønne alt det den andre gjør for å forstå nytten av det han gjør” - En studie om prosjektsamarbeid innen nanoteknologi og isolasjonsmaterialer. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje & Dalseide, Anne (2017). Kunnskapsdeling og kunnskapsgrenser i et tverrfaglig prosjekt. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  TEMA OG PROBLEMSTILLING: Dette er en studie av kunnskapsdeling i en forskningsorganisasjon. Prosjektarbeid blir stadig mer tverrfaglig, det vil si at deltagere i prosjekter samarbeider tett med andre fagområder. Arbeidet i prosjekt innebærer at man har et felles mål som ofte innebærer å finne innovative løsninger (Newell et al, 2009). Når man skal dele praksis og kunnskap mellom spesialiserte grupper vil det kunne oppstå såkalte kunnskapsgrenser (Carlile, 2002, 2004). Derfor er kunnskapsgrenser et aktuelt problemområde i forbindelse med prosjektet. Det er sentralt å finne løsninger for å overkomme kunnskapsgrensene. I tillegg til Carlile (2002, 2004) sin teori om kunnskapsgrenser vil studien støtte seg på Nonaka og Takeuchi (1995) sin modell for hvordan man kan skape kunnskap (”knowledge creation”) i organisasjoner. SEKI-modellen fremhever at kunnskap både kan være taus og eksplisitt. Kunnskapsutvikling skjer i følge modellen når eksisterende kunnskap overføres til annen type kunnskap, eksempelvis når taus kunnskap blir eksplisitt. Det er en forutsetning at det er sosial interaksjon mellom individene for å utvikle ny kunnskap (Nonaka, 1994). Studien fokuserer på i hvilken grad Nonaka og Takeuchi (1995) sin modell kan være relevant for å overkomme eventuelle kunnskapsgrenser i prosjektet. Problemstilling og forskningsspørsmålene er: - Hvordan skapes kunnskap i et tverrfaglig naturvitenskapelig prosjekt? o Finnes det kunnskapsgrenser mellom deltagerne i prosjektet? o Carlile (2004, s. 560) plasserer inspirasjon fra Nonaka m.fl. innen sin beskrivelse av semantiske kunnskapsgrenser. Kan Nonakas perspektiver på kunnskapsdeling være relevant for beskrivelse av syntaktiske og pragmatiske kunnskapsgrenser også? METODE OG DATAINNSAMLING: Studien er en casestudie, som gjør det mulig å få et innblikk i deltagernes erfaringer innen samme prosjekt. Prosjektet som jeg har valgt som min case er i forskningsorganisasjonen SINTEF, med ca. 2 000 ansatte (sintef.no). Det empiriske grunnlaget er basert på sju semistrukturerte intervjuer, hvorav seks av informantene er forskere i prosjektet og en av informantene er ekstern kvalitetssikrer. Intervjuene hadde fokus på kunnskapsgrenser og hvordan deltagerne deler kunnskap i prosjektet. Gjennom analyse av beskrivelser fra informantene, gir det en innsikt i hvordan de selv opplever kunnskapsdelingen. Undersøkelsen er først og fremst forankret i et sosialkonstruktivistisk grunnsyn, som vektlegger at kunnskap blir konstruert av dem som deltar i bestemte sosiale settinger. HOVEDFUNN: I min studie stemte funnene omkring kunnskapsgrenser på mange måter overens med det som står i litteraturen (Carlile, 2002, 2004). Det ser ut til å være både syntaktiske, semantiske og pragmatiske kunnskapsgrenser i prosjektet. Det er språklige forskjeller mellom informantene som kan omtales som syntaktiske kunnskapsgrenser. Likevel oppleves ikke de syntaktiske kunnskapsgrensene som et stort problem for deltagerne, fordi de har innslag av både kjemi og fysikk fra sine studier. Det bidrar til at kunnskapsgrensene ikke er så store. Det virker ikke som det er så utfordrende at kommunikasjonen i prosjektet hovedsakelig foregår på engelsk, siden informantene er vant til dette fra studier og arbeidslivet. Da deltagerne har arbeidet i tverrfaglige prosjekter i flere år kan det være av betydning for at kunnskapsgrensene ikke er så store. Det ser ut til at det finnes semantiske kunnskapsgrenser, det vil si at informantene tolker fenomener forskjellig (Carlile, 2002, 2004). Forskjellene ser hovedsakelig ut til å være mellom kjemikere og fysikere, eller de som arbeider med grunnforskning eller anvendt forskning. Blant annet bruker deltagerne tid på å forklare hverandre hva de trenger eller hva de kan bidra med for å overkomme de semantiske kunnskapsgrensene. Det ser også ut til at det kan være pragmatiske kunnskapsgrenser, der novelty skaper ulike interesser (Carlile, 2002, 2004). De forskjellige deltagerne virker å ha ulike perspektiver på hva som er sentralt å prioritere i prosjektet. Kjemikerne synes kanskje at sitt område er sentralt, og likedan med fysikerne. Dette kan hindre deltagerne i dele og vurdere hverandres kunnskap. Det kan likevel stilles spørsmål ved om det er nok hold i at det finnes pragmatiske kunnskapsgrenser i prosjektet. For noen er prosjektet kanskje bare en av mange de deltar i for øyeblikket, mens for andre kan dette ha et stort potensiale. Carlile (2004, s. 560) foreslår at en løsning for å overkomme den semantiske kunnskapsgrensen er å gjøre taus kunnskap eksplisitt. Studien fant også at Nonakas perspektiver på kunnskapsdeling på mange måter kan være relevante for analyse av syntaktiske og pragmatiske kunnskapsgrenser (Nonaka, 1994). Sosialisering, der individer er i samme miljø, ser ut til å være sentralt for å overkomme kunnskapsgrensene i prosjektet. Hovedarenaene for deling av taus kunnskap ser ut til å være på laben og på de fysiske møtene. Eksternalisering, der taus kunnskap blir gjort eksplisitt, ser også ut til å være relevant (Nonaka, 1994). Det ser ut til at deltagerne har en lav terskel for å spørre om de lurer på noe og tålmodighet til å svare som kan bidra til å overkomme syntaktiske kunnskapsgrenser. Det å gjøre taus kunnskap eksplisitt kan se ut til å være nyttig når man skal forhandle om hvilke prioriteringer som skal gjøres i prosjektet. Derfor kan eksternalisering være nyttig for å overkomme pragmatiske kunnskapsgrenser. I tillegg bruker deltagerne ulike teknikker for å uttrykke idéer. Det er vanskelig å si om kunnskapen er taus eller bare implisitt (Tsoukas, 2003). Det ser ut til at de legger til rette for å gjøre kunnskap eksplisitt som ellers ikke ville blitt artikulert. Ved å lage presentasjoner som er visuelle og enkle å forstå for de andre deltagerne, kan kombinering være nyttig for å overkomme syntaktiske kunnskapsgrenser (Nonaka, 1994). I tillegg ser det ut til at diskusjoner på mail kan bidra til å få fram alles perspektiv og dermed overkomme semantiske kunnskapsgrenser. Kombinering kan også bidra til å at de ulike interesser blant deltagerne gjennom kommunikasjon på mail og Skype-møter. Derfor kan kombinering bidra til å overkomme de pragmatiske kunnskapsgrensene. Jeg har gjennom studien vist at det er relevant å trekke inn Nonakas perspektiv i forbindelse med beskrivelse av særlig syntaktiske grenser, men også til dels beskrivelse av pragmatiske grenser.

• Grønning, Terje; Brown, A.; Dæhlen, Marianne; Barnes, Sally-Anne Barnes; Bimrose, Jenny & Kirpal, Simone (2010). EACEA/2007/07 Changing patterns of working, learning and career development across Europe. EACEA. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Since 2000 the European Union (EU) has sought to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world. In line with this goal, member states committed themselves to increasing European cooperation in vocational education and training (VET) through the Copenhagen process. However, in this process relatively little attention has been given to continuing vocational training (CVT) and, more precisely, how individuals use continuing learning and engage with continuing vocational training to develop and direct their individual careers, particularly in the context of increased labour market flexibility and mobility. As a response to this research gap a study was commissioned in 2007 to examine continuing vocational training from the perspective of how individual careers are developing across Europe. In particular, the European Commission was seeking to get a better understanding of the different kinds of continuing training workers engage with and the role that work itself plays in individuals’ skills and competence development. To date, most research and surveys in this area have focused upon the take-up of formal CVT provision and self-directed individual learning and development. In addition, the emphasis has been mainly on learning and training in the past few months or in the last year.What was missing, however, was some sense of how individuals integrate learning and development into their evolving careers over a much longer period of time. The main objective of this study was therefore to develop an understanding of the different ways individual careers are unfolding over time and the implications such processes have for European policies on CVT. The study was designed to involve a desk review of qualitative material on work biographies, learning and career decision making styles in the first year, and the implementation of a small-scale international comparative survey in the second year. The desk review and feasibility study, which also included the review of third party surveys, resulted in the generation of hypotheses that provided the basis for developing a standardised questionnaire for survey implementation. The English questionnaire was pretested and translated into Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian and Turkish to be implemented in ten European countries. Overall, answers from 1148 respondents, of which 900 questionnaires were fully completed, were used for a descriptive statistical analysis.

• Olsen, Dorothy Sutherland; Moen, Anne; Ludvigsen, Sten Runar; Mørch, Anders Irving & Grønning, Terje (2008). KP-Lab report 27490. Report on case study: Interdisciplinary Knowledge Practices in Nanotechnology. KP-Lab. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje; Dahl, Ingeborg Frogner; Dobos, Eva; Johansson, Ovar Andreas; Knell, Mark Stephen & Olsen, Dorothy Sutherland (2004). CASE STUDY ON BIOTECH INNOVATION SYSTEMS NORWAY Vol. 2: Marine biotechnology. OECD Publishing. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This Volume is part of the ?Case Studies in Innovation?, as formulated by the OECD (DSTI/STP/TIP(2002)1). It is, however, a delimited and optional sub-study supplementary to the main case study on biopharmaceuticals. ?Case Studies in Innovation? is ambitiously designed with the aim at answering one main research question: Can we identify important differences and similarities in the structure and dynamics of national biotech innovation system which explains the performance of this system? Then, what are the policy implications of this? Since the sub-study has been conducted on a smaller and non-comparative scale as compared to the main study on biopharmaceuticals, it will not attempt to answer the overall research questions in full. We will, however, aim at presenting an overview of policy aims for this area as well as the current status of marine biotechnology in Norway, and on this basis tentatively sum up some policy implications.

• Grønning, Terje; Dobos, Eva; Knell, Mark Stephen; Veistein, Bjørg Kristin & Olsen, Dorothy Sutherland (2004). CASE STUDY ON BIOTECH INNOVATION SYSTEMS - NORWAY Vol. 1: Biopharmaceuticals. OECD Publishing. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje; Castellacci, Fulvio; Wibe, Mona Domaas; Tranøy, Bent Sofus; Fevolden, Arne & Knell, Mark Stephen [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2003). Globalisation as a challenge for national innovation systems and policy. 7Letras. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The project National Systems of Innovation in a Globalising, Knowledge-Based Economy contains issues which relate to all four types of change. Indeed, the very raison d’être of the concept national systems of innovation is being scrutinised in view of potential changes of the extension, intensification, speed-up and deepening types. In our context this is especially true of the potential increase in the realms of particular societal fields, such as increased interdependence of locations and increased interdependence of firms. Compared to the rather wide scope of activities included in the citation above, this more delimited focus on a particular type of activities is the focus of our inquiry and may serve as a more delimited definition of globalisation. This focus is in turn divided into three sub-sets (cf. Figure rendered below). Aspects of interest related to “a globalizing knowledge-based economy” can be sub-divided into, firstly, dynamics of competition (cf. project terminology “industrial structure/production structure”), secondly factors related to institutional set-up (here also referred to as varieties of capitalism/ societal effects), and thirdly technology factors (cf. project terminology “knowledge infrastructure). It is our aim to selectively investigate the historical evolution and the status quo of theorizing related to these three aspects of NISs with a special emphasis on the relationship between domestic (internal) and foreign/global (external) spheres.

• Grønning, Terje; Wibe, Mona Domaas & Moen, Svein Erik (2003). Drivers of Globalization and Small National Systems of Innovation: Towards an Integrated Approach of Analysis. 7Letras. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønning, Terje (2001). Final Report: Policies for Sustainable Technological Innovation in the 21st Century - Lessons from Higher Education in Science, Technology and Society (POSTI). European Commission - DG Research. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The project has as a thematic network organised four major conferences focussed on various aspects of sustainable technological innovation, constructed a database with 517 abstracts of graduate students' dissertations, and analysed a large sample of the database contents. Topically the project has focused on sustainable technological innovation in two complementary senses. Innovation aimed at saving the environment constituted one main area, whereas the other area may be termed as the issue of socially acceptable innovation. There are three broad categories of public policies regarding sustainability and social acceptability which have been studied and discussed. The first category is composed of the explicit policies. The second category is made of the implicit policies, so all other domains of public policy may come into consideration. The third and intermediary category is composed of particular cases, often belonging to traditional policy making, which have a critical impact on environmental performance or social acceptability, like e.g. the energy sector, the building industry and the urban development, or the transportation sector. For policy-makers there is invariably an immediate need settle for either a sector-specific perspective, a case-specific policy, or a more or less integrated perspective, according to the context at hand. If we move beyond particular situations, however, we believe that the first task at hand is to admit to the immensity and vulnerability with respect to sustainable technological change issues, and subsequently initiate a general reformation of policy making. On the contents side of policy making we thus state that there are potential gains to be made by consciously and systematically integrating environmental concerns with social acceptability concerns within policy making. Concrete examples include the relationship between increased customer awareness of, and demand for, environmentally sound products in industrialised countries, and the potential transition from environment-exploiting to environment-sensitive FDI in less industrialised countries. Regarding factors relevant to future specific policy instruments, the project has shown that it is crucial to look across disciplinary boundaries in order to approach complex issues such as sustainable and socially acceptable innovation. We therefore believe that the establishment of a multi-disciplinary RTD programme devoted to sustainable technological innovation is warranted for. At the more practical level, we recommend thorough revision of curricula in favour of various forms of increased multi-disciplinarity focused on sustainable technological innovation.

• Grønning, Terje (2000). "Control and Co-determination: As Assesment of Volvo's QDF System" in Comparative Studies on a New Industriel Model Between Sweden and Japan. Ritsumeikan University. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

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