A country’s rate of technological change and advancement is a major determinant for its economic development (Freeman, 1994; Romer, 1990; Solow, 1957). Therefore, policy-makers need to understand what drives the technological change and advancement of the countries they administrate. Of the many factors that affect a society’s ability to invent and advance, one that has yet received limited attention is national culture.
Furthermore, managers of multinational firms implicitly face the selection of a cultural context when selecting favourable locations for their business activities. If national culture had a positive influence on innovative activities, it should be considered in location decisions for innovative activities.
Therefore, this paper explores the relationship between certain aspects af a nation's culture and it's innovativeness.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Confucian Dynamism
2.1.1 Confucian teachings
2.1.2 Confucian Dynamism dimension of culture
2.1.3 Confucian Dynamism and innovation
2.1.4 Confucian Dynamism and economic development
2.1.5 Confucian Dynamism and R&D
2.2 National innovativeness
3. HYPOTHESES DEVELOPMENT
3.1 Links relating to economic development
3.2 Links relating to R&D effort
4. RESEARCH METHODS
4.1 Sample and data
4.2 Measures
5. RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
5.1 Results and Analysis
5.2 Discussion
5.2.1 Revised model
5.2.2 Micro-level explanations
6. CONCLUSIONS, LIMITATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this dissertation is to investigate the influence of Confucian Dynamism, a dimension of national culture also known as long-term orientation, on the national innovativeness of societies. The study seeks to answer the overarching research question of how long-term orientation influences a nation's ability to innovate, proposing and testing a theoretical model with macro-level data from 19 countries between 1996 and 2006.
- The influence of national cultural values on innovation performance.
- The role of long-term orientation in economic development and R&D effort.
- The mediation effect of economic growth and R&D intensity on national innovativeness.
- Micro-level explanations for how cultural values shape individual attitudes toward innovation.
- Evidence-based implications for managers and policy-makers regarding cross-cultural collaborations.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1 Confucian teachings
Kǒng Fūzǐ, whom Christian missionaries renamed Confucius, was a Chinese civil servant and philosopher living from 551-478 BC. Known for his wisdom, he was constantly surrounded by disciples who recorded what is known as his teachings. Confucian teachings constitute lessons and practical ethics about humanity without religious connotation. Different from ancient Western philosophy, Confucianism puts greater emphasis on extensional truth. Containing the scientific truth, such as mathematical or empirical knowledge, the extensional truth adds a form of intentional truth, such as sensible feelings and bounded rationality (Mou, 1983). Thus, in Confucianism truth is dependent on the subject and therefore always relative, never absolute or exclusive. In essence, the Confucian teachings can be outlined in four key principles (Hofstede & Bond, 1988; Tweed, 2002).
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the importance of technological advancement for economic development and introduces national culture as a focal lens for studying differences in innovativeness.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW: Reviews philosophical principles of Confucian Dynamism and existing macro-level research to identify key determinants of national innovativeness.
3. HYPOTHESES DEVELOPMENT: Proposes a theoretical model linking long-term orientation to national innovativeness via economic development and R&D effort.
4. RESEARCH METHODS: Describes the sample of 19 countries, the data sources (WIPO, World Bank, UNESCO), and the measures used for dependent, mediator, and control variables.
5. RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION: Presents empirical findings from regression analyses and discusses the confirmation of hypotheses regarding the influence of culture on innovation.
6. CONCLUSIONS, LIMITATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Summarizes the study's findings, acknowledges limitations regarding the measurement of cultural values over time, and provides practical recommendations for multinational firms and policy-makers.
Keywords
Confucian Dynamism, National Innovativeness, Long-term orientation, Cultural values, R&D effort, Economic development, Innovation, Cross-cultural research, Technology advancement, Patent applications, Management, Knowledge creation, Multinational firms, Globalization, Policy-making.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
This research examines how Confucian Dynamism, or long-term orientation, influences the national innovativeness of societies.
What are the primary themes explored?
The themes include the relationship between cultural values, economic growth, R&D intensity, and a nation's capacity for technological innovation.
What is the main research question?
The study specifically asks: "How does long-term orientation influence national innovativeness?"
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a quantitative approach involving multiple regression analysis based on macro-level data from 19 countries spanning the years 1996 to 2006.
What is covered in the main section of the dissertation?
The main part includes a review of literature, the development of a theoretical model with hypotheses, the description of research methods, and an empirical analysis of results.
What characterizes the identified keywords?
The keywords highlight the intersection of international business, cross-cultural management, economics of innovation, and national cultural dimensions.
How does the author define Confucian Dynamism in this context?
It is defined as a cultural dimension indicating a society's attitude towards the future, emphasizing perseverance, thrift, and the acceptance of hierarchy.
What were the empirical results regarding R&D effort?
The findings indicate that aggregate R&D effort is positively and significantly related to national innovativeness, supporting the study's secondary hypothesis.
Why are the micro-level explanations significant?
They provide deeper insight into how cultural values influence individual attitudes towards innovation, such as openness to novelty and knowledge acquisition.
What is the primary conclusion regarding the link between culture and innovation?
The study concludes that long-term oriented cultural values promote national innovativeness, suggesting a comparative advantage for these cultures in inventive activities.
- Quote paper
- MIntBus Sebastian Walter (Author), 2010, How Does Confucian Dynamism Influence National Innovativeness, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/211153
