The Journal of Small Business Innovation (기업가정신과 벤처연구)

The Korean Association of Small Business studies (한국중소기업학회)
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Enhancing Technology Learning Capabilities for Catch-up and Post Catch-up Innovations

기술학습역량 강화를 통한 추격 및 탈추격 혁신 촉진

  • 배종태 (한국과학기술원 경영대학) ;
  • 이종선 (한국과학기술원 경영대학) ;
  • 구본진 (한국과학기술원 경영대학)
  • Received : 2016.05.17
  • Accepted : 2016.06.01
  • Published : 2016.06.30
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Abstract

Motivation and activities for technological learning, entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity are driving forces of economic development in Asian countries. In the early stages of technological development, technological learning and entrepreneurship are efficient ways in which to catch up with advanced countries because firms can accumulate skills and knowledge quickly at relatively low risk. In the later stages of technological development, however, innovation and creativity become more important. This study aims to identify a) the factors (learning capabilities) that influence technological learning performance and b) barriers to enhancing innovation capabilities for the creative economy and organizations. The major part of this study is related to learning capabilities in the post-catch-up era. Based on a literature review and observations from Korean experiences, this study proposes a technological learning model composed of various influencing factors on technological learning. Three hypotheses are derived, and data are collected from Korean machine tool manufacturers. Intense interviews with CEOs and R&D directors are conducted using structured questionnaires. Statistical analysis, such as correlation and ANOVA are then carried out. Furthermore, this study addresses how to enhance innovation capabilities to move forward. Innovation enablers and barriers are identified by case studies and policy analysis. The results of the empirical study identify several levels of firms' learning capabilities and activities such as a) stock of technology, b) potential of technical labor, c) explicit technological efforts, d) readiness to learn, e) top management support, f) a formal technological learning system, g) high learning motivation, h) appropriate technology choice, and i) specific goal setting. These learning capabilities determine firms' learning performance, especially in the early stages of development. Furthermore, it is found that the critical factors for successful technological learning vary along the stages of technology development. Throughout the statistical and policy analyses, this study confirms that technological learning can be understood as an intrinsic principle of the technology development process. Firms perform proactive and creative learning in the late stages, while reactive and imitative learning prevails in the early stages. In addition, this study identifies the driving forces or facilitating factors enhancing innovation performance in the post catch-up era. The results of the preliminary case studies and policy analysis show some facilitating factors such as a) the strategic intent of the CEO and corporate culture, b) leadership and change agents, c) design principles and routines, d) ecosystem and collaboration with partners, and e) intensive R&D investment.

기술 학습, 기업가정신, 혁신, 창의성에 대한 동기 및 관련 활동은 아시아 국가들의 경제 발전의 원동력이었다. 기술 발전의 초기에는 기술 학습과 기업가정신이 선진국들을 효과적으로 따라잡을 수 있는 방안으로 작용하였다. 왜냐하면 이를 통하여 기업들은 상대적으로 낮은 리스크를 가지고 기술과 지식을 빠르게 축적할 수 있었기 때문이다. 그러나 기술 발전의 후기에는 혁신과 창의성이 보다 중요하게 작용하였다. 본 연구의 목적은 1) 기술 학습 성과에 영향을 미치는 요소들 (학습 역량)과 2) 창의적인 조직 및 경제 환경 구축을 위한 혁신 역량 강화에 필요한 과제들을 규명하는 것이다. 본 연구의 핵심 내용은 탈추격 시대에서의 학습 역량과 연관되어 있다. 문헌 연구 및 한국의 경제발전 사례를 바탕으로 본 연구에서는 기술 학습에 영향을 미치는 다양한 요소들로 구성된 기술 학습 모형을 제시하였다. 이와 관련하여 세 가지 가설을 설정하였고, 한국의 공작기계 제조업체들로부터 데이터를 수집하였다. 또한 해당 업체들의 CEO들과 R&D 책임자들을 대상으로 구조화된 설문을 수행하였다. 이를 바탕으로 상관 분석과 ANOVA를 수행하여 가설을 검증하였다. 추가로 사례 분석과 정책 분석을 수행하여 혁신 활성인자와 방해인자들을 규명하였고, 이를 근거로 혁신 역량 강화를 위한 방안을 제시하였다. 실증 분석 결과를 기반으로 1) 기술 축적정도 2) 기술인력들의 잠재력 3) 확고한 기술적 노력 4) 학습에 대한 의지 5) 최고 경영층의 지원 6) 공식적인 기술 학습 시스템 7) 높은 학습 동기 8) 적절한 기술 선택 9) 명백한 목표 설정과 같은 기업의 학습 잠재력과 활동(학습 역량)을 규명하였다. 이와 같은 학습 역량은 경제 발전 초기 기업의 학습 성과를 결정하였다. 또한 기술발전 단계별로 기술학습을 위해 필요한 핵심 요소들이 상이하였다. 통계 및 정책 분석을 통하여 기술학습은 기술발전 과정의 본질적인 원칙으로 이해될 수 있음을 입증하였다. 선제적이고 창의적인 학습은 후기에, 대응적이고 모방적인 학습은 초기에 활성화 되었다. 추가로 본 연구에서는 탈추격 시대에서의 혁신역량 및 혁신활동 강화의 원동력 또는 촉진 요소를 탐색하였다. 예비 사례분석 결과는 1) CEO의 전략적 의지와 기업 문화 2) 리더십과 변화 주도 챔피언의 존재 3) 디자인 원칙과 방식 4) 에코시스템과 협력체계, 5) 지속적 R&D 투자가 혁신역량 및 혁신활동 강화의 촉진 요소로 작용함을 보여주었다.

Keywords

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