Overview

 

Research activities performed within the TIME Research Area seek to generate novel evidence-based insights to enhance our understanding of basic research questions at the intersection of technology- and innovation management, marketing and entrepreneurship.

Relevant:

Special emphasis is being placed on questions pertaining to the ideation, development and commercialization of technological innovations expected to be of relevance for scholars and practitioners alike.

  • Under which circumstances, for instance, are collaborative innovation activities such as involving customers most beneficial? Which challenges are likely to occur in this regard and which managerial remedies are available?
  • What is the role of product design for technology adoption? How can organizations embody symbolic brand values in their product designs in an attempt to influence consumers purchasing decisions?
  • What determines the commercialization success in new ventures and established firms? What specific capabilities are required?
  • How do new technologies affect not only the technical and economic performance of organizations, but also their legitimacy and reputation?

These themes pertain to the very heart of RWTH Aachen University’s core competencies as one of Europe’s leading Universities of Technology and provide ample opportunities for collaboration with industry partners. Research findings are also directly incorporated into the teaching and executive education offerings of the TIME Research Area

Empirical:

The research projects conducted within the TIME Research Area are typically empirical and rely on large-scale interview, survey, experimental or archival data. The unit of analysis is manifold and comprises the individual employee, customer or entrepreneur, the project team, the organization and/or the network. Research projects are typically based on large quantitative datasets that contain multiple levels of analysis, multiple measurement points, multiple industries and/or multiple countries. They are complemented by experimental and qualitative studies, drawing not least on interview and observation techniques. Those studies provide rich insights into the context under study and serve as a vital means to both validate measurement models and enrich quantitative results.

Interdisciplinary:

Given the complexity of the research questions examined as well as their relevance for related disciplines such as engineering, engaging in collaborative research projects that cross disciplinary boundaries is often highly desirable. Such interdisciplinary research projects are being conducted with scholars from a broad array of disciplines including information systems, healthcare management, psychology, mechanical engineering or medicine.

International:

Numerous research projects conducted by TIME members benefit from partnerships that cross not only disciplinary, but also geographical boundaries. As such, globally renowned scholars are involved in a number of joint research projects. Intensive research partnerships are being cultivated with scholars from the following international universities:

  • EUROPE: University of St Andrews (GB), University of Cambridge (GB), University of Oxford (GB), ESCP-Europe (D/F)
  • WORLD: University of Auckland (NZ), University of California at Berkeley (USA), College of William & Mary (USA), IAE Business School (ARG), MIT (USA), Vanderbilt University (USA), Penn State University (USA).

In the interest of high visibility, TIME members regularly present their research findings at international conferences and seek to publish them in leading academic journals.

Current research projects explore among others the following research topics:

  • Management of entrepreneurial founding processes
  • New venture financing and syndication
  • Entrepreneurial marketing
  • Management of disruptive technological innovations
  • Cooperative innovation processes and the management of interfaces
  • Organizational learning from success and failure
  • Product design
  • Brand management
  • Strategic HRM
  • Consumer behaviour and innovation adoption
  • Technology transfer and commercialization
  • Barriers to imitation
  • Economic, psychological and social impact of technologies