The Knowledge Capital of the Network Firm: Socialization versus Business Appropriation of Scientific Work
Résumé
The changes that have affected academic institutions and scientific work in the past 20 years can be explained by the evolution of the firm’s organization and strategy. The current network firm represents the fourth stage in the organization of production, characterized by the importance of networks, linking salaried people from the firm and from many other institutions like universities and research centers, with the aim to increase the innovation capacity. The constitution of the enterprise knowledge capital largely involves academics institutions and scholars themselves who are urged to commercialize their research and develop narrow partnerships with companies. We analyze the impacts of this privatization of knowledge with respect to its orientation and private appropriation. The rules of the markets are now dominating the production of knowledge which may explain the increasing flexibility and agility asked to academic institutions and work.