Purpose – This paper aims to examine issues of government policy in creating an infrastructure that supports innovation and expertise. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is to reflect on trends in global trade and the role played by governments in supporting such trade. Findings –...

Purpose – To explore the factors underpinning economic productivity (at a national level) and related concepts such as competitiveness and identify key lessons for governments and organisations. Design/methodology/approach – Analyses published data and identifies internal and external,...

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to summarise the characteristics of, and results from, a large‐scale project to promote productivity improvement throughout Turkey's provinces. Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the aims and approach of the project leading to a...

Purpose – This paper seeks to examine the dissemination of high‐involvement innovation practices at Finnish workplaces and to consider how their adoption can be promoted by means of a publicly‐funded R&D programme. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical material is based on a survey...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the weaknesses which result in the concept of process performance measurement being ineffectively translated into effective measurement and action regimes. Design/methodology/approach – In spite of the fact that process performance...

Purpose – This study sets out to describe activities within The Netherlands Centre for Social Innovation, one of the earliest national bodies to promote and develop the concept of social innovation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the concept of social innovation and then...

Purpose – This paper aims to examine issues surrounding the competitiveness of the Visegrad countries that have recently joined the European Union, and in particular, to analyse a set of structural indicators that help assess the degree to which they are meeting the terms of the Lisbon...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges facing European manufacturing industry in an age of increasing global competitiveness and to explore models for survival. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reflects on trends in global manufacturing and examines the...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to create a social, environmental and economic (SEE) index for countries. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology in the OECD handbook on building composite indicators is followed. The data are taken from UN data sources. Findings – An index is...