| Title |
Corporate universities, local systems, knowledge management |
| ID_Doc |
68983 |
| Authors |
Cappiello, G; Pedrini, G |
| Title |
Corporate universities, local systems, knowledge management |
| Year |
2014 |
| Published |
|
| DOI |
|
| Abstract |
Purpose - The aim of this paper is to analyse corporate universities as advanced models of knowledge management in a local development perspective. To achieve this purpose the paper investigates the expansion of this phenomenon in Western Europe and emphasizes the role of corporate social responsibility in influencing the diffusion of corporate universities in this region. Design/methodology/approach - The paper analyses the relationship between the firm and the external environment through corporate universities in the perspective of a sustainable and knowledge-based local development. Notably, we refer to the so-called "stakeholder" corporate university, which is a model that entails an active role of the corporate university in the fulfilment of fiduciary duties imposed by corporate social responsibility. Then, we summarize the main features of European corporate universities based on a review of the existing literature. Finally, we present the main results of a survey on Italian corporate universities. Originality/value - Our paper puts in evidence the existence of a model of corporate universities in Western Europe that is partly different from the one practiced in the United States. European companies do not only consider the corporate university as a tool for developing and integrating a number of internal organisational processes, but also for keeping a close relationship with all relevant stakeholders and connecting their activity to corporate social responsibility practices. Accordingly, in the European perspective, corporate universities can also be viewed as original educational agencies within local systems of production. Data on Italian corporate universities confirm this suggestion. Practical implications - Practical implications are twofold. First, corporate universities are required to interact with external educational agencies, notably traditional universities. This perspective would be particularly suitable in local systems of production where thedirect relationship between educational agencies and corporate universities may feed university-industry cooperation. Second, a corporate university oriented to corporate social responsibility would favour the relationship with the relevant local community and support the role of institutions in shaping regional economic change. This evolution may address the increased density of economic and business interactions through the extension of learning processes outside firm's boundaries. |
| Author Keywords |
knowledge; local development; corporate universities; corporate social responsibility |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Social Science & Humanities (CPCI-SSH) |
| EID |
WOS:000357262300037 |
| WoS Category |
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary |
| Research Area |
Social Sciences - Other Topics |
| PDF |
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