Professor Paul Quintas
Professor of Knowledge Management
Professor Paul Quintas is a member of The Open University's Centre for Innovation, Knowledge and Enterprise.
You can email Professor Paul Quintas directly; but for media enquiries please contact a member of The Open University's Media Relations team.
Biography
Paul is Professor of Knowledge Management. He joined The Open University Business School in 1994 following seven years at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at Sussex University. Prior to that he was a Research Fellow in The Open University (OU) Technology Faculty. For over two decades he has conducted research into innovation and knowledge processes and applied the results to business school teaching. This has enabled The Open University Business School to pioneer the inclusion of knowledge processes in the MBA curriculum.
Paul developed new understandings of knowledge issues and challenges through previous research projects into innovation, as for example research into: the relationships between university knowledge and industrial innovation; a large national collaborative R&D programme; innovation in software development, inter-organisational knowledge processes; intellectual capital and innovation. His research has attracted funding from the UK Dti (Department of Trade and Industry), two UK Research Councils, the Design Council and the European Commission. He has worked as adviser to the OECD (Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development), the UN, and four Directorates of the European Commission, as well as to national governments and many public and private sector organisations.
Paul recently completed two projects focused on knowledge issues for sustainability, funded respectively by the Dti and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC). Recent international contributions include an OECD study and book, an NFS (US National Science Foundation) and Statistics Canada workshop and book, and a co-authored a paper on the north-south knowledge divide presented at the UN/ITU World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva and published by Orbicom (UNESCO).
The integration of research into practice and teaching is central to his Open University Business School career. In the 1990's he led the development of the ground-breaking MBA course Managing knowledge, studied by over 4,000 MBA students worldwide since launch in 1999. Subsequently he led a review of the MBA curriculum, and was the first chair of the team developing a radically innovative Open University Business School course titled Making a difference, launched in 2005, which focuses on action research and strategy implementation.
Paul is also a contributor to the Open2.net blog accompanying the Money Programme - see his views on the the relationship between ideas and innovation.
Research interests
The processes of managing knowledge and innovation, particularly in boundary contexts, e.g. between organizations and/or specialisms.
Research student supervision
Publications
(1993) 'The Social Dimensions of Systems Engineering: people, processes, policies and software development', Ellis Horwood Ltd.
(1991) 'High Tech Fantasies: Science Parks in Society, Science and Space', UK, Routledge, pp. 284. Abstract
(1991) 'The Scientific and Technological Status of FINSOFT: the Finnish software R&D programme', Helsinki, TEKES.
(1991) 'Software Engineering: the international policy challenge', Paris, OECD/ICCP Series No. 26, Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development.
(1988) 'Science Parks and the Growth of High Technology Firms', London, Croom Helm.
(2006) 'Flexible employment contracts and their implications for product and process innovation', Johnson, P and Clark, M (eds) Business and Management Research Methodologies, New Delhi, Sage.
(2005) 'Managing knowledge and innovation across boundaries', Little, SE and Ray TE (eds) in Managing Knowledge: the essential reader, 2nd edition, London, Sage Publications, pp. 255-271.
(2005) 'Managing knowledge in a global context', Managing knowledge : an essential reader, London, UK, Sage, pp. 368-389. Abstract
(2004) 'The nature and dimensions of knowledge management', Knowledge Management in Construction, London, UK, Blackwell Publishing. Abstract
(2004) 'Managing knowledge in practice', Measuring knowledge management in the business sector: first steps, Canada, OECD Publishing and Statistics, pp. 29-52. Abstract
(2003) 'Managing knowledge: a community of practice and learning', Educational Innovation in Economics and Business VII. Educating Knowledge Workers for Corporate Leadership: Learning into the Future, vol. VII, Klewer Academic Publications, pp. 231-248. Abstract
(2003) 'Building and maintaining distributed communities of practice: knowledge management in the OUBS MBA', Learning and teaching for business: case studies of successful innovation, London, UK, Kogan Page, pp. 179-195. Abstract
(2003) 'From digital divide to knowledge divide - a primer', Monitoring the digital divide and beyond, Montreal, Canada, Orbicom, pp. 89-144. Abstract
(2002) 'Implications of the division of knowledge for innovation in networks', Networks, alliances and partnerships in the innovation process, issue 28, Massachusetts, USA, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 135-162. Abstract
(2001) 'Managing Japanese organizational knowledge creation: the difference', Managing knowledge: an essential reader, London, Sage Publications Ltd, pp. 102-117. Abstract
(2001) 'Strategic thinking and knowledge management', Managing knowledge: an essential reader, Sage Publications Ltd, pp. 122-138. Abstract
(2001) 'Managing knowledge in a global context', Little, SE, Quintas, P and Ray, TE (eds) Managing Knowledge: an essential reader, Sage Publications Ltd, pp. 368-389.
(2001) 'Managing knowledge in a new century', Managing knowledge: an essential reader, London, Sage Publications Ltd, pp. 1-14. Abstract
(1996) 'Evaluating science parks linkages', K Guy (ed.) The Science Park Evaluation Handbook, Luxembourg, European Commission, Directorate General XIII, pp. 98-111.
(1994) 'Paths of innovation in software and systems development practice', Mansell, R (ed.) Emerging Patterns of Control: the management of information and communication technologies, London, Aslib, pp. 69-89.
(1993) 'Social Dimensions of Software Engineering: the experience of the UK Alvey Programme', P Quintas (ed.) The Social Dimensions of Systems Engineering, Ellis Horwood, pp. 60-87.
(1993) 'Introduction - Living the Life Cycle: social processes software and systems development', P Quintas (ed.) The Social Dimensions of Systems Engineering, Ellis Horwood, pp. 01/01/17.
(1991) 'Computer Software: the IT constraint', C Freeman, M Sharp and W Walker (eds) Technology and the Future Europe: global competition and the environment in the 1990s, Thomson Learning, pp. 117-137.
(1987) 'The technological relevance of Science Parks', Science parks and the growth of technology-based enterprises : the proceedings of the UK Science Park Association's Annual Conference held on 6th December 1986, UK, CSP Economic Publications, pp. 45-53. Abstract
(2005) 'Sustainability and the designer: knowledge across cultures in the construction industry', Sustainable Urban Environments: Vision into Action, Birmingham, UK. Abstract
(2004) 'Knowledge cartography in the sustainable environment', Proceedings for the IEEE International Engineering Management Conference, Singapore. Abstract
(2004) 'Technologies and techniques for knowledge management in UK construction', 1st International Conference on World of Construction Project Management in UK Construction, Toronto, 27-28 May, pp. 648-58.
(2004) 'Techniques and technologies for knowledge management in UK construction', Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Construction Project Management, Toronto, Canada.
(2003) 'Towards a new conceptual approach to knowledge codification in a knowledge management context', 4th European Conference on Knowledge Management, Oxford.
(2003) 'Dealing with the knowledge divide', World Summit on the Information Society, United Nations and the International Telecommunications Union, November.
(2001) 'Brief observations', Competing in the Knowledge Economy: Using Knowledge Management to Support Innovation, CENTRIM Network Conference, Gatwick, UK.
(2001) 'The overdue enlightenment? Knowledge management theory and practice', Association of MBAs Masters Forum, Mold.
(2001) 'Knowledge management: some snake-oil repellent', Association of MBAs Forum, Manchester.
(2001) 'An introduction to knowledge management and intellectual capital', Intellectual Capital and Knowledge Management for Competitiveness, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 20 April, United Nations Industrial Development Organization & the Brazilian Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
(2001) 'An introduction to knowledge management and intellectual capital', Intellectual Capital and Knowledge Management for Competitiveness, Salvador, Brazil, 23 April, United Nations Industrial Development Organization & the Brazilian Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
(2001) 'An introduction to knowledge management and intellectual capital', Intellectual Capital and Knowledge Management for Competitiveness, Recife, Brazil, 25 April, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation & the Brazilian Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
(2001) 'An introduction to knowledge management and intellectual capital', Intellectual Capital and Knowledge Management for Competitiveness, Porto Allegre, Brazil, 27 April, United Nations Industrial Development Organization & the Brazilian Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
(2001) 'Managing knowledge generation in Japanese organizations: the significance of tacit knowledge tools and knowing', The Future of Innovation Research, Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies, TU Eindhoven, September.
(2000) 'Managing knowledge: a big picture', Routes into Knowledge Management, City Information Group, Baltic Exchange, London.
(2000) 'Knowledge management for associations', Keynote address to Where Knowledge Gathers, Annual Conference of European Association Executives, Lausanne, Switzerland.
(2000) 'Managing Knowledge', Presentation to the Swiss OUBS and IMD Alumni Associations, Lausanne, Switzerland.
(2000) 'Intra and inter organizational knowledge sharing for innovation within changing environments', Knowledge Management: Concepts and Controversies Conference, Warwick University.
(1999) 'Knowledge management in perspective', Knowledge Management Tools and Practices: Effectiveness and Constraints Seminar, International Manaufacuring Centre, University of Warwick.
(1998) 'Managing knowledge in competing and collaborating companies', New Trends in Management, Bilbao, Spain 25 - 26 June 1998.
(1997) 'Trans-organizational innovation - a framework for research', Conference - Competing Through Knowledge: strategic and organizational challenge, Bristol University Conference Centre.
(1995) 'Learning from multidisciplinary research collaboration', Paper presented at EPSRC Design and Integrated Production Research Conference, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
(1995) 'A UK Software Future?', ESRC PICT International Conference on Social and Economic Implications of Information & Communication Technologies.
(1995) 'Software as electronic concrete: the tension between flexibility and order', Paper presented at SPRU PICT Colloquium, London.
(1994) 'Evaluating the UK Science Park Model: some methodological issues', Paper presented at EU SPRINT, Symposium on Research into Science Parks, Rennes, France.
(1993) 'The state of an art: evolution and revolution in software development', PICT 93 National Conference, European Dimensions in Information and Communication: Panacea or Pandora's Box? Kenilworth, UK.
(1993) 'Software and systems development practice: patterns of technological change and interactions with use', Proceedings ITAP 93 International Conference on Technoloty and People, Volume II, ICSTI, Moscow.
(1993) 'Technology pushes, demand pulls, but the process is not frictionless: innovation in software development?', Paper presented at SPRU CICT Conference, The Process of Change in Software Development, London.
(1992) 'Towards a framework for innovation and diffusion research in software development', Paper presented at the Software and Systems Practice: Social Science Perspectives Conference, Reading, UK.
(1992) 'The UK experience of science and technology parks', Paper presented at the European Experience of Science Technology Parks Conference, University of Siena, Italy.
(1992) 'Software development: trends and issues', CICT/Federation of Sussex Industries Seminar, Brighton.
(1992) 'Change processes in software development: engineering and managing quality', Paper presented at the PICT National Conference, Newport, Wales.
(1991) 'The role of science parks in collaborative research', Commission of the European Communities DGXIII SPRINT Programme Conference, Manchester, UK.
(1991) 'Barriers to the adoption of software engineering', Paper presented at the Programme for Information and Communication Technologies (PICT) National Conference, Wakefield, UK.
(1990) 'Software engineering issues', Keynote presentation to OECD meeting of experts on software engineering, Paris.
(1989) 'Preaching to the unconverted: obstacles to technology transfer in software engineering', Paper presented at the Centre for Software Reliability, Research into Practice Conference, Bournemouth.
(1988) 'Science parks: image and reality', Paper presented at the London Business School, Industry and Economics Study Group Colloquium.
(1987) 'Information technology and Local Authority Services; who gets the value - added?', South East Economic Strategies (SEEDS) Conference, Technology Strategies and Local Economic Development, Brighton.
(1986) 'Science parks and local economies', Paper presented at Open University Local Economic Strategies Conference, London.
(2001) 'Managing knowledge: an essential reader', London, UK, Sage Publications Ltd. Abstract
(1996) 'The New Management Reader', London, U.K., Routledge. Abstract
(2008) 'Do SMEs do knowledge management? Or simply manage what they know?', International Small Business Journal, vol. 26, issue 2, pp. 131-154. Abstract
(2006) 'Knowledge across Cultures in the Construction Industry: Sustainability, Innovation & Design', Technovation, vol. 26, issue 5-6, Elsevier, pp. 603-610. Abstract
(2002) 'Flexible employment contracts and their implications for product and process innovation', International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 13, issue 1, Abingdon, Routledge, pp. 1-18. Abstract
(2000) 'Managing innovation in the construction industry to gain competitive advantage', Construction Management and Economics.
(2000) 'Paradox on the waterfront', Physics in Business, vol. 22, pp. 06/07/10.
(1999) 'The design of a network product by a network of designers', Design Journal, vol. 2, issue 3, Ashgate Publishing, pp. 43-50.
(1998) 'Aspetti strategici della gestione dells conoscenza', De Qualitate, vol. 7, issue 3, pp. 42-49.
(1997) 'Knowledge management: a strategic agenda', Long Range Planning, vol. 30, issue 3, Elsevier, pp. 332.
(1997) 'Trans-organizational innovation - a framework for research', Technology Analysis and Strategic ManagementAwarded the ANBAR Highest Quality Award for Excellence, vol. 9, issue 4, Routledge, pp. 399-418.
(1995) 'Collaborative, pre-competitive R&D and the firm', Research Policy, vol. 24, issue 3, Elsevier, pp. 325-348.
(1994) 'A product-process model of innovation in software development', Journal of Information Technology, vol. 9, issue 1, Routledge, pp. 01/03/17.
(1994) 'Software engineering policy and practice: lessons from the Alvey program', The Journal of Systems and Software, vol. 24, issue 1, Elsevier, pp. 67-89.
(1994) 'Programmed innovation? Trajectories of change in software development', Information Technology and People, vol. 7, issue 1, pp. 25-47.
(1993) 'Some questions raised by the UK science park experience', Note Economiche, vol. 23, issue 2, pp. 354-372.
(1992) 'Academic-industry links and innovation: questioning the science park model', Technovation, vol. 12, issue 3, Elsevier, pp. 161-175. Abstract
(1991) 'Engineering solutions to software problems: some institutional and social factors shaping change', Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, vol. 3, issue 4, pp. 359-76.
(1986) 'Information technology and employment in Local Government: the quantitative and qualitative effects on jobs in the late 1980s', New Technology, Work and Employment, vol. 1, issue 2, Blackwell Publishing, pp. 172-184.
(1986) 'The quantitative and qualitative effects on jobs in the late 1980s' information technology and employment in local government', New Technology, Work and Employment, vol. 1, issue 2, pp. 172-184.
(2006) 'Knowledge Mapping and Bringing about Change for the Sustainable Urban Environment', EPSRC Sustainable Urban Environment Programme, issue EP/C009649/1, Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University.
(2005) 'Corporate education strategies: corporate universities in practice', Policy Paper for Ministério do Desenvolvimento, Indústria e Comércio Exterior, Brazil, Government of Brazil.
(1997) 'Opportunity through people - IPD Consultative Document', London, Institute of Personnel and Development.
(1995) 'Evaluating science parks linkages', Position paper for Commission of the European Communities, Directorate General XII.
(2004) 'Knowledge elicitation', Working Paper MK-Sue-2 for the EPSRC.
(2000) 'Flexibility, Networks and the Management of Innovation', Open University Business School Working Paper, issue 00/02. Abstract
(1999) 'Utilizing internal and external resources for innovation: employment practices and inter-firm collaboration', Open University Business School Working Paper, issue 99/02.
(1997) 'Innovations and Contracts: individuals, organisations and networks', Open University Business School Working Paper, issue 97/06.
(1991) 'Evaluation of the Alvey programme for advanced information technology', London, HMSO.
(2007) 'The long view on innovation', issue 01/11/10, Blog for the BBC's The Money Programme.
(2005) 'Is Microsoft finally breaking the mould?', issue 04/11/10, Blog for OpenLearn Open2net article for the BBC's Money Programmme.
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