R.P.J.H. (Roel) RuttenUniversitair docent TS Social and Behavioral Sciences Department of Organization Studies ExpertiseMy research focuses on knowledge creation and applies this to the three areas discussed below. My disciplinary background is organization sociology and economic geography. Given my interest in researching knowledge creation as a process, my empirical approach is mainly, though not exclusively, qualitative in nature. Knowledge creation and networks I conduct research into how characteristics of networks ? such as organizational structure, governance mechanisms, network composition, trust, communication, etc. ? affect the knowledge creation process in networks. In my research, networks form the organizational context within which individuals create knowledge. I look at knowledge creation as a process of social interaction. My research contributes to the literature on the knowledge-based view of firms and networks from an organizational-sociological perspective. Proximities and knowledge creation Elaborating on the previous, I argue that knowledge is embedded in social contexts. Actors that share a social context find it easier to create knowledge, while knowledge creation across social contexts is more difficult. Different forms of proximities may constitute a social context, either individually or in combination, in the following ways: - Spatial proximity: When actors share the customs and traditions of a location/place. - Social proximity: When actors share the norms and values of a (social or professional) network. - Technological/cognitive proximity: Such as found in for example communities of practice. Understanding the role of proximities with regard to knowledge creation is important to explain the competitiveness of networks and places. Knowledge creation and regional economic development I research why some places/regions have a better economic performance than others and argue that this is because some places/regions are more conducive to knowledge creation than others. This research connects to the economic-geographic literature on Territorial Innovation Models, in particular the Learning Region, and it connects this literature to new insights with regard to regional economic development, such as creativity and social capital.
Key words PublicationsMost recent publications
Click here for the complete list of publications (Tilburg University Repository Publications only)
Career
Assistant Professor in the Department of Organization Studies at Tilburg University (2001-present). Core Fellow in the Center for Innovation Research (CIR) at Tilburg University (2008-present). Visiting Fellow at Newcastle University Business School (2010-present). Consultant for European Regional Affairs Consultants (ERAC) in the field of regional innovation policy (1994-2001).
PublicationsMost recent publications
Click here for the complete list of publications (Tilburg University Repository Publications only) Direct and indirect fundingRegional Studies Association (RSA) grant for Network Meetings (? 3.000), 2008. (Network meeting organized in 2009.) Grant from the Steering Committee of the Platform on Integrative Cooperation of the Dutch shipbuilding industry, awarded in 2009, two fund to PhD researchers (2009-2013) to conduct research on networks in the Dutch shipbuilding industry. CollaborationVisiting Fellow at the Newcastle University Business School. Research supervisionPhD Supervision Joris Knoben, dissertation on: Firm mobility and organizational networks. (Graduation 14.09.2007.) Rik Ligthart (2009-present): governance of networks. Roland Levering (2009-present): organizational culture and networks. ConferencesConferences organized Ongoing series of international conferences on ?The Learning Region? in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009.
Teaching
Experience with education in both large and small groups. Responsible for designing new courses and renewing existing courses. Used to teaching courses in teams with other lecturers. Courses taught: Innovation and Organization*; Inter-Organizational Relations; Economic Sociology; Master Seminar Organization Studies; Organization Theory; Project Assignment B*; Advice, Intervention and Evaluation*. *) course coordinator.
R.P.J.H. (Roel) Rutten teaches the following subjects:
Other activities
ADMINISRTRATION
Director of Education for the Bachelor programme Organization Studies, and as such Member of the Board of the Department of Organization Studies (2008-present). Responsible for the day-to-day running and administration of the programme, responsible for the coherence of the programme, responsible for encouraging innovations in the programme. Involved in the education policy of the Faculty of Social Sciences with colleague directors of education. SERVICE Service to university Member of the Examinations Committee of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Responsible for regulations and policy on exams. Member of the Faculty Council (2002-2010) as representative of academic staff. Masters of Ceremony of the Organization Studies Graduation Day (twice yearly, 2007-present). Member of a workgroup on the preparation of a programme on teacher training. Member of a workgroup on the evaluation of the Financial Organization of Tilburg University (2010). Service to academic field Ad hoc reviewer for the following journals: European Planning Studies, Regional Studies, International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development. Reviewer of conference papers for the Western Regional Science Association (WRSA) annual conferences (2003-2009). Session chair for several paper sessions at the WRSA annual conference (various years). Session chair of the Regional Studies Association (RSA) annual conference 2010. Coordinator for the track on Social Capital and chair of various paper sessions in the social capital track for the European Regional Science Association (ERSA) annual conference 2010. Service to practitioners Academic expert for the evaluation of the Syntens network of innovation support centres in the Netherlands (2004). Academic expert for regional economic development policy in the Northern Netherlands (2005). Evaluation of the Stimulus Cluster Scheme (2005-2006). Stimulus is the programme management of the EU Objective 2-programme for the Eindhoven region (the Netherlands). The cluster programme was part of their regional innovation policy. Academic consultant for a regional economic development policy initiative on SMEs and creativity for the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant (2010). Service to community Vice chair of the Tilburg branch of one of the main national political parties of the Netherlands. Coaching of City Council Members. Selecting City Council candidates prior to local elections. Co-developing the local political course. Supporting the local election campaigns.
Contact details
Room P 1160 PO Box 90153 5000 LE Tilburg
Universitair docent
Last amended: 19 May 2010
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