Title: Equationless qualitative models of science parks: part I, individual scenarios as models solutions

Authors: Maria Reznakova; Hana Wouters; Mirko Dohnal

Addresses: Faculty of Business and Management, Brno University of Technology, Kolejni 2906/4, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic. ' Faculty of Business and Management, Brno University of Technology, Kolejni 2906/4, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic. ' Centre of Knowledge Economics, Brno University of Technology, Kolejni 2906/4, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract: Each science park (SP) is a unique system. It is therefore prohibitively difficult to use traditional methods of SP analysis e.g., statistical analysis which require relatively extensive input information. A qualitative description is information non-intensive. It is based just on three values: positive, zero, negative. A qualitative modelling is therefore suitable for such poorly known and complex systems as SPs. Knowledge items of qualitative nature, e.g., if productivity goes up then profit does not decrease, are often the only available SP information items. Sets of such knowledge items are transferred into equationless models. A set of 22 qualitative equationless relations, among 21 variables (e.g., Quality of R&D engineers, Cooperation between industries and academics) is used as a case study. SP models incorporate variables of different nature and consequently of time behaviours. Therefore slow and fast models SP models are studied. The model's solutions i.e., set of slow and fast scenarios and transitions among them, are presented in full details.

Keywords: qualitative modelling; science parks; equationless models; qualitative models; individual scenarios; models solutions; statistical analysis; qualitative descriptions; non-intensive information; positive value; zero value; negative value; complex systems; productivity; profits; information items; knowledge items; equationless relations; R&D engineers; research and development; co-operation; time behaviours; slow models; fast models; model solutions; slow scenarios; fast scenarios; slow transitions; fast transitions; technology intelligence; technology planning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2012.048575

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2012 Vol.8 No.3, pp.295 - 306

Published online: 16 Aug 2012 *

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