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1 – 10 of over 18000Bin Zhu and Wei‐qiang Ou
The paper aimed to summarize innovative rules of Chinese manufacturing enterprises, and put forward some insights in optimal allocation of innovation resources and enhancing the…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aimed to summarize innovative rules of Chinese manufacturing enterprises, and put forward some insights in optimal allocation of innovation resources and enhancing the capability of indigenous innovation, so as to overcome the innovation dilemma.
Design/methodology/approach
Having diagnosed the current research of innovation flows, the authors defined the concept and stated characteristics of mainstream and new‐stream innovation. Innovation life cycle theory and technology trajectory theory were used to map two evolution patterns of mainstream and new‐stream innovation. It took weeks to stay in firms to obtain original data and interview managers, engineers, and mechanists. From the case study the authors proposed the improvement projects and opportunities for firms to overcome the “innovation dilemma”.
Findings
In the indigenous innovation process, enterprises should breed new‐stream innovation as they strengthen the mainstream innovation, view the new‐stream technology as the innovation direction, and fulfill the constant innovation in the convergent innovation and replace evolution process. Meanwhile, enterprises should take precautions both to expand and develop, and fulfill technology transition and innovation upgrade through convergent innovation. Furthermore, firms' convergent innovation, which will finally achieve the “projects‐talents‐products‐markets” collaborative innovation, should be clear about target market and project‐oriented, take the product as the carrier, and be committed to cultivate creative talents and innovative teams.
Originality/value
This paper enriches the existing theory on indigenous innovation by introducing the new concept of mainstream and new‐stream innovation. The findings would help firms to jump out from the innovation morass.
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Franja Pižmoht, József Györkös and Dijana Močnik
This paper aims to explore the digital economy in the fields of the most promising new technologies: information and communication technologies, biotechnology and nanotechnology…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the digital economy in the fields of the most promising new technologies: information and communication technologies, biotechnology and nanotechnology. It highlights the convergence of nano-, bio-, info- and cognitive (NBIC) technologies by developing a model for the accurate evaluation of different types of options in the development process of convergent technologies.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical research is based on theoretical analysis and case studies. The authors conducted six in-depth interviews. The study covered different research projects led by centres of excellence, competence centres and institutions that support the transfer of innovations in the economic and business environment.
Findings
The research findings prove that there is a convergence of NBIC technologies that can be observed and modelled. The created evolutionary model of NBIC convergence, also based on the theory of real options, allows a proper evaluation of the entire convergence process.
Practical implications
For enterprises and scientific research institutions, the NBIC model could represent the starting point for developing further concepts of investment evaluation. The model also considers the indicators of the innovation system, which, in addition to the marketing area, include regulatory challenges of companies (competition, copyrights, patents, taxation, etc.).
Originality/value
This paper enhances the understanding of new technologies in a digital economy. The purpose of this study is to clarify the principal factors for the effective observation and measurement of the convergence phenomenon. It also offers suggestions for improvement of the research and innovation system in the new economy.
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Craig Hickman and Christopher Raia
Companies must leverage the full spectrum of innovation, from the incremental to the revolutionary.
The purpose of this paper is to propose a structured procedure for the capture and evaluation of innovative ideas in the early stages of product development. The procedure is…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a structured procedure for the capture and evaluation of innovative ideas in the early stages of product development. The procedure is designed to take account of internal and external factors affecting the value of innovative ideas.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed procedure is based on divergent and convergent approaches to innovation. Ideas are generated and captured using targeted questions and subsequently evaluated using modifications of the Kano model and failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA). Idea evaluation considers four criteria – delight, originality, market share potential and simplicity – which are used to compute an “idea priority number”.
Findings
A case study looking at innovations in swimming goggles verified the validity of the proposed procedure. The procedure also supports fact-based decision making and applies a structured perspective to the innovation process that makes it easier to manage.
Research limitations/implications
The case study made use of a pilot survey in which 32 customers participated. Although the case study was only intended as a demonstration of the method’s use, such a sample size could lead to unreliable results in certain cases.
Originality/value
Applications of standard or expanded FMEA do not add value to a product because the main purpose of the approach is to prevent failure. The proposed inversion of FMEA logic combined with customer view via the Kano model offers a method for the structured analysis of product innovations. No similar approach to the evaluation of innovations has so far appeared in the literature.
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Marc Dressler and Ivan Paunovic
Industry 4.0, the integrated digital process world in production, is an under researched area. Especially for the wine industry, 4.0 theoretical base up to date is weak, impeding…
Abstract
Purpose
Industry 4.0, the integrated digital process world in production, is an under researched area. Especially for the wine industry, 4.0 theoretical base up to date is weak, impeding further digital transformation of the wine industry. Some basic-level digital capabilities exist in most of the researched business models, which is why further digital transformation requires strategic redefining of business models in order to further transform the whole industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research approach based on the concept of business model innovation (BMI) has been deployed in order to identify business models and consensus building between industry´s stakeholders. Semistructured interviews delivered primary data.
Findings
The diversity of existing business models in the wine industry as well regarding BMI is confirmed, where each one occupies a specific place in the innovation ecosystem for Industry 4.0.
Research limitations/implications
This qualitative research is exploratory and directed toward theory building. The findings confirm the importance of environmental scanning and market sensing for convergent technologies as well as the need to develop core value proposition.
Practical implications
This study has important implications for companies and their capabilities inside wine industry 4.0, while its main practical value being a systematical organization of weak signals to support small entrepreneurs’ transition to digitalization and Industry 4.0
Originality/value
The paper nourishes the theory on innovation trajectories for Industry 4.0 by including previously unidentified BMIs and a convergence–divergence continuum on the example of wine Industry 4.0.
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Sadia Cheema, Nirmal Ahsan, Sadaf Amjad and Zaira Yasmeen Bukhari
This study attempts to evaluate the antecedences of customer loyalty and the moderating effect of social media. Three antecedences are evaluated in this study, including service…
Abstract
This study attempts to evaluate the antecedences of customer loyalty and the moderating effect of social media. Three antecedences are evaluated in this study, including service quality expectation, product innovation, and customer relationship management. It investigates their impact on the dependent variable, which is customer loyalty and also study their relationships in the presence of the mediating effect of customer satisfaction and moderating effects of social media. The present study was conducted in the hospitality sector of Pakistan, in which eight hotels and restaurants have been studied. The sample was collected from three major cities of Pakistan, namely, Multan, Faisalabad, and Lahore. This present study provides essential intuition for managers and market analysts on building strong customer relationship management through social media and to increase customer loyalty through different factors.
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Samuel Mafabi, John C. Munene and Augustine Ahiauzu
– This study aims to investigate the mediation role of innovation between creative climate and organisational resilience.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the mediation role of innovation between creative climate and organisational resilience.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a cross-sectional design to collect data about the study variables from parastatal managers using self-administered questionnaires. Hierarchical regression and Medigraph were used to test hypotheses.
Findings
Creative climate has a significant association with innovation and organisational resilience. Innovation partially mediates the effect of creative climate on organisational resilience.
Research limitations/implications
The sample size was small involving only parastatals. The results may be different in an expanded public sector. The study was cross-sectional that is limited in examining long-term effects of creative climate and innovation on organisational resilience. Therefore, a longitudinal study design is proposed for future research.
Practical implications
Managers in parastatals need to provide a conducive creative climate that promotes innovations for organisational resilience.
Originality/value
The study provides empirical evidence on the mediation role of innovation in the relationship between creative climate and organisational resilience in a public sector. The evidence shows the contribution of innovation in striving for organisational resilience based on the creative climate.
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Meriem Khalfallah, Anis Ben Salem, Hajer Zorgati and Lassaad Lakhal
The purpose of this research is to analyze the reciprocal relation between total quality management (TQM) and innovation (product innovation and process innovation) and their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to analyze the reciprocal relation between total quality management (TQM) and innovation (product innovation and process innovation) and their impact on operational and financial performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were obtained from a survey of 205 manufacturing companies. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to evaluate the research model.
Findings
The results reveal that there is a reciprocal relationship between TQM and innovation. Moreover, the findings indicate a significant positive effect of product innovation and process innovation on operational performance and insignificant direct impact of TQM on operational performance. However, this effect is significant when it is mediated through product innovation and process innovation.
Research limitations/implications
This paper helps practitioners to understand how TQM practices support both product and process innovation and the role of the latter in promoting the implementation of TQM practices and ensuring operational performance.
Originality/value
This study presents an innovative approach since it is among the first research studies that provide empirical evidence to a reciprocal association between TQM and innovation. Additionally, this paper examines the dimensions studied in different aspects. It considered financial performance and operational performance, and with respect to innovation, this dimension was analyzed through two different perspectives, namely product innovation and process innovation. This study is also among the first and few research studies that have studied the mediating effect of innovation.
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Alessandra Vitorino Razzera and Marcelo André Machado
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of third-party logistics providers (TPLs) in providing innovative logistics solutions for Brazilian importations.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of third-party logistics providers (TPLs) in providing innovative logistics solutions for Brazilian importations.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study has been conducted in which four logistics service providers are interviewed on the topic of innovation in importation logistics. The collected data (interviews, brochures and presentations) were triangulated and analyzed.
Findings
The collected data highlight the integrating role of TPLs in providing innovative logistics solutions of the technological nature, in addition to drivers, which involve communication, trust, logistics and institutional actions.
Research limitations/implications
This study, instead of focusing on procedural issues, intended to focus on two important theoretical and practical drivers: innovation in the importation process and strengthening of intangible factors. It is known that trading conditions and geographical proximity have an impact in importation, but they have not been discussed here because of the subject delimitation of the present study. Regarding the implications of the present study, no specific theoretical reference has been found on the subject in terms of the importation process but is rather related to information technology, which is then presented.
Practical implications
This study focuses on the fundamental role of TPLs in the development of innovative logistics solutions in importation.
Social implications
The fundamental role of TPLs in the development of innovative logistics solutions in importation is based on trust and relationship, internal and external to the organization.
Originality/value
This study, instead of focusing on procedural issues, intends to focus on two important theoretical and practical drivers – innovation in the importation process and strengthening of intangible factors – suggesting that a change of mind-set and a differentiated background in importation logistics are developed by TPLs.
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the underlying mechanisms of exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation between social media usage and organizational agility, and elucidate the moderating role of learning goal orientation (LGO) in the above relationships, based on adaptive structuration theory (AST).
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a multiple-respondent matched survey of 334 Chinese e-commerce firms, authors employed structural equation modeling to examine the correlations among social media usage, exploitative innovation, exploratory innovation and organizational agility. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the moderating role of LGO.
Findings
This study's empirical findings demonstrate that exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation mediate the relationship between social media usage and organizational agility in different ways. Further, LGO positively moderates the relationship between social media usage for customer acquisition and exploratory innovation, as well as the relationship between social media usage for customer relationship and exploitative innovation.
Practical implications
Firms are advised to leverage different types of social media usage to facilitate exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation and promote organizational agility. In addition, LGO within a firm should be established to enhance the effects of social media usage on exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation.
Originality/value
This study adds to the literature on social media usage by proposing and examining exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation as explanatory mechanisms to facilitate organizational agility. This study further identifies LGO as a boundary condition of social media usage's effect on exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation. By contextualizing social media as advanced information technology, this study contributes to the contextualization of AST in the social media context.
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