Search results

The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of literature on corporate engagement with start-ups (CEWS) by identifying the modes, contexts, antecedents, barriers and outcomes. As an emerging field, CEWS presently has no such review available which will help in building consensus within the field and shape future research directions.

The study followed a two-phased systematic review of literature. Three research databases (i.e. Web of Science, ScienceDirect and SCOPUS) were accessed to gather and conduct the review. Of the total 379 papers retrieved, 63 total relevant papers were studied and analysed. The exhaustive review of literature helped to uncover the contexts, perspectives, antecedents, outcomes and barriers reported across the different modes of CEWS.

The study highlighted the five prominent modes of CEWS favoured by large corporations and start-ups. It found that the large corporations and start-ups associate with one another on the basis of complementarities of activities, resources and motives to pursue their strategic orientations. The engagements also face barriers on the ground, such as incompatibility of goals, power imbalances, cultural differences and weak engagement plans. Most important contexts seen were the high-technology industries in the developed economies like the USA and Europe. It also found that ecosystem creation, accessing innovation and corporate strategy have been preferred as the most productive modes of CEWS in the literature.

This review provides practitioners with a detailed list of the modes and drivers of CEWS. Subsequently, the barriers that need to be managed to successfully execute a specific mode of engagement. This shall enable the practitioners in developing and adopting the best practices while engaging with the start-ups to better facilitate the outcomes of CEWS.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no systematic literature review available in the domain of CEWS – thus, this study makes an important methodological contribution to the field. By consolidating the fragmented yet growing knowledge on CEWS, the study presents a detailed understanding of what drives and obstructs the engagement between large corporations and start-ups.

This study aims to identify the essential elements impacting the adoption of blockchain technology (BCT) in supply chain management (SCM) by integrating the technology acceptance and information system success (ISS) models.

Questionnaire-based data was collected from 236 supply chain professionals from Beijing. The proposed research framework was evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM) by using SPSS 23 and AMOS 24 software.

The empirical findings specify the positive influence of total quality on perceived usefulness and compatibility. Further, perceived ease of use positively influences perceived usefulness, compatibility and behavioral intention. Moreover, perceived usefulness positively impacts compatibility and behavioral intention. Compatibility positively influences behavioral intention. Finally, technology trust was found to be a significant moderator between perceived usefulness and behavioral intention and between perceived ease of use and adoption intention to use BCT in SCM.

This study empirically develops the second-order construct of total quality, representing the ISS model. Furthermore, this study established how the ISS and technology acceptance models influence behavioral intention through compatibility. Finally, this study confirmed the moderating role of technology trust among perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and behavioral intention.

Researchers have tried analysing how the organizations’ practices of doing good can help improve their employees’ satisfaction over the past couple of decades. Employee satisfaction has a complicated relationship with a company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Subsequently, the purpose of this paper is to conduct a bibliometric analysis and a literature review to trace the links between CSR and employee satisfaction, summarize and analyse the advances in this field, the knowledge gaps, publishing trends and further directions for future research.

The authors conducted a bibliometric analysis followed by a literature review of papers indexed in the Scopus database and published between 2000 and 2022. A total of 233 papers were identified, while 152 of them met the inclusion criteria for the analysis.

The subsequent analysis sheds light on the overlaps and connections between the two phenomena in human resource management (HRM). The authors outline potential avenues for future research and practical insight into how to leverage CSR activities for increasing work satisfaction.

By detailing the different ways CSR and employee satisfaction impact one another, analysing their relations and other supporting constructs, the authors contribute to the academic discourse by synthesizing prevailing literature and introducing practical guides for human resource (HR) professionals, managers and executives to manage turbulent surroundings more effectively, considering the major disruptions post-COVID-19 and the adoption of advanced technologies.

This research sought to propose a theoretical model that analyzes the factors associated with unlearning (individual and organizational) and contributes to generating and realizing ideas among young people at the beginning of their careers based on the predominant type of structure.

The study had a sample (n = 971) and used the multivariate data analysis partial least squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM regular) and multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA) to identify significant differences between the estimates of the specific parameters of each group (a- Organic/b- Mechanistic).

All the direct relationships and formulated mediations were found to be supported, except for H6 (ET→EO) within the group that had a primarily mechanistic organizational structure. Thus, the more turbulent the environmental, the more initiative-taking, innovative and risk-taking a company tends to be. However, it remains to be seen whether the organizational structure plays a role in facilitating or hindering this relationship. H1 (IG→IR) indicates that predominantly organic organizations have a stronger and more consistent relationship with the knowledge developed through individual and organizational unlearning process. This knowledge contributes to the idea-generation process and ultimately leads to realizing those ideas.

The article contributes to literature by proposing an original and integrated theoretical model incorporating individual and organizational approaches to unlearning to understand the effect on idea generation and realization.

The present study aimed to assess performance of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in case organization by considering potential performance measures and analysis using scoring approach.

50 performance measures grouped into five dimensions namely manufacturing management, manufacturing economics, manufacturing strategy, manufacturing technology and workforce were considered for the analysis. The study had been done with relevance to automotive component manufacturing organization. Further, questionnaire for each performance measure was developed to gather expert inputs regarding different performance aspects of I4.0 in case organization. Reliability of the expert responses towards questionnaire was assessed by computing Cronbach's alpha (a) using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

Findings of the study revealed overall I4.0 performance index (OIPI) of 0.71, i.e. 71% signifying improvement scope of 29% pertaining to I4.0 adoption. Gap analysis was performed across dimensions and performance measures to realize the weaker areas. Gap analysis revealed workforce dimension with highest gap and manufacturing management with lowest gap. The gaps that obstruct performance of I4.0 are being recognized and proposals for improvement were provided to the industrial practitioners. Based on further analysis, dimensions and performance measures found to be weaker.

The study helped industrial practitioners and managers to create the foundation for evaluating performance of I4.0-focused organization. Industry practitioners can employ the study to understand different performance measures with respect to different dimensions and realize the significance of I4.0 adoption.

The identification of performance dimensions and measures for I4.0 performance measurement and assessment using scoring approach is the original contribution of the authors.

This study aims to explore how to overcome and address the loss of exploratory innovation, thereby achieving greater success in exploratory innovation. This phenomenon of loss occurs when enterprises decrease their investment in and engagement with exploratory innovation, ultimately leading to an insufficient amount of such innovation efforts. Drawing on dynamic capabilities, this study investigates the relationship between organizational foresight and exploratory innovation and examines the moderating role of breakthrough orientation/financial orientation.

This study used survey data collected from 296 Chinese high-tech companies in multiple industries and sectors.

The evidence produced by this study reveals that three elements of organizational foresight (i.e. environmental scanning capabilities, strategic selection capabilities and integrating capabilities) positively influence exploratory innovation. Furthermore, this positive effect is strengthened in the context of a high-breakthrough orientation. Moreover, the relationships among environmental scanning capabilities, strategic selection capabilities and exploratory innovation become weaker as an enterprise’s financial orientation increases, whereas a strong financial orientation does not affect the relationship between integrating capabilities and exploratory innovation.

Ambidexterity is key to successful enterprise innovation. Compared with exploitative innovation, it is by no means easy to engage in exploratory innovation, which is especially important in high-tech companies. While the loss of exploratory innovation has been observed, few empirical studies have explored ways to promote exploratory innovation more effectively. A key research implication of this study pertains to the role of organizational foresight in the improvement of exploratory innovation in the context of high-tech companies.

This paper contributes to the broader literature on exploratory innovation and organizational foresight and provides practical guidance for high-tech companies regarding ways of avoiding the loss of exploratory innovation and becoming more successful at exploratory innovation.

Interorganizational power dependence has become an increasingly important factor for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve product innovation. This paper examines the role of power dependence in SMEs' product innovation trade-offs between exploration and exploitation. The article further studies the mediating effect of supply chain adaptability and the moderating effect of knowledge acquisition on the relationship between power dependence and product innovation.

The study proposes a model to verify the impact of power dependence on SMEs' product innovation trade-offs based on social network theory. Two conceptually independent constructs, “availability of alternatives (ALTRN)” and “restraint in the use of power (RSPTW),” are used to evaluate the power dependence. The model also analyzed how these effects are mediated by supply chain adaptability and moderated by knowledge acquisition. The authors test these relationships using data collected from 224 SMEs in China.

The empirical analysis shows that ALTRN has a more substantial effect on exploration for product innovation, while RSTPW has a more significant impact on exploitation for product innovation. Moreover, empirical data indicate a partial mediating effect by supply chain adaptability between power dependence and product innovation of SMEs. The results also show that knowledge acquisition positively moderates the relationship between ALTRN/RSTPW, supply chain adaptability and product innovation.

Overall, the findings of the study advance the understanding of the roles of power dependence in product innovation for SMEs. In addition, the research also uncovers the impact mechanisms of existing theoretical frameworks and extends the boundaries of the theory.

In this paper we explore potential barriers for commodification of academic research in emerging countries.

We carried out an exploratory study employing a mixed-method sequential exploratory design. Initially, qualitative interviews were performed to identify cognitive, structural, and ideological barriers associated with commodification. Subsequently, we administered a survey at three universities in Kazakhstan to gather quantitative data. The quantitative insights served to complement our qualitative findings and facilitate the interpretation of the observed patterns within the broader population.

We found that a too rapid shift toward commercialization exacerbated concerns among faculty members and created obstacles to commodification. The obstacles identified through inductive clustering of themes from exploratory qualitative interviews were grouped into three intentionally broad categories: cognitive, structural, and ideological barriers. We argue that in emerging economies, the path to commodifying academic research should start with developing local infrastructure to address identified structural, cognitive, and ideological barriers. This, in turn, will lead to more successful commercialization and redefine the role of academics in society.

Our study has several limitations related to its empirical scope. We concentrated solely on one country, Kazakhstan. For future research, it is crucial to broaden the investigation to include more studies from the Central Asia region and other emerging economies. We believe that while there may be some minor institutional differences, the findings are generalizable to all post-socialist countries. However, incorporating a diverse range of institutions, particularly those with foreign ownership or private capital, would enhance the comprehensiveness of the findings. Furthermore, collecting a more extensive and balanced sample of responses from industry partners, academics, and students would have provided more valuable insights. By including a broader representation of stakeholders, we could have gained a more nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding commodification in higher education. Given the exploratory nature of this study, it is essential to regard the findings as a source of inspiration rather than empirical confirmation.

Our research has practical implications for managing universities in emerging markets, as well as important policy implications, both for international actors and local governmental bodies.

Our findings carry implications for policymakers. The focus that international institutions place on the matter of commodification and commercialization of knowledge is a positive step. Challenges emerge when this matter is approached with a narrow perspective. Drawing on the empirical context of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a country often overlooked in the literature on emerging markets, we find evidence that knowledge has indeed transformed into a commodity. The rapid shift toward commercialization, driven by substantial institutional pressures, may have occurred too precipitously in this particular context. In light of these findings, we advocate for a more balanced and contextually nuanced discourse concerning both the commodification and commercialization of knowledge.

This study represents one of the few endeavors into exploring commodification within the context of emerging economies. In recent decades, universities have faced substantial pressures to commodify academic research. While there has been a significant volume of research discussing and documenting the success of commodification in developed country universities, those in emerging economies have faced similar pressures without achieving comparable success. This paper delves into the reasons why.

The ongoing paradigm shift in the energy sector holds paramount implications for the realization of the sustainable development goals, encompassing critical domains such as resource optimization, environmental stewardship and workforce opportunities. Concurrently, this transformative trajectory within the power sector possesses a dual-edged nature; it may ameliorate certain challenges while accentuating others. In light of the burgeoning research stream on open innovation, this study aims to examine the intricate dynamics of knowledge-based industry-university-research networking, with an overarching objective to elucidate and calibrate the equilibrium of ambidextrous innovation within power systems.

The authors scrutinize the role of different innovation organizations in three innovation models: ambidextrous, exploitative and exploratory, and use a multiobjective decision analysis method-entropy weight TOPSIS. The research was conducted within the sphere of the power industry, and the authors mined data from the widely used PatSnap database.

Results show that the breadth of knowledge search and the strength of an organization’s direct relationships are crucial for ambidextrous innovation, with research institutions having the highest impact. In contrast, for exploitative innovation, depth of knowledge search, the number of R&D patents and the number of innovative products are paramount, with universities playing the most significant role. For exploratory innovation, the depth of knowledge search and the quality of two-mode network relations are vital, with research institutions yielding the best effect. Regional analysis reveals Beijing as the primary hub for ambidextrous and exploratory innovation organizations, while Jiangsu leads for exploitative innovation.

The study offers valuable implications to cope with the dynamic state of ambidextrous innovation performance of the entire power system. In light of the findings, the dynamic state of ambidextrous innovation performance within the power system can be adeptly managed. By emphasizing a balance between exploratory and exploitative strategies, stakeholders are better positioned to respond to evolving challenges and opportunities. Thus, the study offers pivotal guidance to ensure sustained adaptability and growth in the power sector’s innovation landscape.

The primary originality is to extend and refine the theoretical understanding of ambidextrous innovation within power systems. By integrating several theoretical frameworks, including social network theory, knowledge-based theory and resource-based theory, the authors enrich the theoretical landscape of power system ambidextrous innovation. Also, this inclusive examination of two-mode network structures, including the interplay between knowledge and cooperation networks, unveils the intricate interdependencies between these networks and the ambidextrous innovation of power systems. This approach significantly widens the theoretical parameters of innovation network research.

The purpose of the current exploratory study is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the essence of impulse buying and postulate the drivers behind it for Azerbaijani consumers who practice Islam. Though there are numerous factors that impact impulsive buyer tendencies, current empirical research focuses on demographic indicators and persona characteristics that influence impulsive buying, which are considered as internal factors.

The current research is exploratory and uses the quantitative research method. A total of 442 responses were collected from the surveys between April 6th and May 6th, 2022, with random sampling. The collected data was analyzed with the SPSS Statistics software and the SPSS AMOS 26 version. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to measure the reliability of the scales. The construct validity of the questionnaire was measured with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The correlation among variables was measured by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. The structural equation model was run to determine the structural relationship between latent variables and test the proposed hypotheses.

According to the regression weights, all the latent variables, excluding materialism, have a statistically significant impact on the impulsive buying tendency. Hedonic motivation and self-esteem have a positive relationship with hedonic buying tendency, while self-control is inversely related. In terms of the impact of demographic indicators on impulsive buying tendency, for Azerbaijani consumers, impulsive buying behavior, differs based on age, education and marital status. However, contrary to previous research, impulsive buying behavior does not change based on income level. However, based on the squared multiple correlations, the predictive power of the model is 24%.

The current study measured the general impulsive behavior of the local population. Analyzing impulsive buyer behavior toward particular products or product categories might lead to different results. Therefore, other researchers can focus on studying impulsive buyer behavior toward different product categories.

Understanding consumer buyer behavior, including impulsive buyer behavior, is among extensively researched subjects. However, studies examining the state of impulsive buyer behavior in Azerbaijan and, most importantly, measuring the impact of the numerous factors behind it are lacking. The majority of the available empirical research in Azerbaijan analyzes consumer behavior from a different perspective. However, none of them approaches it from the perspective of analyzing and measuring impulsive buying. Hence, understanding the motivations behind impulse buying behavior can benefit both businesses and consumers, though for contrasting reasons. The former can use the data to determine the triggers for impulse buying, while the latter can be more conscious of their purchasing behavior to avoid unfavorable financial consequences. The primary implication for businesses is that they will be equipped with empirical evidence on which factors and to what extent they influence consumer buying behavior. Subsequently, they can use it while developing marketing and customer relationship strategies.

There are countless studies focused on defining and measuring impulsive buyer behavior; however, there is a gap in measuring the impulsive buyer behavior of Muslim consumers and, most importantly, understanding the underlying factors. In addition, empiric research examining the state of impulsive buyer behavior of local Muslim consumers in Azerbaijan and, most importantly, measuring the impact of numerous factors behind it is absent. The majority of the available empirical research in Azerbaijan analyzes consumer behavior from a different perspective. However, none of them approaches it from the perspective of analyzing and measuring impulsive buying. The current study analyzes the impact of consumers’ hedonic motivations, materialist values, ability to retain self-control and psychological state on their impulse buying tendency.