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1 – 10 of over 4000Santiago Gutiérrez-Broncano, Jorge Linuesa-Langreo, Mercedes Rubio-Andrés and Miguel Ángel Sastre-Castillo
This article focusses on the hybrid strategy, a simultaneous combination of cost leadership and differentiation strategy. The study aims to examine the impact of hybrid strategy…
Abstract
Purpose
This article focusses on the hybrid strategy, a simultaneous combination of cost leadership and differentiation strategy. The study aims to examine the impact of hybrid strategy on firm performance through its anticipated positive effects on process and product innovation. In addition, we study the moderating role of adaptive capacity in the direct relationships of hybrid strategy with process and product innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
Structural equation modelling was used to analyse 1,842 Spanish firms with fewer than 250 employees. We randomly selected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Spain from the Spanish Central Business Directory (2021) database. The overall sample design was based on stratified sampling.
Findings
We found that hybrid strategy is positively related to firm performance and to process and product innovation. Additionally, in firms implementing hybrid strategies, process innovation fostered firm performance. Finally, adaptive capacity strengthened the relationships of hybrid strategy with process and product innovation. This sheds light on how and when hybrid strategy is most effective in fostering SME performance.
Practical implications
We highlight that SMEs need to establish strategies that use diverse resources and capabilities and not just generate competitive advantage using one strategy (cost leadership or differentiation strategy). This requires an agile and flexible systems and structures.
Originality/value
Our research provides novel results by proposing the adoption of hybrid strategies instead of pure strategies (cost leadership and differentiation strategy) as a way for SMEs to survive during crises. Unlike “stuck in the middle” strategies, our study demonstrates the importance of hybrid strategies in a comprehensive model that links them to innovation and firm performance, with adaptive capacity being a determining factor.
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Xiongyong Zhou, Haiyan Lu and Sachin Kumar Mangla
Food sustainability is a world-acknowledged issue that requires urgent integrated solutions at multi-levels. This study aims to explore how food firms can improve their…
Abstract
Purpose
Food sustainability is a world-acknowledged issue that requires urgent integrated solutions at multi-levels. This study aims to explore how food firms can improve their sustainability performance through digital traceability practices, considering the mediating effect of sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) and the moderating effect of supply chain learning (SCL) for the food supply chain therein.
Design/methodology/approach
Hierarchical regression with a moderated mediation model is used to test the proposed hypotheses with a sample of 359 food firms from four provinces in China.
Findings
Digital traceability has a significant positive impact on the three pillars of sustainability performances among food firms. SOI (product innovation, process innovation and organisational innovation) mediates the relationship between digital traceability and sustainability performance. SCL plays moderating roles in the linkage between digital traceability and both product and process innovation, respectively.
Originality/value
This paper contributes as one of the first studies to develop digital traceability practices and their sustainability-related improvements for Chinese food firms; it extends studies on supply chain traceability to a typical emerging market. This finding can support food sustainability practice in terms of where and how to invest in sustainability innovation and how to improve economic, environmental and social performance.
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Yanmei Xu, Yanan Zhang, Ziqiang Wang, Xia Song, Zhenli Bai and Xiang Li
Unlike traditional industries, the e-cigarette is an epoch-making innovative product originating in China and occupying an absolute competitive advantage in the international…
Abstract
Purpose
Unlike traditional industries, the e-cigarette is an epoch-making innovative product originating in China and occupying an absolute competitive advantage in the international market. The traditional A-U model describes the laws and characteristics of technological innovation in developed countries. In contrast, the inverse A-U model depicts the process of “secondary innovation” in late-developing countries through digestion and absorption. This paper aims to find out that if the e-cigarette, as a “first innovation” industry in a late-developing country, conform to the A-U model or conform to the “inverse A-U model”.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper takes the patent data of e-cigarettes from 2004 to 2021 as the research object, and uses Python’s Jieba segment words to divide product innovation and process innovation, and then uses statistical analysis methods to conduct empirical analyses on these data.
Findings
Thus, an improved A-U model suitable for the e-cigarette industry is proposed. In this model, product innovation in the e-cigarette industry appeared earlier than process innovation, but the synchronous development of product and process innovation is not lagging. The improved A-U model in the e-cigarette industry is not only different from the traditional A-U model but also does not conform to the inverse A-U model.
Research limitations/implications
It is conducive to expanding and clarifying the theoretical contribution and applicable boundaries of the A-U model and has sparked thinking and exploration of the A-U model in e-cigarettes and emerging industries.
Practical implications
On this basis, suggestions on the development path and countermeasures of the e-cigarette industry are put forward.
Originality/value
Based on the e-cigarette industry, this paper takes patents as the research object and provides the method of dividing product innovation and process innovation, and proposes an A-U model suitable for the e-cigarette industry on this basis. By comparing the traditional A-U model with the inverse A-U model in latecomer countries, the background and causes of e-cigarette A-U model heterogeneity are analyzed from different stages and overall morphology. Based on this, the heterogeneity characteristics of e-cigarette innovation are summarized and sorted out.
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Duncan Kariuki Ndwiga, Lucy Wanjiru Ciera and Geoffrey Ngugi Mokabi
This study aims to address the aspects of product and process innovation strategies and their determining factors to understand their characteristics in clothing manufacturing and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to address the aspects of product and process innovation strategies and their determining factors to understand their characteristics in clothing manufacturing and contribution for a successful and competitive clothing industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This general review is based on literature data of previous studies on innovation that transcend and cover the aspects of innovation applicable in the clothing industry. Although the scope of discussion is theoretically broad, it focusses on the context of innovation strategies in clothing manufacturing and the determinant factors indicating the acquisition and implementation of product and process-related innovation activities, simultaneously exploring and linking their implications for adopting, managing and integrating enterprise activities to the values of desired innovation novel models.
Findings
Based on theoretical background and pragmatic generalizations, product and process innovation strategies in clothing manufacturing firms tend to incline more towards computer-integrated technologies and concepts meant to promote product development, process optimization and organizational integration. Industry, technological and R&D factors tend to significantly determine innovation capability of a clothing firm.
Originality/value
This review generates integrated conceptual frameworks for product and process innovation strategies applicable in clothing firms and their determinant factors as prelude to empirical validation.
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Mengsang Chen, Mengdi Wu, Xiaohui Wang and Haibo Wang
This meta-analytical review aims to clarify the relationships between three bundles of human resource management (HRM) practices—competency-enhancing, motivation-enhancing and…
Abstract
Purpose
This meta-analytical review aims to clarify the relationships between three bundles of human resource management (HRM) practices—competency-enhancing, motivation-enhancing and opportunity-enhancing—and organizational innovation by addressing two questions: (a) Which types of HRM bundles are most strongly related to different forms of innovation (i.e. process and product innovation)? And (b) Which mechanism provides a stronger explanation for the positive effects of HRM bundles on innovation?
Design/methodology/approach
Based on data from 103 studies, a meta-analysis was conducted to quantitatively summarize existing HRM–innovation studies at the organizational level.
Findings
The results showed that the competency-enhancing bundle was more positively related to product innovation than the motivation-enhancing and opportunity-enhancing bundles. The opportunity-enhancing bundle was most strongly associated with process innovation. The authors further found that knowledge management capability (KMC) and employee motivation mediated the positive relationship between the three HRM bundles and innovation outcomes. In comparing the two mechanisms, this review suggests that KMC better explains both the impact of the competency-enhancing HRM bundle on product innovation and the effect of the opportunity-enhancing bundle on process innovation.
Originality/value
Based on behavioral and knowledge management perspectives, this study takes a sub-bundle approach to providing an integrative review by comparing the direct effects and mediating paths of HRM bundles on product and process innovation.
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This study attempts to explore the linkages between reliable big and cloud data analytics capabilities (RB&CDACs) and the comparative advantage (CA) that applies in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study attempts to explore the linkages between reliable big and cloud data analytics capabilities (RB&CDACs) and the comparative advantage (CA) that applies in the manufacturing sector in the countries located in North Africa (NA). These are considered developing countries through generating green product innovation (GPI) and using green process innovations (GPrLs) in their processes and functions as mediating factors, as well as the moderating role of data-driven competitive sustainability (DDCS).
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the aim of this study, 346 useable surveys out of 1,601 were analyzed, and valid responses were retrieved for analysis, representing a 21.6% response rate by applying the quantitative methodology for collecting primary data. Convergent validity and discriminant validity tests were applied to structural equation modeling (SEM) in the CB-covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) program, and the data reliability was confirmed. Additionally, a multivariate analysis technique was used via CB-SEM, as hypothesized relationships were evaluated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and then the hypotheses were tested through a structural model. Further, a bootstrapping technique was used to analyze the data. We included GPI and GPrI as mediating factors, while using DDCS as a moderated factor.
Findings
The empirical findings indicated that the proposed moderated-mediation model was accepted due to the relationships between the constructs being statistically significant. Further, the findings showed that there is a significant positive effect in the relationship between reliable BCDA capabilities and CAs as well as a mediating effect of GPI and GPrI, which is supported by the proposed formulated hypothesis. Additionally, the findings confirmed that there is a moderating effect represented by data-driven competitive advantage suitability between GPI, GPrI and CA.
Research limitations/implications
One of the main limitations of this study is that an applied cross-sectional study provides a snapshot at a given moment in time. Furthermore, it used only one type of methodological approach (i.e. quantitative) rather than using mixed methods to reach more accurate data.
Originality/value
This study developed a theoretical model that is obtained from reliable BCDA capabilities, CA, DDCS, green innovation and GPrI. Thus, this piece of work bridges the existing research gap in the literature by testing the moderated-mediation model with a focus on the manufacturing sector that benefits from big data analytics capabilities to improve levels of GPI and competitive advantage. Finally, this study is considered a road map and gaudiness for the importance of applying these factors, which offers new valuable information and findings for managers, practitioners and decision-makers in the manufacturing sector in the NA region.
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Alejandra Parrao, Tomás Reyes, Alfonso Cruz and Kristel Schön Molina
Previous evidence has shown a generally positive relationship between continuously developed innovation, known as innovation persistence and employment growth in firms. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
Previous evidence has shown a generally positive relationship between continuously developed innovation, known as innovation persistence and employment growth in firms. This study investigates whether firm size moderates this relationship and how, considering persistent product and process innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors studied the influence of firm size on the relationship between innovation persistence and employment using a 10-year panel database of firms based on national innovation surveys. The authors consider firm size as sales and measure innovation persistence through the hazard rate of innovation spells. To assess the main model, they use a system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator.
Findings
The authors' main findings indicate that firm size negatively moderates the relationship between persistent innovation and employment growth. These results suggest that the positive effects of product and process persistent innovation on employment growth decrease as firm size increases. The authors also find evidence indicating that the moderator role of firm size is greater when firms innovate more persistently. Robustness tests with different specifications confirm the results.
Originality/value
The authors show that firm size negatively affects the strength of the relationship between innovation persistence and employment growth in product and process innovations. The authors also show that the moderator role of firm size is greater when firms are more persistent in generating product and process innovation. Additionally, using a panel dataset, they provide evidence from a sample of firms in a developing country where no studies on this matter have previously been conducted.
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Kassim Alinda, Sulait Tumwine and Twaha Kigongo Kaawaase
The purpose of this study is to investigate the pivotal role of environmental innovations in driving sustainability practices within medium and large manufacturing firms operating…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the pivotal role of environmental innovations in driving sustainability practices within medium and large manufacturing firms operating in Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a cross-sectional and quantitative methodology, data were collected through a questionnaire survey involving 208 manufacturing companies. The smart partial least squares path modelling technique was used for the analysis.
Findings
The analysis unveils significant and positive associations. Specifically, product innovation exhibits a robust and affirmative relationship with sustainability practices. Similarly, the correlation between process innovation and sustainability practices emerges as statistically significant. Moreover, the findings underscore the noteworthy and constructive predictive influence of environmental innovation on sustainability practices.
Practical implications
These empirical results present substantial implications for theoretical frameworks and practical applications. From a policy perspective, the findings emphasise the importance of incentivising eco product and eco process innovations as potential drivers of eco-friendly practices. On the managerial front, strategic resource allocation and the adoption of integrated environmental innovation strategies are advocated, with the ultimate goal of enhancing sustainable business approaches within Uganda’s manufacturing subsector.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study represents the inaugural attempt to investigate the role of environmental innovations in elucidating sustainability practices within a least developed country. Notably, while all dimensions demonstrate significance, it is noteworthy that product innovation emerges as the more substantial contributor to the promotion of sustainability practices.
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José Rabal Conesa, Daniel Jiménez Jiménez and Micaela Martínez Costa
This paper shows how organisational agility allows companies to adopt the necessary changes to remain competitive and produce with a lower environmental impact, implying customers…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper shows how organisational agility allows companies to adopt the necessary changes to remain competitive and produce with a lower environmental impact, implying customers in the value chain.
Design/methodology/approach
This investigation uses a cross-sectional design to collect data on the study variables from a sample of 260 Spanish manufacturing organisations. Structural equations with PLS are applied to test hypotheses.
Findings
Results show that organisational agility is positively related to eco-innovation. Furthermore, eco-innovation results in a positive relationship with organisational performance. Finally, it has been found that customer involvement positively moderates the effect of organisational agility on new green processes and products and makes green product innovations more successful.
Practical implications
Conclusions indicate that would be advisable that innovative companies promote capabilities such as organisational agility, and integrating customer involvement throughout their value chain, for developing successful new green products increasing their results with a lower environmental impact. Likewise, the customer’s involvement in eco-innovation projects has been found, in companies with agile behaviours, that could aim to increase their performance, helping to react more quickly to market trends and saving money in product development.
Originality/value
This investigation addresses three gaps previously identified in the literature. Firstly, it covers a lack of research on how agility could foster green innovation and how this could positively affect their performance outcomes. Secondly, it studies a moderating factor, customer involvement, and its effects on the relationship between organisational agility and eco-innovation in product and process and between eco-innovation in product and organisational performance. Thirdly, it introduces dynamic capabilities theory through agility concept to study the dynamic context of the eco-environment.
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In high-tech markets, innovation is always generative and continuous both within the iteration in a product's development process and throughout the upgrade of multi-generational…
Abstract
Purpose
In high-tech markets, innovation is always generative and continuous both within the iteration in a product's development process and throughout the upgrade of multi-generational products. Inspired by this practical phenomenon, this study aims to explore the mechanism of innovation generativity and continuity to explain how future innovations benefit from current innovations.
Design/methodology/approach
The study conducted qualitative research to explore innovation generativity and continuity by investigating five electronic information enterprises. The authors employed the ambidexterity perspective to explore the research question.
Findings
The authors found innovation generativity has three dimensions: inheritance, metabolism and inspection. These three dimensions and their interactions are what forms the mechanism of innovation generativity and continuity. The authors also found many paradoxes that prompt enterprises to pursue innovation generativity and continuity, and through this innovation process, enterprises are able to attain continuous innovation.
Originality/value
This study theoretically uncovers “how” to carry out innovation generativity and continuity, as well as the antecedents and the outcome. The findings contribute to research on product innovation, continuous innovation and ambidexterity, and have implications for managers who seek to improve innovation generativity and continuity.
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