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Article
Publication date: 4 December 2023

Maria Cristina Longo, Calogero Guccio and Marco Ferdinando Martorana

This paper aims to assess whether incubation affects the technical efficiency of innovative firms after entering the market. The study of efficiency allows firms to understand how…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to assess whether incubation affects the technical efficiency of innovative firms after entering the market. The study of efficiency allows firms to understand how well resources have been used in production processes. The research intends to contribute to the literature on the performance of incubated firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study estimates the relative efficiency of innovative firms adopting a DEA-based two-stage semi-parametric method. Incubation, firm age and initial capital are used for explaining the relative performance of previously incubated firms compared to non-incubated ones over a six-year period of activity. This research focuses on Italian innovative firms using a large sample of companies.

Findings

Results show that incubators have a positive and significant effect on efficiency for firms that have been in the market for more than two years. Efficiency also improves with age and with the level of initial capital of the firm.

Research limitations/implications

This analysis is limited to the quantitative dimension of inputs as reported in the balance sheets, without qualitative considerations.

Practical implications

Findings enhance firms' understanding of the role of incubators as neutral places to develop a business culture of efficiency. From an empirical standpoint, this study provides useful insights to start-uppers who intend to attend incubation programs. Overall, incubators matter to the extent that they enable new firms, net of those that fail to survive in the first two years of activity, to improve their efficiency in the use of inputs. This research also suggests incubators consider the start-ups’ potential of being efficient.

Social implications

Findings provide tips to policymakers when they are called upon to propose funding programs to support prominent firms entering the business scalability.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on the relative performance of post-incubated firms, highlighting the efficiency frontier analysis. This methodological approach is relatively new in this field. It allows researchers to study the innovative firms' performance in relative terms, that is with respect to the input level. It integrates the performance-based with efficiency frontier analysis. Also, this study reinforces the idea that incubators prepare start-ups to develop capacities and managerial skills, which will be useful in post-incubation life to improve their cost competitiveness.

Details

European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1460-1060

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2023

Nofirman Firdaus, Hasnida Ab-Samat and Bambang Teguh Prasetyo

This paper reviews the literature on maintenance strategies for energy efficiency as a potential maintenance approach. The purpose of this paper is to identify the main concept…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper reviews the literature on maintenance strategies for energy efficiency as a potential maintenance approach. The purpose of this paper is to identify the main concept and common principle for each maintenance strategy for energy efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review has been carried out on maintenance and energy efficiency. The paper systematically classified the literature into three maintenance strategies (e.g. inspection-based maintenance [IBM], time-based maintenance [TBM] and condition-based maintenance [CBM]). The concept and principle of each maintenance strategy are identified, compared and discussed.

Findings

Each maintenance strategy's main concept and principle are identified based on the following criteria: data required and collection, data analysis/modeling and decision-making. IBM relies on human senses and common senses to detect energy faults. Any detected energy losses are quantified to energy cost. A payback period analysis is commonly used to justify corrective actions. On the other hand, CBM monitors relevant parameters that indicate energy performance indicators (EnPIs). Data analysis or deterioration modeling is needed to identify energy degradation. For the diagnostics approach, the energy degradation is compared with the threshold to justify corrective maintenance. The prognostics approach estimates when energy degradation reaches its threshold; therefore, proper maintenance tasks can be planned. On the other hand, TBM uses historical data from energy monitoring. Data analysis or deterioration modeling is required to identify degradation. Further analysis is performed to find the optimal time to perform a maintenance task. The comparison between housekeeping, IBM and CBM is also discussed and presented.

Practical implications

The literature on the classification of maintenance strategies for energy efficiency has been limited. On the other hand, the ISO 50001 energy management systems standard shows the importance of maintenance for energy efficiency (MFEE). Therefore, to bridge the gap between research and industry, the proposed concept and principle of maintenance strategies will be helpful for practitioners to apply maintenance strategies as energy conservation measures in implementing ISO 50001 standard.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is in-depth discussion on the concept and principle of each maintenance strategy (e.g. housekeeping or IBM, TBM and CBM) for energy efficiency. The relevant literature for each maintenance strategy was also summarized. In addition, basic rules for maintenance strategy selection are also proposed.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 29 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

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