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1 – 10 of 171
Article
Publication date: 16 June 2021

Zhengyi Zhang, Jun Jin, Ting Wen and Zan Chen

With the fierce competition in a knowledge economy, knowledge-intensive enterprises (KIEs) make technological progress in their catching-up processes through implementing product…

Abstract

Purpose

With the fierce competition in a knowledge economy, knowledge-intensive enterprises (KIEs) make technological progress in their catching-up processes through implementing product innovation and process innovation. In this study, the aim is to understand the determinants of enterprise innovation type in China's catch-up environment. Further, this paper intends to deal with two related questions. First, what effect does the internal knowledge base have on KIEs' technology innovation activities? Second, considering the technology gap and technology development speed, what are the different impacts of the knowledge base on the type of technology innovation activities?

Design/methodology/approach

This paper collected data from 212 KIEs in China through a two-stage questionnaire survey, combined with statistical data for research. The hypothesis was tested by regression analysis. Specifically, descriptive statistics and regression analysis are introduced to test the hypothetical relationship between the knowledge base and technology innovation. Meanwhile, multiple regression is used to test whether there is any difference in the influence of technology gap and technology development speed on enterprise knowledge base and technology innovation. Finally, the corresponding robustness tests are done.

Findings

This study finds that in a sample of Yangtze River Delta KIEs, firms' knowledge base influences innovation types. Specifically, the knowledge base width (KBW) and knowledge base depth (KBD) positively influence process innovation, and KBD positively affects product innovation. Regarding the effects of catch-up context factors on KIEs’ innovation choice, a wide technology gap tends to positively influence product innovation in industries with high levels of KBW. Moreover, when technology development speed is high, its potential positive influence on process innovation will be more significant for industries with deeper knowledge bases.

Originality/value

This paper fills the research gap that existing studies ignore the relationship between types of technology innovation and knowledge base dimensions, especially for KIEs. First, this paper deepens the understanding of the impact mechanism of KIEs' existing knowledge base on innovation activities; the unique use of resources by enterprises is the basis of enterprises' competitive advantage and will become enterprises' competitive advantage. Second, this study indicates that against different backdrops of technology gap and technology development speed, enterprises with different knowledge bases will adopt different types of technology innovation activities. Third, this paper shows that a wider technology gap provides broader innovation space, so the technology gap plays a pulling role in KBW and product innovation, thus pushing forward enterprises' technological catch-up.

Details

European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. 26 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1460-1060

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 October 2021

Jun Jin, Zan Chen and Shijing Li

The objective of this paper is to empirically test and verify the influence of information and communication technology (ICT) capability on environmental performance (EP) of…

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to empirically test and verify the influence of information and communication technology (ICT) capability on environmental performance (EP) of manufacturing, as well as the moderating effect of heterogenous factors and the mediating effect of ambidextrous innovation in the context of the Chinese manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The data come from the World Bank Enterprise Survey of China conducted from December 2011 to February 2013. The logistic regression is applied with Stata 15, and the robustness test by three methods is employed to verify the reliability of the results in this paper.

Findings

The research results suggest that the positive relationship between ICT capability and EP is moderated by two heterogenous factors, including main market and industry attributes. Meanwhile, the positive relationship between ICT capability and EP is mediated by ambidextrous innovation.

Originality/value

This work highlights ICT capability as an important, yet underexplored antecedent in improving the EP of manufacturing firms. This research further uncovers the moderating role of main market and industry attributes, as well as the mediating mechanism by introducing ambidextrous innovation in the relationship between ICT capability and EP.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 33 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-038X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 August 2022

Jun Jin, Shijing Li, Zan Chen and Liying Wang

Although scholars in strategic management have identified innovating and exit as firms’ two sequential strategic responses to long-run crisis, the potential interdependency has…

Abstract

Purpose

Although scholars in strategic management have identified innovating and exit as firms’ two sequential strategic responses to long-run crisis, the potential interdependency has yet remained implicit. Specifically, in the context of Chinese Privately Owned Enterprises (POEs), this study investigates the interrelationship of these two strategic responses during long-run crisis. Building on resource redeployment perspective, the authors propose that firms tend to simultaneously leverage innovating and exit responses.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the data from the 2010 Chinese POEs survey to verify how firms in the long-term crisis made strategic responses after the 2008 financial crisis. Besides, the authors utilize Probit regressions as the basic analysis and further employ bivariate Probit regressions to conduct robustness tests.

Findings

This study provides empirical evidence confirming that firms in the long-run period of the crisis tend to adopt both exit and innovating strategies at the same time, that is, the strategy of resource redeployment. Moreover, this study further finds that government subsidies, the degree of marketization and firm’s organizational capability could all accentuate the decision-making of firms’ resource redeployment.

Originality/value

The authors thus contribute to the study of strategic responses to crisis in strategic management by dynamically find out the interdependency of two responses and enrich the research on resource redeployment perspective by identifying three influential positive antecedents, adding to the ongoing investigation on positive drivers of resource redeployment.

Details

International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. 19 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-8809

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 2003

Zhu Yunxia and Herbert W. Hildebrandt

This paper aims to compare the Greek and Chinese rhetorical traditions and explore their influences on today’s business and marketing communication across relevant cultures. In…

1989

Abstract

This paper aims to compare the Greek and Chinese rhetorical traditions and explore their influences on today’s business and marketing communication across relevant cultures. In particular, it uses the Aristotelian persuasive orientations as reference points to introduce the Chinese rhetoric, and interpret cultural differences in persuasion from a historical and sociocultural perspective. It has been found that Greek and Chinese rhetoric and persuasion were developed to meet the needs of the social and cultural environments and this rule still applies to today’s business communication. The logical approach has been emphasised in the English rhetorical tradition while both qing (emotional approach) and li (logical approach) are the focus of persuasion in the Chinese tradition. This difference is also the root of cultural differences in modern business communication. Findings from both English and Chinese texts and data are examined to substantiate our focal argument.

Details

Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, vol. 15 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-5855

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 June 2024

Miaomiao Yang and Juanru Wang

The rapid advancement of digital transformation requires a shift in firms’ focus from past met needs to both latent future and unmet past needs. However, how boundary-spanning…

Abstract

Purpose

The rapid advancement of digital transformation requires a shift in firms’ focus from past met needs to both latent future and unmet past needs. However, how boundary-spanning search with future orientation and past orientation affects breakthrough innovation remains unclear. This study thus aims to investigate the relationship between boundary-spanning search and breakthrough innovation from the perspective of search orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

In terms of search orientation, this study divides boundary-spanning search into forward-looking search and backward-looking search. Drawing on resource-based view, this study develops a theoretical model in which big data analytics capability moderates the effects of forward-looking and backward-looking searches on breakthrough innovation. Empirical analyses were conducted on data from China’s advanced manufacturing firms. Research model and hypotheses were tested through multiple regression.

Findings

The results confirm that forward-looking search has a positive effect on breakthrough innovation, and big data analytics capability strengthens this positive effect. Furthermore, backward-looking search has an inverted U-shaped effect on breakthrough innovation. Interestingly, as big data analytics capability increases, this inverted U-shaped curve flattens and becomes almost linear.

Originality/value

This study uncovers the different effects of boundary-spanning search with different orientations on breakthrough innovation and extends the research on the relationship between boundary-spanning search and breakthrough innovation by incorporating search orientation. Furthermore, by demonstrating the moderating role of big data analytics capability, this study provides a crucial condition under which boundary-spanning search can enhance breakthrough innovation.

Details

Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 37 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 2019

Yogesh Mahulkar and Chetankumar Sedani

Miniature loop heat pipes (MLHPs) are highly efficient passive heat transfer devices, which have considerable advantages over conventional heat pipes. Currently, miniature LHPs…

Abstract

Purpose

Miniature loop heat pipes (MLHPs) are highly efficient passive heat transfer devices, which have considerable advantages over conventional heat pipes. Currently, miniature LHPs with ammonia and water as working fluids have been developed and utilized in electronics cooling within temperature range of 50°C-70°C at any orientation in 1-g conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors studied the standard procedure for the development of bi-porous nickel wicks and their characterization. Three different shaped nickel powders were studied, and best fitting nickel powder for electronics cooling application was reported. The manufacturing of bi-porous wick structures was analyzed with parameters such as porosity, permeability, capillary pressure and effective thermal conductivity for efficient performance of MLHP.

Findings

The study investigated the sintering process for number of samples to identify effective sample for the particular application. It is found that carbonyl nickel powder (type 287) with particle size of 2.6-3.3 µm gives promising results. Permeability and porosity were found to be highest in this case.

Originality/value

It is found that carbonyl nickel powder type with particle size gives promising results. Permeability and porosity was found to be highest in this case.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. 16 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 July 2020

Huanhuan Chen, Yanhong Yao, Ao Zan and Elias G. Carayannis

Building on the resource- and knowledge-based views, this paper aims to explore how coopetition affects radical innovation and the roles of knowledge structure and external…

1397

Abstract

Purpose

Building on the resource- and knowledge-based views, this paper aims to explore how coopetition affects radical innovation and the roles of knowledge structure and external knowledge integration in the relationship between coopetition and radical innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes a research model to examine the mediating role of external knowledge integration on the coopetition-radical innovation link, where the mediation is moderated by the firm’s knowledge structure (including component knowledge and architectural knowledge). The authors use regression and bootstrapping to test the proposed model with survey data from 241 Chinese technology firms.

Findings

This study finds that coopetition positively affects radical innovation and the effect is fully mediated by external knowledge integration. Additionally, component knowledge negatively moderates the coopetition-external knowledge integration link and architectural knowledge positively moderates this relationship. Further, the mediating effect of external knowledge integration is also moderated by component knowledge and architectural knowledge.

Practical implications

Firms should engage in coopetition to promote radical innovation. Further, it is necessary for firms to appropriately manage coopetition according to their internal knowledge structure.

Originality/value

This study explains why scholars have different ideas about the relationship between coopetition and radical innovation by exploring the mediating role of external knowledge integration and the moderating effect of knowledge structure. Firms possess increased possibilities for knowledge leakage and partner opportunism with high levels of component knowledge, which will reduce the positive effect coopetition on external knowledge integration; thus, they are less likely to realize radical innovation. Instead, firms possess increased opportunities for resource sharing with high levels of architectural knowledge, thus improving the positive effect coopetition on external knowledge integration and they are more likely to achieve radical innovation.

Details

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, vol. 36 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0885-8624

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 May 2024

Xiaoyan Chen, Weina Zhu, Yajiao Chen and Qinghua He

The development and evolution of stakeholder collaborative innovation in megaprojects is impacted by various influencing factors. The effect of influencing factors on…

Abstract

Purpose

The development and evolution of stakeholder collaborative innovation in megaprojects is impacted by various influencing factors. The effect of influencing factors on collaborative innovation performance (CIP) in megaprojects is not a simplistic linear relationship but an iterative and non-linear relationship that requires a dynamic perspective to analyze. Therefore, this paper adopts the system dynamic (SD) approach to investigate the dynamic and interactive relationships between the CIP and the influencing factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study first develops a research framework with the system boundary of “CIP system – organizational collaboration subsystem – knowledge collaboration subsystem – strategic collaboration subsystem”. Then, the causal relationship model, the stock-flow model, and the mathematical equations were determined based on the literature review and the expert interviews. Finally, five performance improvement scenarios were designed according to the practice context of CIP in megaprojects, and simulations were performed using the Vensim PLE software to investigate the CIP from a dynamic perspective.

Findings

The findings reveal that the effect of different influencing factors on CIP grows non-linearly, with the cumulative effect becoming more pronounced as time advances. The incentive mechanism has the most significant effect, and the combined effect of multiple influencing factors has a highly significant facilitating effect on improving CIP. Strategic collaboration, organizational collaboration and knowledge collaboration are mutually conditional and reinforcing with each other, which ultimately promotes the improvement of CIP.

Originality/value

This study uncovers the inherent pattern and the interactive dynamic mechanism of factors for improving CIP in the context of megaprojects. It enriches the theoretical research in the area of collaborative innovation in megaprojects and provides practical management strategies for improving CIP.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 November 2017

Chaw Thet Zan and Hayato Yamana

The paper aims to estimate the segment size and alphabet size of Symbolic Aggregate approXimation (SAX). In SAX, time series data are divided into a set of equal-sized segments…

304

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to estimate the segment size and alphabet size of Symbolic Aggregate approXimation (SAX). In SAX, time series data are divided into a set of equal-sized segments. Each segment is represented by its mean value and mapped with an alphabet, where the number of adopted symbols is called alphabet size. Both parameters control data compression ratio and accuracy of time series mining tasks. Besides, optimal parameters selection highly depends on different application and data sets. In fact, these parameters are iteratively selected by analyzing entire data sets, which limits handling of the huge amount of time series and reduces the applicability of SAX.

Design/methodology/approach

The segment size is estimated based on Shannon sampling theorem (autoSAXSD_S) and adaptive hierarchical segmentation (autoSAXSD_M). As for the alphabet size, it is focused on how mean values of all the segments are distributed. The small number of alphabet size is set for large distribution to easily distinguish the difference among segments.

Findings

Experimental evaluation using University of California Riverside (UCR) data sets shows that the proposed schemes are able to select the parameters well with high classification accuracy and show comparable efficiency in comparison with state-of-the-art methods, SAX and auto_iSAX.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is the way to find out the optimal parameters of SAX using the proposed estimation schemes. The first parameter segment size is automatically estimated on two approaches and the second parameter alphabet size is estimated on the most frequent average (mean) value among segments.

Details

International Journal of Web Information Systems, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1744-0084

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 January 2011

Luca Zan and Qingmei Xue

Transformations taking place in China are of crucial importance in the development of the world economy. The international community is turning its attention to China's move…

3765

Abstract

Purpose

Transformations taking place in China are of crucial importance in the development of the world economy. The international community is turning its attention to China's move towards a market economy and assessing the likely impact on the years ahead. This paper aims to plot the evolution of administrative reforms in China with particular reference to the state (and therefore public sector), because the modernization of the state is an issue that will persist into the future, and because the state itself was driving the country's transformation towards a market economy in a deliberate way.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper revisits the debate on administrative reforms at different levels, i.e. fiscal, budgeting, government organizations, and public sector units (PSUs). In addition to reconstructing the evolution of norms and procedures as part of deliberate strategies by the center, the paper also investigates how actual practices at the micro level have followed this process of reform, with reference to the administration of cultural heritage at the municipal level, based on a field research project.

Findings

A lack of understanding of the role played by actual accounting transformation seems to characterize the current debate on policies. Serious discrepancies can be found between expectations and actual changes; between macro and micro policies, and micro practices.

Originality/value

An holistic focus on various trend of reforms is taken, looking at debates that are usually separated, also linking them to actual changes in accounting practice.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 24 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

1 – 10 of 171