A conceptual model for university-society research collaboration facilitating societal impact for local innovation

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Karin Olsson ◽  
Iréne Bernhard ◽  
Tobias Arvemo ◽  
Ulrika Lundh Snis
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Research Collaboration ◽  
Mixed Data ◽  
Societal Implications ◽  
Societal Impact ◽  
Engaged Scholarship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
Society Research

PurposeThe purpose is to develop a work-integrated learning (WIL) model for university-society research collaboration facilitating societal impact toward short lag yet sustainable societal impact for local innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology applied was engaged scholarship based on a WIL approach involving a network of collaborating partners from different sectors of society and cross-disciplinary university researchers. Mixed data collection methods were applied.FindingsConceptualization of university-society research collaboration for local innovation is presented as a WIL model including the elements of continuity and commitment, coordination, communication and relationships, trust, courage and creativity and co-creation opportunities. Short lag societal impact as local innovation was identified as product and process innovations.Research limitations/implicationsFurther validation of the model is encouraged for the model to be viable in various contexts and to generate different kinds of societal impact.Practical implicationsThe model may act as a governing tool for project management to facilitate co-creative and short lag societal impact for local innovation to ensure that engaged and learning activities are embedded in the collaborative process.Social implicationsThe model has implications for inclusiveness and co-creation fostering transparency, respect and mutuality in university-society research collaboration and to equate both academic and practice knowledge.Originality/valueThe conclusions drawn support the understanding of a WIL approach practicing engaged scholarship in research collaborations. The main theoretical and practical contributions of the article are the conceptual model for university-society research collaboration generating short lag societal implications and local innovation.

Investigating the efficacy of isomorphic pressures on the adoption of green manufacturing practices and its influence on organizational legitimacy and financial performance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Innocent Senyo Kwasi Acquah ◽  
Dacosta Essel ◽  
Charles Baah ◽  
Yaw Agyabeng-Mensah ◽  
Ebenezer Afum
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Green Manufacturing ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Organizational Legitimacy ◽  
Green Product ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Procurement ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
Isomorphic Pressures

PurposeThe need to engage in manufacturing practices that promote environmental sustainability has shifted from being optional to mandatory. From the perspectives of institutional and stakeholder theories, this paper captures the efficacy of isomorphic pressures on the adoption of green procurement, green product and process innovations and their respective influence on organizational legitimacy and financial performance in the context of an emerging economy and from the perspective of manufacturing small-and medium-sized enterprises.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a survey research design, a quantitative approach and partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique in making data analysis and interpretations due to its suitability for predictive research models.FindingsAnalysis of the results highlighted the fact that the composite impact of coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphic pressures robustly influenced the adoption of green procurement, green product and process innovations. Simultaneously, green procurement, green product and process innovations significantly influenced organizational legitimacy. Green procurement and green product innovation also significantly influenced financial performance unlike green process innovation that had an insignificant yet positive impact on financial performance. Based on the results, theoretical and practical implications are explained for policy makers, managers, government authorities and owners.Originality/valueThe study is among the first to expose isomorphic pressures on the adoption of green manufacturing practices specifically, green procurement, green product and process innovations and their influence on organizational legitimacy and financial performance in the context of Ghana, an emerging economy and from the perspective of small-and medium-sized enterprises. As such, the study provides guidance to relevant industry authorities and stakeholders in further promoting green manufacturing practices that preserve the environment by producing safer consumer products through efficient green procurement, green product and process innovative practices.

Open innovation actions and innovation performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Greco ◽  
Michele Grimaldi ◽  
Livio Cricelli
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the recurrences in the empirical evidences that link open innovation (OI) actions and innovation performance in European countries. It provides managers with useful strategic suggestions, emphasizes the limitations of the state of the art, and recommends future directions of research. Design/methodology/approach – The authors systematically reviewed empirical articles linking OI actions and innovation performance in European countries, published on peer reviewed journals from January 2003 until May 2013. The authors organized the evidences according to a novel taxonomy grounded in the literature. Findings – The paper shows an increasing interest in the research of empirical evidence regarding OI and innovation performance. Nonetheless, evidence of the role played by outbound OI activities are extremely rare. The authors found that process innovations are more likely to benefit from coupled OI activities rather than inbound activities. Moreover, the effect of coupled depth actions on both product and process innovation performance was always positive in the reviewed articles. The authors also discuss how scholars measure innovation performance, pointing out the criticalities. Research limitations/implications – The paper allows analysing the empirical evidences found in the literature, emphasizing the limitations of the state of the art and recommending future directions of research. Practical implications – The systematization of the empirical evidences found in the European literature provides managers with useful strategic suggestions to improve their organizations’ innovation performances. Originality/value – The paper contains a complete and extensive analysis of empirical OI literature with respect to European countries. The articles and their findings are organized according to a novel taxonomy useful to identify evidences and recurrences in a synoptic manner.

Innovation, firms’ performance and environmental turbulence: is there a moderator or mediator?

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lejla Turulja ◽  
Nijaz Bajgoric
Keyword(s):  
Business Performance ◽  
Heterogeneous Firms ◽  
Environmental Turbulence ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to draw on dynamic capability view and contingency theory to clarify the nature of the effect of environmental turbulence on the relationships between firm’s both product and process innovations and business performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed and empirically tested two structural models using structural equation modeling approach. The first model deals with both product and process innovations as the mediators between environmental turbulence and business performance. The second model considers the moderating effect of environmental turbulence between innovation and business performance.FindingsThe findings show that environmental turbulence does not moderate the relationship between innovation and business performance. The authors have found a clear role of environmental turbulence in boosting innovation rather than moderating the relationship between innovation and performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe data set is a cross-section of heterogeneous firms regarding the industry.Practical implicationsManagers should be aware of the importance of the innovation for the environmental turbulence and dynamism counteracting. The results imply a negative influence of environmental turbulence on business performance. However, with the innovation in the equation, this influence can be positive, because it boosts firms to innovate and though to achieve better business performance.Originality/valueIt contributes the management and innovation research and practice through offering insights into the role of environmental turbulence in product innovation, process innovation as well as organizational business performance through comprehensive analysis of mediation and moderation effects between the observed constructs.

Financing constraints and SME innovation during economic crises

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia Madrid-Guijarro ◽  
Domingo García-Pérez-de-Lema ◽  
Howard Van Auken
Keyword(s):  
General Definition ◽  
Financing Constraints ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Consulting Services ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Banking Relationships ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
Severe Recession

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the determinants of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) financing constraints and their impacts on investments in innovation. To explicate these factors, the authors use a general definition of innovation, distinguishing between product and process innovations, and highlight the role played by banking relationships. Design/methodology/approach On the basis of a literature review covering works specializing in innovation, financing constraints, and SME characteristics, a quantitative study is carried out in Spain, using a sample composed by 267 Spanish SMEs. Information was gathered by applying surveys addressed to the firm managers. Findings The findings reveal that financing constraints hinder innovation among Spanish SMEs functioning in hostile environments, though long-term banking relationships can moderate these financing constraints. The longer the duration of a firm’s banking relationship, the fewer financing constraints it faces, because the relationship significantly reduces information asymmetry. Practical implications To reduce financing constraints on their innovation, SMEs should establish long relationships and low debt concentration with their main bank. The more banks a firm works with, the greater its financing constraints. The findings have managerial implications, not just for firms but also for government policymakers and providers of consulting services. Originality/value This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the factors that affect innovation, along with insights into which financing constraints limit innovation during a severe recession.

The mediating role of product and process innovations on the relationship between knowledge management and operational performance in manufacturing companies in Jordan

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Fathi Al-Sa’di ◽  
Ayman Bahjat Abdallah ◽  
Samer Eid Dahiyat
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of knowledge management (KM) on product and process innovations, as well as on operational performance (OP). In addition, the effects of product and process innovations on OP, as well as their mediating effects on the relationship between KM and OP, are also investigated. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire-based survey was designed and used to collect data from 207 manufacturing companies operating in the Jordanian capital Amman. To assess construct validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. To test research hypotheses, the bootstrap re-sampling method was applied using Hayes’s SPSS multiple-mediator PROCESS macro. Findings The results indicate that KM has significant positive effects on product and process innovations, and OP. Process innovation was found to have a significant positive effect on OP, while product innovation was not. Furthermore, only process innovation was found to significantly mediate the KM-OP relationship. Practical implications The findings of this study provide useful insights about the role of KM in facilitating and enhancing product and process innovations, as well as OP in the surveyed manufacturing companies. An important implication concerns the roles of product and process innovations. Manufacturing companies seeking improvements in their OP are recommended to focus on process innovation rather than product innovation. While product innovation may affect other aspects of performance, such as market and financial ones, it was not found to significantly affect OP. Process innovation can also leverage KM’s contribution to manufacturing companies’ OP. Originality/value This is a pioneering study in that it developed an integrated model that depicts the interrelationships among KM, product innovation and process innovation and OP, in a developing country context.

Strategic drivers for product and process innovation

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 1159-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Cesar Ferro De Guimarães ◽  
Eliana Andréa Severo ◽  
Domingos Fernandes Campos ◽  
Walid Abbas El-Aouar ◽  
Fabiana Lucena Bezerra de Azevedo
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Sustainable Competitive Advantage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Innovation Product ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process

Purpose The organizations need to use strategic drivers such as market orientation (MO) and knowledge management (KM) for the development of product and process innovations, which can become a major source of sustainable competitive advantage (SCA). However, there is a gap in the use of these precepts, specifically in Brazilian companies. The purpose of this paper is to measure the relationship among MO, KM orientation, innovation (product and process), SCA and organizational performance (OP). Design/methodology/approach The research was developed through a survey in 1,072 companies from the industrial manufacturing, commerce and services activity sectors. For the analysis of data, the study used the structural equation modeling method. Findings This study contributes to managerial decisions in the choice of investment in strategic drivers and innovation, to obtain competitive advantages and economic gains. The results highlight that companies that use market information have formal structures to support innovation processes achieving more successful results. Research limitations/implications The framework proposed in this research can be used for different industries and segments. Originality/value The theoretical value of this paper is the contribution to the literature with the provision of a framework to analyze the strategic drivers, which are antecedents of innovation in different sectors of activity and in different sizes of companies. It is highlighted as managerial contributions, that the study identified evidence that organizations seek a superior OP to the competitor, creating competitive differentials that result in SCA.

scholarly journals Breadth of external knowledge search in service sectors

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragana Radicic
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Single Type ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Knowledge Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Knowledge Search ◽  
Product And Process

PurposeThere is a dearth of empirical research on the impact of external knowledge search on innovation performance in different categories of service firms. This study explores the effectiveness of the breadth of external search on product and process innovations in German firms. In particular, the author modelled a non-linear relationship between the breadth of knowledge and product and process innovations.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the Mannheim Innovation Panel (MIP) data for the German service firms in the period 2014–2016, the author reported findings from a bivariate probit model which took into account mutual interdependence between product and process innovations. Moreover, the model was separately estimated for knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) and other services. For comparative purposes, the author also estimated the model for manufacturing firms.FindingsEmpirical findings uniformly indicated an inverted U-shaped effect of the breadth of knowledge on both product and process innovations. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that using up to three knowledge sources increases the probability of a joint implementation of product and process innovations. These findings hold for both KIBS firms and other services. However, those service firms that focussed on a single type of innovation experienced diminishing returns to external knowledge when exploiting more than one source of knowledge. These results indicated that a simultaneous introduction of different types of innovation required diverse knowledge sources. In contrast, when focussing on a single type of innovation, service firms experienced diminishing returns when multiple sources were used. However, this finding was only partially found for manufacturing firms. Accordingly, this study’s findings provided support for the demarcation approach, insofar as the breadth of knowledge had a heterogenous impact on innovation in manufacturing relative to service firms.Originality/valuePrevious studies on the breadth of knowledge search mostly examined its influence on innovation performance without separately analysing manufacturing and service firms. The present study focussed on service firms that were further divided into KIBS and other service firms. By investigating potentially non-linear relationships between knowledge breadth and product and process innovations, it illustrated how different innovation strategies were affected by a diverse pool of external knowledge sources.

Innovation in the takaful industry: a strategy to expand the takaful market in Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1313-1326
Author(s):  
Peni Nugraheni ◽  
Rifqi Muhammad
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Community Characteristics ◽  
Muslim Population ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
Good Potential ◽  
Innovation Strategies ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to identify and describe possible innovations available to the takaful industry in Indonesia by considering demographic characteristics and geographical conditions. Indonesia has a predominantly Muslim population, and thus, presents good potential for the takaful market. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a qualitative, descriptive, literature-based method to discuss innovation strategies in the takaful industry. This method is appropriate for reviewing particular conditions and phenomena by analysing information and data drawn from existing literature. Findings Market, product and process innovations are chosen as the strategies appropriate to expanding the takaful market in Indonesia. Strategies are described, which could be used to implement these innovations by influencing the community to participate in takaful, and thus, to expand the takaful market. Research limitations/implications The innovation strategies described are adapted to the demographic characteristics of Indonesia and so cannot necessarily be generalised to other countries with different environments. Practical implications By considering customer demographic and geographical conditions, the takaful industry should choose the types of innovation that will suit the community characteristics and environmental conditions of Indonesia. Originality/value The study specifically discusses innovation strategies in the takaful industry by describing the socio-economic conditions of Indonesian society. Takaful companies in Indonesia can use the results to determine the types of innovation they pursue based on the customer demographic and geographical conditions faced.

The three dimensions of strategic flexibility

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Hoeft
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Firm Strategy ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Strategic Flexibility ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
High Level

Purpose Strategic flexibility is a widely discussed concept. Yet discussions remained of qualitative nature or addressed only specific aspects quantitatively underlying the concept. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model identifying key factors determining strategic flexibility. Once quantified, the model provides firms a profile of each strategic option towards the company vision. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews existing and synthesises prior contributions into a conceptual model of strategic flexibility. Based on semi-structured interviews and value mapping, the model is applied using three case studies from the automotive industry. Findings A total of three main findings were made. First, the concept of strategic flexibility has a simple logic that aligns itself to a variety of automotive companies and visions. However, underlying this remit is an interplay of variables. Previous studies remain fragmented and have only addressed a subset of variables. Second, these variables can be grouped into three dimensions of strategic flexibility – product, process and customer – to convey a holistic understanding of strategic flexibility and its key determinants. Third, due to the uncertainty and complexity involved, depending on the firm and industry characteristics, there cannot be a one-fits-all configuration of the strategic flexibility conceptualisation. Research limitations/implications A variety of variables requires consideration to offer a balanced view of all three dimensions of strategic flexibility. Hence, the case studies remain at a necessarily high level. Practical implications The paper offers guidance for management on how to align their firm strategy to product and process contingency factors to satisfy customer needs in line with their company vision. Originality/value The paper aims to elevate a discussion that previously remained fragmented and mainly descriptive.

Fostering technological innovation through management and marketing innovation. The human and non-technological linkage

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin Alexander Henao-García ◽  
Raúl Armando Cardona Montoya
Keyword(s):  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Management Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Marketing Innovation ◽  
Process Innovations ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
Human Side

PurposeThis paper aims to analyse the relationships between management innovation, marketing innovation, technological innovation and the personnel involved in science, technology and innovation activities.Design/methodology/approachThe work used data from the Technological Development and Innovation Survey – Colombian Industry VII 2013–2014. Six logistic regression models are tested for the analysis with 2,045 manufacturing firms.FindingsThe results suggest that the probability to pursue technological innovation diminishes in those firms that introduce management and/or marketing innovations. The same happens in firms seeking non-technological innovations with the introduction of product and process innovations. The human side, administrative and technical staff, working on innovation projects plays a key role in the success of different types of innovations.Originality/valueAt this time, there is a need for research studies with new approaches that look at innovation beyond the technological domain and focus on the human side of innovation and other important aspects such as the managerial contribution to innovation. Theoretically, the work contributes to expanding the scarce literature on the proposed relationship and, as far as is known, it is the only one with empirical data for an emerging economy such as the Colombian one. Empirically, useful information is provided for the design of strategies that seek to improve firms' innovation performance.

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