Relationship between quality management, innovation and competitiveness. Evidence from Greek companies

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1177-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Kafetzopoulos ◽  
Katerina Gotzamani ◽  
Vasiliki Gkana
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Sustainable Competitive Advantage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which five core dimensions of quality management, as a single factor, are associated with product innovation and process innovation; and finally how these two affect a firm’s competitive advantage in the market. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis followed in order to investigate the relations between the constructs of the proposed model, includes an initial exploratory factor analysis (EFA), followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and finally structural equation modelling (SEM) Findings – According to the study findings, quality management (QM) directly contributes to product and process innovation. Furthermore, product and process innovation have a direct impact on companies’ competitive advantage. Thus, the study proves that QM is an opportunity for a firm to improve its innovation and consequently its competitiveness. Research limitations/implications – This study relies on the perceptions of the respondents to operationalize the survey instrument. In addition, all variables are measured in the year that the survey was carried out. However, since the research exams the relationship between QM, technical innovation and competitive advantage across various organizations, it would be interesting to conduct a longitudinal study within these organizations. Practical implications – Our study offers clear implications for managers, proving that they should give higher emphasis on QM and innovation in order to prioritize their product, production and technology strategies, to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Originality/value – Based on the multi-dimensional structure of QM, this empirical study determines the contribution of QM to specific innovation performance and overall competitiveness of companies.

Innovation capabilities for global R&D projects in subsidiaries

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisangela Lazarou Tarraço ◽  
Roberto Carlos Bernardes ◽  
Felipe Mendes Borini ◽  
Dennys Eduardo Rossetto
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Foreign Subsidiaries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process

Purpose Is the development of local innovation capabilities enough for foreign subsidiaries in emerging markets to be able to integrate into global R&D projects? The authors argue that it is not. The purpose of this paper is to show the central role of R&D capacities when it comes to inserting foreign subsidiaries in emerging markets into global R&D projects. Design/methodology/approach The study investigated 131 foreign multinational subsidiaries operating in Brazil. For each subsidiary, the authors surveyed two to five directors or C-level executives from innovation, R&D, engineering, product development and projects. the authors used structural equation modeling for analysis. Findings The results indicate that product and process innovations alone do not guarantee the insertion of the emerging market subsidiaries into global innovation projects. Such insertion depends on the subsidiary’s accumulation of R&D capacities. Practical implications The results reinforce the central issue of building product and process innovation capabilities as the first step toward a blueprint for global projects. However, the effort is not limited to these initiatives. Product and process innovation efforts need be reverted in headquarters’ eyes in order for subsidiaries to gain R&D center status. To achieve this, subsidiaries must align their technological innovations with multinational corporations’ innovation strategies. Originality/value In authors’ view, this study contributes to the literature in three main areas: the evolutionary process of innovation capability in subsidiaries, the reverse innovation debate and the discussion of subsidiaries’ initiatives.

The roles of external embeddedness and institutional distance in the subsidiary product/process innovation and R&D capacity

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 2513-2530
Author(s):  
Cristina Doritta Rodrigues ◽  
Felipe Mendes Borini ◽  
Muhammad Mustafa Raziq ◽  
Roberto Carlos Bernardes
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Institutional Distance ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Subsidiary Innovation ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
External Embeddedness ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to look at the relationship of external embeddedness and institutional distance (governance aspects) with the foreign subsidiary research and development (R&D) capacity. Furthermore, it examines whether these relationships are mediated by subsidiary product and process innovation, and whether institutional distance plays a moderating role in the relationship between subsidiary innovation and R&D capacity. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw on survey data from 130 foreign subsidiaries operating in Brazil and test their model using variance-based structural equation modeling. Findings Results suggest that subsidiary (product and process) innovation fully mediates the relationships between: subsidiary external embeddedness and R&D capacity; and institutional distance and subsidiary R&D capacity, such that the relationship is positive in case of the former and negative in case of the latter. The relationship between subsidiary product and process innovation and R&D capacity is positive and stronger at lower levels of institutional distance. Originality/value The research ignores the underlying mechanisms of the external embeddedness and institutional distance relationship with subsidiary R&D capacity. Furthermore, institutional distance based on formal governance aspects and their impacts on subsidiary innovation and R&D capacity are rarely investigated. This paper contributes with regard to these aspects.

Determinants of company innovation and market performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelos Psomas ◽  
Dimitrios Kafetzopoulos ◽  
Katerina Gotzamani
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Market Performance ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Practices ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
The Impact ◽  
A Company

Purpose The present study focuses on two basic determinants of company innovation, namely, quality practices of top management and process quality management. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of these determinants on product and process innovation. Determining the impact of these dimensions of innovation on the market performance of a company is also an aim of the present study. Design/methodology/approach A research study was carried out on a sample of 433 Greek manufacturing and service companies. Data were obtained through a structured questionnaire from the chief executive officers of the companies. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are applied to extract and validate all the latent factors considered in the suggested model, while their relationships are determined through structural equation modeling. Findings The analysis of the empirical data shows that both the dimensions of company innovation examined in the present study (product and process innovation) are positively influenced by the quality practices of top management and process quality management. Improving these two dimensions of company innovation, in turn, results in increased market performance. Research limitations/implications First, the sample of the responding manufacturing and service Greek companies which includes both small and medium-sized enterprises and large companies and which operate in circumstances of financial crisis; second, the subjective data collected from only one company representative; and third, the examination of only two factors influencing company innovation, are the main limitations of the present study. Based on these limitations, future research studies are recommended. Practical implications The empirically validated theoretical model of the present study can guide the policy makers of a company to select a quality management and innovation strategy through which the company can lay the foundations to increase its market performance, and thus, overcome the current economic downturn and financial crisis. Researchers can also use the suggested valid model as an assessment tool, a benchmarking tool and a tool for the design of their future research studies. Originality/value The present study contributes to the literature by determining a valid model that describes simultaneously the relationships between quality management factors, product and process innovation and market performance. This is also the first study reflecting Greek companies’ efforts to withstand the current downturn and penetrate the market through innovation.

scholarly journals Relationship among quality management practices, innovation and competitive advantage in manufacturing companies certified with ISO 9001 in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 279-299
Author(s):  
John Lennon Andrade de Oliveira ◽  
Veruschka Franca ◽  
Jérsica Florindo De Araújo Barros
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Iso 9001 ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Quality Management Practices ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship among quality management practices, product and process innovation and competitive advantage in manufacturing companies certified with ISO 9001 in Brazil, using the model proposed by Kafetzopoulos, Gotzamani, and Gkana (2015). The study can be classified as descriptive, with data collection carried out by survey and quantitative approach with structural equation modelling. The results showed the model adopted has quality to measure the proposed relations, in addition to support the hypothesis previously defined. The conclusion of the study indicates the results contribution to the studies on the theme, the quality management practices have a positive and significant relationship with both types of innovation investigated, and the respective constructs of innovation have positive and significant relationships with competitive advantage.

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 Transformational leadership and employee voice for product and process innovation in SMEs

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-89
Author(s):  
Muhammad Athar Rasheed ◽  
Khuram Shahzad ◽  
Sajid Nadeem
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Employee Voice ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of transformational leadership on the innovation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through employee voice behaviors. Drawing from the upper echelon theory, it is hypothesized that employee voice is the mediating mechanism through which transformational leadership affects the process and product innovation in SMEs. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from 169 SMEs of Pakistan through an online self-administered questionnaire. The proposed hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings Findings confirm that transformational leadership positively affects both process and product innovation in SMEs and employee voice behavior mediates between these relationships. Originality/value This research contributes to both theoretical and practical domains by providing evidence that encouraging employees to raise their voice positively impacts product and process innovation and transformational leadership is a potential organizational factor to shape employee voice and process and product innovation. To the best knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the mediating role of employee voice between transformational leadership and process and product innovation in SMEs and developing country’s context.

Cooperation and competition among subsidiaries in a business group: their impacts on innovation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghong Li ◽  
Zhenning Yang ◽  
Pengcheng Ma ◽  
Hang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Business Group ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cooperation And Competition ◽  
Group Cooperation ◽  
Group Competition ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to document the relationship between intra-group coopetition and subsidiaries' innovation performance and the moderating impact of the intensity of external competition.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 75 subsidiaries in China through a questionnaire survey of their R&D and general managers. The total number of individual respondents was 205. We tested our hypothesis by using ordinary least squares regression.FindingsIntra-group cooperation was found to promote a subsidiary's performance in product and process innovation. Intra-group competition was found to have a U-shaped relationship with product and process innovation. Intra-group cooperation strengthens the U-shaped relationship between intra-group competition and process innovation.Research limitations/implicationsThis study involved firms from more than one industry. Studies of specific industries might reach more specific conclusions. And all of the data were self-reported by the managers of the firms concerned. Future studies would be well-advised to consider more objective data describing pairs of parent firms and subsidiaries.Practical implicationsSubsidiaries ought to build their internal networks to cooperate with each other. That can bring significant advantages in terms of information and synergy in innovation. Subsidiaries are also suggested to take full advantage of the opportunities that intra-group competition brings.Originality/valueThis study is the first one to explore coopetition phenomenon in the context of business group. By taking Chinese business group subsidiaries as the research samples, this research not only extends the coopetition research but also reveals that cooperation and competition are co-existed and exert influence in subsidiaries.

Green Organizational Culture: An Exploration of Dimensions

2021 ◽  
pp. 097215092110498
Author(s):  
Priyanka Aggarwal ◽  
Tanuja Agarwala
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Questionnaire Development ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Sustainable Competitive Advantage ◽  
The Impact

Awareness of environmental issues and stakeholder expectations has led organizations to be concerned about the impact of their products, processes and packaging on the natural environment. Environmental sustainability has become an essential tool for the competitive advantage of firms. Organizations need to bring about cultural transformation to sustain competitive advantage. This orientation has brought green organizational culture to centre stage as firms seek to institutionalize and incorporate environmental focus throughout the organization. The belief that integrating environmental concerns with organizational culture should result in sustainable competitive advantage mandates that firms measure the extent of ‘greening’ of the culture. Literature review reveals that ‘green organizational culture’ has begun to receive attention in recent years. However, a standardized and empirically validated instrument is not available for measuring the extent to which green values are internalized throughout the firm. The present study aims to fill this gap by developing a questionnaire to study green organizational culture (GOC). The model proposed by Harris and Crane (2002 , Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 15, pp. 214–234) is used as a basis for questionnaire development. A two-stage method of structural equation modelling in AMOS 23 is employed for data analysis. Exploratory factor analysis in SPSS reveals three dimensions of the construct measured by two items. Confirmatory factor analysis confirms the factor structure. The instrument satisfies the conditions of convergent and discriminant validity and the model fulfils the criteria for model fitness. Measurement of green organizational culture has important implications for creating and reinforcing greening through human resource policies and practices.

Bridge and redundant ties in networks: the impact on innovation in food SMEs

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghasem Shiri ◽  
Loïc Sauvée ◽  
Zam-Zam Abdirahman
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Innovation Activity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of networks diversity on innovation activity of firms. It aims to review the structural issue in innovation networks and to distinguish different structures of networks for product and process innovation through an empirical research. Design/methodology/approach – Using a data set of 348 European agri-food firms, the authors study the impact of bridge and redundant ties on product and process innovation of firms. This is an empirical research based on an online survey in five European countries. Findings – The finding shows that bridge ties (measured by the number of heterogeneous networks in which firm participate) always facilitate product innovation in firms. The authors found also that a high number of heterogeneous ties in term of partners (simultaneous presence of redundant and non-redundant ties) motivate both product and process innovation in firms. Furthermore, the authors found a positive impact of network competence on process innovation. Research limitations/implications – The measures of bridge ties and redundant ties are indirect measures. This choice is a willing choice. Direct measurement of bridge and redundant ties always requires in-depth interviews with firms managers and thereby are limited by the number of observations. Originality/value – Research on innovations networks are dominated by case studies and researches with limited number of observations. Studying the networking behaviour, particularly the tie selection, of a wide range of firms brings additional knowledge in this field of research.

Moderating role of innovation culture in the relationship between organizational learning and innovation performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peivand Ghasemzadeh ◽  
Jamal A. Nazari ◽  
Mandana Farzaneh ◽  
Gholamhossein Mehralian
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Culture ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose Different studies have analyzed the relationship between organizational learning (OL) and innovation performance (IP). However, the question of how innovation culture (IC) affects the relationship between OL and IP remains unexplored. This study aims to examine the impact of IC on the relationship between OL and various dimensions of IP, including product, process and objective innovation. Design/methodology/approach A research model was developed and performed based on the relevant literature in the field of OL, IC and IP. The hypotheses are tested with the data collected from companies operating in an intensive knowledge-based industry. Findings Based on the results of 625 questionnaires completed by pharmaceutical companies, OL activities and IC can result in product and process innovation. However, this relationship was not supported for the objective innovation. Furthermore, in terms of the moderating role of IC in the relationship between OL and IP dimensions, the results were significant. Practical implications The findings help to gain a better understanding of how organizational commitment by creating a culture for innovation can help to maximize the benefits of continuous OL in product and process innovation. Originality/value Considering the three aspects of IP, it is the first survey of the contribution of OL in firms’ IP with considering the moderating role of IC. The proposed model would enrich the relevant literature and provide us with better understanding how OL contributes to the IP.

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