scholarly journals Does Provision of Smart Services Depend on Cooperation Flexibility, Innovation Flexibility, Innovation Performance or Business Performance in SMEs?

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-69
Author(s):  
Lucie Kanovska ◽  
Karel Doubravsky
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Smart Services ◽  
Smart Service

Many manufacturers provide a lot of accompanying services to their products. However, not all of them supply smart services, because the move towards these is not easy, especially for SMEs, which often struggle with a lack of money, insufficient digital technologies or unskilled employees. The aim of this paper is to find out if smart service provision depends on cooperation flexibility, innovation flexibility, innovation performance and business performance in SMEs. To fulfil the research aim, quantitative research was carried out among 112 Czech electrotechnical SMEs. The findings show that the higher the rating companies give to working with external customers, the less chance they have of providing smart services. Thus, SMEs who value cooperation flexibility with external customers as less important are more likely to provide smart services. The higher rating companies give to product innovation flexibility, the higher the chance for providing smart services. Thus, we can expect companies who value product innovation flexibility more highly to more likely deliver smart services.

scholarly journals Are smart service manufacturing providers different in cooperation and innovation flexibility, in innovation performance and business performance from non-smart service manufacturing providers?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 105-116
Author(s):  
Lucie Kaňovská
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Theoretical Implication ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Smart Services ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Smart Service ◽  
The Impact

Abstract To overcome the challenges posed by increasing competition, many traditional manufacturing companies are moving from the mere production of manufacturing goods to the integration of services that are more or less integrated into the product, which is also due to the constant development of the industry. Moreover, many manufacturing companies offer products that use smart technologies. This paper focuses on the importance of smart service provision for cooperation and innovation flexibility, innovation performance and business performance in small and medium manufacturing companies. The paper aims to find out if smart service manufacturing providers are different in cooperation and innovation flexibility and innovation and business performance from non-smart service manufacturing providers. To better understand the issue, research was undertaken in 112 small and medium manufacturing companies of the Czech Republic. The problems of smart service provision were investigated in the first empirical research held among the electric engineering companies (CZ-NACE 26 and CZ-NACE 27) in the Czech Republic. The findings show that smart service manufacturing providers are better in internal cooperation flexibility, innovation flexibility related to product and to accompanying services and in business performance than non-smart service manufacturing providers. Theoretical implication contributes in two specific ways: first, in the presentation of the interconnection of smart services and cooperation flexibility, innovation flexibility, innovation performance and business performance; and second, in the identification of the impact of smart services in manufacturing SMEs and in finding out which areas affect the provision of smart services. The findings can have a positive influence in several areas; therefore, they can be important factors for many manufacturing companies which still need some persuasion to offer smart services.

Product innovation processes and the trade-off between product innovation performance and business performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Löfsten
Keyword(s):  
Product Innovation ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Innovation Activity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Framework ◽  
Innovation Processes

Purpose – This paper is concerned with the management and organization of product innovation processes, and how innovation performance relates to business performance. The underlying rationale is that encouraging firms to innovate will lead to a better business performance. Design/methodology/approach – This study leverages a data set of 99 medium-sized technology firms in Sweden. The first part of the analysis in this study aims at finding determinants of product innovation processes, and the second part is the analysis and trade-off between innovation performance and business performance. First, a research framework is developed in which the link between strategic dimensions, process dimensions and organizational dimensions of product innovation activity and product innovation performance is tested. Second, the research framework tests the relationship between innovation performance and business performance (sales and profitability). Findings – Product innovation performance (patent) is affected by seven variables of the 14 variables that represent product innovation processes. Product innovation performance is not affected by firm size, firm age, branch and product life cycles and, in the regression model, all three innovation performance variables (patents, copyrights and licenses) have a positive effect on the firm's sales, but there were no connections to the firm's profitability. Originality/value – The main implication of the study is the idea supporting a multi-aspects approach to the product innovation processes and performance since product innovation process dimensions (variables used in the study) have only partial influence on innovation-/business performance.

scholarly journals Study of SMEs from electrical engineering industry providing smart services in the Czech Republic

2021 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 05013
Author(s):  
Lucie Kaňovská ◽  
Veronika Bumberová
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Electrical Engineering ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Engineering Industry ◽  
Smart Services ◽  
Smart Service ◽  
And Performance

Research background: A buzzword such as industry 4.0, digitalization and smart services are tracking economic news in recent time. The world has changed over the last decade from a mainly physical to software controlled economy. Many manufacturers provide a lot of accompanying services to their products. However, not all of them supply smart services with the expectation of achieving better performance, portfolio expansion and long-term cooperation with their customers. Purpose of the article: The aim of the paper is to find out differences between providers and non-providers of smart services and across subcategory of smart service providers in cooperation flexibility, innovation flexibility in product and accompanying services and performance. Methods: A quantitative research was held among 112 electro-technical SMEs in Czech Republic. The analysis is based on descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests to compare the differences in electrical industry and across providers of smart services in key areas. Findings & Value added: The findings show that the differences are statistically significant. The results in the field of electrical engineering suggest that the found diversity (patterns of behavior) could also help managers in this field and policies aimed at supporting the development of small businesses in this context.

Barriers to smart services for manufacturing companies – an exploratory study in the capital goods industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 846-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian Michael Klein ◽  
Sebastian Simon Biehl ◽  
Thomas Friedli
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Capital Goods ◽  
Smart Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Smart Service ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Service Businesses

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and investigate non-technical barriers for smart services in the capital goods industry. Design/methodology/approach A multiple methodology approach is adopted. First, qualitative workshops and interviews were conducted with 14 experts from five companies. The findings generated subsequently provided a basis for a large-scale quantitative survey of manufacturing company service representatives in the capital goods industry, the data from which were analyzed using explorative factor analysis. Findings In total, 25 items that represent barriers to smart service businesses were identified, using qualitative research. Large-scale quantitative research revealed 24 items structured into four factors. Additionally, the respondents’ assessment of the individual barriers’ impact on their smart service businesses is presented. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on manufacturing companies in the capital goods industry, mainly, in the European countries. Caution should be exercised in seeking to generalize the results to other industries. The findings should be confirmed with subsequent confirmatory analyses using additional data. Practical implications The authors’ findings provide a comprehensive list and classification of barriers, as well as an assessment of their severity, serving as a practical guideline for managers. Originality/value This paper explores the barriers to smart services from a provider’s perspective. Its holistic approach and use of large-scale quantitative data qualify it as one of the first studies of this kind.

Trading places: innovation and performance go head-to-head

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 14-16
Keyword(s):  
Product Innovation ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Firms ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds his own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – This briefing examines the trade-offs that take place between product innovation performance and business performance. It leverages a data set of 99 medium-sized technology firms in Sweden and considers the variables that affect these trade-offs. The paper suggests that while product innovation performance is positively related to the sales of the firm, the links with profitability are rather less proven. Practical implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and an easy-to-digest format.

scholarly journals COLLABORATION IN SMART SERVICES – THE RIGHT WAY TO GO?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucie Kanovska
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Smart Services ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Smart Service ◽  
The Right

Many current manufacturers provide not only tangible products to their customers, but also services which are accompanying their products. Moreover, manufacturers add smart services to their service offerings. Applying the change toward smart services is not easy, especially in SMEs where many of businesses struggle with lack of money, insufficient digital technologies or unskilled employees. The aim of the study mentioned in this paper explores current situation in SMEs and their attitudes related to collaboration with other subjects on their markets. To address the research objective, a qualitative multi-case study was conducted among seven Czech electrotechnical SMEs, which have already started with smart service development. The findings can indicate two approaches of collaboration based mostly on the owners’ enthusiasm for smart services, management’s age and the length of running their business. The study is unique in highlighting the problems of smart services in SMEs in the Czech Republic, where the industrial sector is still dominant in comparison to other European countries.

scholarly journals Role of Human Resource Practices and Corporate Entrepreneurship: Mediation of Transformational Leadership and Product Innovation Performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-09
Author(s):  
Masoodul Hassan ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Corporate Entrepreneurship ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Human Resource Practices ◽  
The Impact

Leadership is considered as an important factor that influences product innovation performance. Contemporary global economies continuously strive to foster innovation and improvisation in their production is the demand of today’s global economy that organizations continuously bring innovation and improve their products. The purpose of present research is to find out that how transformational leadership linked to product innovation. Moreover, the study hypothesized that corporate entrepreneurship and human resource practices mediate the relationship of transformational leadership and product innovation performance. Present research is based on quantitative research design and 150 survey questionnaires were employed to collect data from Textile sector of Pakistan. To analyze data, WarPLS was used. The findings confirmed the hypotheses that the study contributes toward the theory of leadership by uncovering the impact of human resource practices in innovation. Moreover, the findings of our study show that transformational leadership positively influence product innovation performance. It implies that managers should improve their leadership style in order to encourage employees to take part in innovative activities. Other variables such as learning orientation and supervisory commitment can be investigated in future studies.

Evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Eastern Europe since the end of communism

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-100
Author(s):  
Svetoslav Georgiev ◽  
Emil Georgiev
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Product Quality ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of top management’s understanding of product quality in Bulgaria since the end of communism. The study examines three specific areas: top management’s understanding of the term “quality”; top management’s understanding of the relationship between quality and business performance; and top management’s understanding of the impact of job position on quality. Design/methodology/approach The paper relies on a quantitative research approach by using data from a survey of 186 companies in Bulgaria. Findings The paper suggests that senior managers in Bulgaria continue to base their understanding of “quality” on a single approach (*a characteristic of the communist era), with the product-based and the user-based approaches currently being the two most common ones. At the same time, surprisingly enough, this study claims that senior management in Bulgaria is currently well aware of the importance of quality as a dimension of firm’s competitiveness, and is also highly conscious of its roles’ impact on product quality. Research limitations/implications The results of this study are exclusively based on the case of Bulgaria and must be treated with caution in the case of other former communist states from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region. Practical implications This paper has relevance for both managers and companies doing business in Eastern Europe. Originality/value This is the first paper to provide detailed analysis of the evolution of the understanding of “product quality” in CEE since the end of communism. Moreover, this paper applies, for the first time, Garvin’s five approaches to defining quality within a practical context.

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