scholarly journals Critical analysis of the role of innovative capabilities on firm performance: Evidence from the University of Cape Coast administration in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Y. Adom ◽  
Lydia Boateng ◽  
Robert Gnankob
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Market Share ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Innovative Capabilities ◽  
The University

Background: The increasingly competitive business environment has made it imperative for organisations to put in place systems and processes that will guarantee appreciable firm performance in the interest of its stakeholders. To this end, several solutions have been developed to ensure that desired firm outcomes are achieved despite the dynamics of competition. However, critical review of extant literature reported mixed results on the innovative capabilities of firms and their performance nexus. Therefore, this article explored the role of innovative capabilities on the performance of firms with the University of Cape Coast as a case study.Aim: This paper explored the role of innovative capabilities on the performance of firms with the evidence from the University of Cape Coast.Setting: The research was carried out in Ghana to assess innovative capabilities and performance relationship among institutions of higher learning with evidence from the University of Cape Coast.Methods: Using a descriptive research design, the study collected data from 250 administrative staff in the university of Cape Coast. The findings of the study confirmed that the administrative staffs of the University of Cape Coast have embraced innovation at different levels of operations.Results: The findings indicate that innovation in the organisation is able to promote high team spirits, risk taking, productivity, low resistance to change, competitive advantage, increase market share, increase productivity among staffs, growth and profitability of educational institutions, creates loyalty towards the institution’s services, and makes teaching and learning convenient.Conclusion: It was concluded that there have been some innovations in University of Cape Coast and so much of such innovations would make teaching and learning more convenient, lead to higher competitive advantage and market share and boosting overall performance.

scholarly journals The role of innovation potential in gaining competitive advantage in industrial companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 116-129
Author(s):  
Sattar Kadim Hachim Almrshed
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Industrial Firms ◽  
Industrial Companies ◽  
Innovation Potential ◽  
Innovative Capabilities ◽  
A Company

In today’s highly dynamic business environment, it is crucial to the growth and prosperity of a company to gain and retain a competitive advantage. Organizations need to develop unique competitive advantages to keep pace with the pace of change in technology and customer requirements. In this difficult task, organizations can benefit from innovation strategies and tools more than ever before, as they help companies improve their position in the market by increasing their performance and efficiency, and one of the strategically effective ways is to develop the innovative capabilities of a company. Our aim in this study is to clarify the role of innovative capabilities strategies in improving the performance of the organization and achieving a competitive advantage in the market. This article provides an up–to–date review of the existing literature in the field of innovation and innovative potential in order to identify the potential consequences of industrial firms gaining innovative capacity and their role in gaining a competitive advantage. This study will help managers and practitioners to understand the role of innovation management tools in gaining a competitive advantage through strategies for successfully assessing innovation potential.

The moderating role of competitive strategy in relating firm performance to quality management and government support

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiqin Han ◽  
S.W.F. (Onno) Omta ◽  
Jacques Trienekens ◽  
Ron Kemp
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Competitive Strategy ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Supplier Quality Management ◽  
Quality Design

One of the main concerns in companies is quality management and its relationship to firm performance. Recently a growing interest in research is the important role of the business environment in the competitive strategy choices of companies. By proposing a conceptual framework for a general model that explains the quality management practices-firm performance link and the business environment-firm performance link, we test the moderating role of competitive strategy in the two links empirically. A survey was conducted of 229 pork-processing firms in the emerging economy of China. We find that specific quality management practices contributing to higher performance include in-company quality management, supplier quality management, employee involvement in quality management and process management, while quality design and customer quality management are not included. Findings also indicate that the business environment (government support in our research) has a positive relationship to firm performance. Competitive strategy only strengthens the relationship between firm performance and quality design, process management, supplier quality management and customer quality management.

scholarly journals Strategic Planning and Competitive Advantage of ICT Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary B. Awino
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Balanced Score Card ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The Paper is the research findings on the role of strategic planning and competitive advantage of ICT Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya. Literature suggests that the contemporary business environment in which organisations operate is increasingly becoming uncertain and unpredictable. Significant changes are mostly driven by technological changes, globalisation and trade liberalisation. As a result, like large enterprises, SMEs are facing new and unexpected challenges that threaten their competitiveness. While most countries acknowledge the critical role that SMEs contribute to their economies, both as an engine of growth and sustainable development, many questions still remain unanswered as to the determination of the critical challenges facing SMEs and how these challenges could be addressed to improve their competitiveness. These challenges have increased the need for empirical information which is essential for decision making in addressing issues that are likely to enhance SMEs survival and growth. It is noted that there has been no adequate research studies on the role of strategic planning and competitive advantage of SMEs. This study contributes to the need to address the research gaps and thus explored the role of strategic planning and competitive advange of SMEs in Kenya. The study population consisted of 238 ICT SMEs from Nairobi and its environs. A sample size of 146 firms constituting 61 per cent of the total population was selected through stratified sampling. The study aimed to collect data from 438 respondents from top, middle and lower management teams. Structured questionnaires with closed and open ended questions was used for data collection, 239 responses were received from 123 ICT firms a response rate of 55 per cent and 84.2 per cent respectively. Key characteristics of strategic planning including formality, environmental analysis processes both internal and external orientations, strategies adopted, and implementation and control were recorded. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, t-test, ANOVA, correlation, correlation matrixes and regression analysis. The key findings revealed that strategic planning has significant and positive influence in performance of SME’s. The test of hypothesis revealed that strategic planning has positive and significant influence on competitive advantage. The study demonstrated strategic planning as a learning tool and a strategic resource which is consistent with the underlying assumptions of resource based theory, systems theory, chaos theory and balanced score card model assumptions. It is envisaged that, this kind of research is likely to generate useful discussions on the role of strategic planning and performance, of SMEs. It is apparent that entrepreneurs of SMEs cannot ignore strategic planning as significant changes in competitive advantage is the result of change or effective application of strategic planning. Policy makers and academicians may need to address the capacity needs of SMEs and develop strategic planning model that address the challenges that SMEs encounter in a dynamic environment.

Investigating the Impact of Research and Development Strategy on Firm Performance

2011 ◽  
Vol 495 ◽  
pp. 306-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Trivellas
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Organizational Size ◽  
Market Shares ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines the influence of Research and Development (R&D) strategy on firm performance controlling for external environment. In this turbulent era, several firms build their competitive advantage on their innovation competence investing on R&D. Drawing upon a sample of 248 firms located in Greece, a structured questionnaire was developed to measure R&D strategy, external environment (dynamism, complexity, munificence, technological) and firm performance (financial, market, innovation, growth and organizational). The importance of R&D strategy in explaining the variance of all performance dimensions is confirmed with innovation performance playing a dominant role. Results indicate that R&D strategy is the most crucial antecedent of firm performance, controlling for business environment. Among environmental dimensions, only dynamism exerts statistical significant relationships. Regarding organizational size, larger firms possess a competitive advantage in the market, enjoying dominant market shares, while smaller firms exhibit supremacy regarding their innovative behavior.

scholarly journals Blackboard as a Motivator for Saudi EFL Students: A Psycholinguistic Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Jamal Kaid Mohammed Ali
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Instructional Materials ◽  
Virtual Classes ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Methods Of Learning ◽  
Motivating Factor ◽  
The University ◽  
English Students

Blackboard is a learning management system (LMS) that provides students with an opportunity to access the course at their convenience. Blackboard makes it possible for students to do online activities, interact with other students and their teachers, review instructional materials, and listen to the recorded classes. Students can also attend live lectures and discussion via virtual classes (collaborative blackboard) from homes, cafés, or from anywhere they choose. All of these features can be accessed by students anytime and anywhere. This facility might motivate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students to study effectively and efficiently. The purpose of this research is to investigate the use of Blackboard system in teaching and learning and evaluate its influence on motivating Saudi English students. It looks at the role of Blackboard on English students’ motivation from their own point of view and tries to determine whether or not students encounter issues that affect their motivation. El-Seoud et al. (2014, p. 2) believe that “the success or failure of online instruction is perhaps related to student motivation”. This study is conducted at the University of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. The sample consisted of 80 students from the English Department. This is a mixed method study of the students who use Blackboard for online learning. The study found that using Blackboard motivated students to work harder and learn better than traditional methods of learning. It also found that students believe that Blackboard is a motivating factor. Some demotivating factors have also been identified in this study.

Building an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Dimension in an Institution of Higher Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-214
Author(s):  
Ron Corso
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
First Century ◽  
Disruptive Effect ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
End User ◽  
New Research ◽  
The University

Institutions of higher education in the twenty-first century are undergoing a transformation locally and globally from traditional pillars of learning to being more entrepreneurial in their core business. There is increasing pressure on universities to becoming more flexible and adaptable as organizations and in the graduate attributes, they imbed in their students. There is a need to build deeper links with business, to both maximize innovation and promote growth, to ensure students are equipped to excel in the workforce. This change is having a disruptive effect on the role of universities, from classical research institutions to entrepreneurial universities mimicking more of the modern workplace working environment, requiring autonomy in their decision-making and in the way new research is developed, implemented and transferred in the relationships formed within their respective regions. This article outlines work in progress on the University of South Australia’s attempts to rebrand itself as a University of Innovation and Enterprise (Australia’s University of Enterprise) in both its end-user inspired research outcomes and industry-informed teaching and learning.

scholarly journals Teaching Grenfell: The Role of Emotions in Teaching and Learning for Social Change

Sociology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 1026-1042
Author(s):  
Laura Connelly ◽  
Remi Joseph-Salisbury
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Sociological Perspective ◽  
Transformative Potential ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The University ◽  
Limit Capacity

Although literature on the role of emotions in teaching and learning is growing, little consideration has been given to the university context, particularly from a sociological perspective. This article draws upon the online survey responses of 24 students who attended sociological classes on the Grenfell Tower fire, to explore the role emotions play in teaching that seeks to politicise learners and agitate for social change. Contributing to understandings of pedagogies of ‘discomfort’ and ‘hope’, we argue that discomforting emotions, when channelled in directions that challenge inequality, have socially transformative potential. Introducing the concept of bounded social change, however, we demonstrate how the neoliberalisation of Higher Education threatens to limit capacity for social change. In so doing, we cast teaching as central to the discipline of sociology and suggest that the creation of positive social change should be the fundamental task of sociological teaching.

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