Mastering innovation in the manufacturing sector

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 their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This research paper concentrates on understanding the types of innovation that can boost the profit margins of manufacturing companies in Spain. Digital service innovation can be a welcome factor that meshes with product innovation and process innovation, to enhance profits within defined manufacturing sub-sectors – namely computer manufacturing and machinery manufacturing. These processes should be introduced and pursued simultaneously, as an essential condition for producing positive effects on profitability. In other sub-sectors, the digital service innovation isn't required, since this merely adds a neutral impact to the profit-driving effects of the effective duo of process innovation and product innovation. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers’ hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Keterlibatan Konsumen Dalam Kebaruan Produk

Involvement is a key word in the context of product novelty, when businesses are required to become more competitive in product innovation. This point of view forms the basis for understanding the two concepts of business existence. First, the demand to develop new products is directed to product innovation because technology is increasingly developing. Novelty needs to keep pace with technological advances as well as be market-oriented. Second, the business builds a collaborative commitment with its customers. This indicates a position where the relationship with the market demands an equal role. Businesses no longer take distance in building relationships with their markets. Thus consumers will gothrough a dynamic process in the experience of using the product, and businesses will continue to consistently motivate consumer learning in the process of product novelty adoption. This study aims to explain consumer’s learning experience on product novelty from the process of consumer involvement in the holistic experience of responding to product novelty. A combined quantitative-qualitative approach (mixed-method approach) is applied. The quantitative approach was carried out using SEM analysis with the SmartPLS tool on 113 respondents, while the qualitative approach was carried out using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) technique on participant narratives. Furthermore, from the two approaches, an integration process was carried out to find the grand theme of consumer learning experiences in the context of their involvement in responding to product novelty. Through this research, it can be seen that the product novelty learning experience is formed through initial involvement to recognize, andcontinued involvement in using the product. The product novelty learning experience is the involvement of consumers in realizing essential realities, practical realities, and contextual realities.

Strategic Supplier Selection's Effects on Buyer Competitive Performance in Matching Domains: Is Supplier Integration Effective at Mediating Relationships?

The purpose of this research is to determine whether strategic supplier selection based on supplier capability in new product development, supplier quality, and supplier cost directly or indirectly improves the buyer's competitive performance capabilities in the matched domains of buyer product innovation, buyer quality, and buyer competitive pricing. The resource-based view of the firm is used to frame the direct effects of strategic supplier selection, arguing that a buyer's ability to select a supplier with resources and expertise in a specified domain should improve the buyer's performance capability in the "matched" domain (but not necessarily in "unmatched" domains). Two supplier integration techniques are considered as potential mediators, assuming indirect pathways. The research hypotheses examine both direct and indirect impacts for each of the matched domains, but do not assume cross-domain interactions. For instance, supplier selection for new product development capability should have an effect on buyer product innovation (in matched domains), but not always on buyer quality capability (unmatched domains). While the direct impacts of strategic supplier selection on buyer performance are supported in each matched domain, the indirect effects via supplier integration are not substantial for the matched domains. Strategic supplier selection is identified as a viable source of competitive advantage in the resource-based view. By contrast, supplier development and supplier partnership do not provide additional performance benefits in a particular domain over and beyond those obtained from strategic supplier selection in that domain; rather, it is the type of the resources selected that determines competitive advantage.

The power of strategic knowledge management in the relationship between innovation and the performance of large manufacturing firms in Malaysia

Purpose This study aims to explore the interaction of strategic knowledge management (SKM) and innovation on the performance of large manufacturing firms (LMFs) in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative approach in investigating this interaction. Smart partial least-squares analysis was performed to test the hypotheses. Findings It was observed that administrative innovation, process innovation and product innovation were effective drivers of LMF performance. It was also ascertained that SKM has no moderating effect on the product innovation relationship with performance, although it does moderate the relationships between LMF performance and administrative innovation and process innovation, respectively. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of this study is its focus on Malaysian LMFs. It nevertheless contributes to the literature by extending understanding of SKM and innovation dimensions from multi-faceted perspectives. As this is largely ignored in the literature, the study paves the way for additional research. Practical implications The findings may be used as guidelines for chief executive officers, particularly on the way SKM and innovation can be developed for enhanced LMF performance, in the context of South Asian countries. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical work to confirm the main drivers of SKM, including in the analysis the effect of administrative innovation, process innovation and product innovation and performance, in the context of the manufacturing sector. In support of an original conceptual model, the insights contribute to the literature on innovation, LMFs, SKM and emerging economies.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Polish Industry

Entrepreneurship is a process in which goals or tasks are set at one’s own initiative, whereby no efforts are spared to ensure their efficient and effective implementation. The concept of entrepreneurship is associated with innovation as entailing ongoing research and the introduction of rational changes and novel ideas. The aim of the research is to determine the regression interdependencies between the number of enterprises (entrepreneurship) and process and product innovation expenditure (innovators' activity) and the number of inventions (inventors' activity), and in the second regression model: also the number of enterprises (entrepreneurship) and process and product innovative expenditure (innovators' activity) and the number of patents (inventors' activities) generated within the Polish industry in the years 2015-2017. The hypothesis is that patents (inventors' activities) get reinforced with process and product innovation expenditures (innovators’ activities) employed in the process of growth of the number of enterprises (entrepreneurship) in industry, as well as the overall efficiency of expenditures and technologies (patents) in the Polish industry over the course of the researched years. Conducted studies have confirmed the above hypothesis. In addition, the research carried out has shown that patents (inventors 'activities) have supplemented the share (elasticity) of process and product innovation (innovators' activities) by 10% in the increase in the number of enterprises (entrepreneurship) as observed in industry. This share is transferred from the supply element to that of demand.

Affective Computing in Marketing: Practical Implications and Research Opportunities Afforded by Emotionally Intelligent Machines

After years of using AI to perform cognitive tasks, marketing practitioners can now use it to perform tasks that require emotional intelligence. This advancement is made possible by the rise of affective computing, which develops AI and machines capable of detecting and responding to human emotions. From market research, to customer service, to product innovation, the practice of marketing will likely be transformed by the rise of affective computing, as preliminary evidence from the field suggests. In this Idea Corner, we discuss this transformation and identify the research opportunities that it offers.