Design Thinking to Reinvent Values in a Business Model: a 4-Step Approach Using Ideation Virtual Tools

The purpose of this paper is to create and test design thinking approach sequence, to redefine the value proposition. This paper suggests a 4-step systematic design thinking approach sequence to reinvent values in a business model, which was researched by a case study method. Based on the idea management approach the authors describe idea generation and evaluation processes by applying the design thinking approach and their possible moderation elements. Originality/value: a created approach could be applied by the organisations that would like to create new values or reinvent the existing ones in their business models value propositions.

Comparing the Profile Characteristics for Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Agri-business Incubators

The challenge faced by the incubators in India is finding good start-ups that solve theproblems in the market or in value chain. A well-structured incubation program may leadthe startup from idea generation stage to setting up the business and most crucial fundingsupport. Analysis of effectiveness of training programme was done using primary as wellas secondary data. Progress report of the institute and primary information from the traineeswere matched to reach usefulness of the training programme. The primary data was collectedduring August, 2019 to January 2020 with partial structured pre-scheduled interview. Forthe ICAR-BPD trainees there was no substantial variation in age or land ownership,implying that the comparison on certain dimensions could be due to the training programmerather than underlying human attributes. The ICAR-BPD trainees were mainly attemptingto obtain government employment and were often unaware of the training and otherresources available to help them establish their own enterprise. Almost all of the traineesattributed their progress to the RUDSET Institute’s EDP teaching.

Social media and new services: how a consulting firm leveraged LinkedIn

Purpose This paper aims to explore how social media can be used strategically for delivering new services in a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) context. Design/methodology/approach Single case study: CONSULT+ (pseudonym), a consulting firm specialized in change management. Consultants use a social media network to develop their new services. Findings To take on the challenges of heightened competition, CONSULT+ has created thematic business units to encourage new service development. This research explored strategies, practices and benefits associated of using social media network by intrapreneurs at all levels of new service idea trajectory (idea generation, elaboration, championing and implementation). Research limitations/implications The research is based on a single case study. Further research should be conducted to establish the generalization of the results. Practical implications This paper highlights the key success factors in making such an approach successful: raising awareness of the benefits of using social media; analysing of complementarities of tools; accompanying the development of advanced practices; capturing the valuable potential for the organization and avoiding negative effects of individual practices. Originality/value The research provides a unique approach that can be practically implemented within knowledge-intensive SMEs to leverage social media network to deliver new services (best practices and insights for managerial support schemes).

The impact of customer knowledge on the organizational performance: a system dynamics approach

PurposeThe purpose of this research was to model the impact of customer knowledge on the performance of organization with a focus on information technology industry. Furthermore, it is intended to analyze the effect of customer knowledge investment on the performance measures, by reviewing investment policies.Design/methodology/approachThe relationship between customer knowledge and performance measures was specified using literature review and grounded theory method. The system dynamics approach was then applied to analyze the impact of the customer knowledge on the performance measures.FindingsThis study provided a dynamic model on the causal relationship between customer knowledge and organizational performance. The results showed that measures such as product development, financial performance, idea generation, technical knowledge and knowledge maturity were affected by the customer knowledge while the relationship with customer loyalty and the number of customers was not proven. Besides, it was found that to increase the impact of customer knowledge on organizational performance, knowledge maturity was essential, and investing on customer knowledge without investing on knowledge maturity would reduce the organizational performance. The results also showed that more knowledge investment would not necessarily increase financial strength of the organization.Practical implicationsResults of this study could be useful for strategy formulation and deployment especially for IT-based companies showing the importance of investment on customer knowledge on the one hand and the knowledge maturity in the organization on the other hand.Originality/valueIn this research, the impact of customer knowledge on both financial and nonfinancial performance measures was studied showing new findings on the dynamism of their relationships.

University business idea incubation and stakeholders' engagement: closing the gap between theory and practice

PurposeThe paper aims to contributes on the debates about University Idea Incubation by investigating the role and the engagement of different University's stakeholders in the process of opportunity recognition in an entrepreneurship education program targeted at students with an interdisciplinary background.Design/methodology/approachThrough a longitudinal case study methodology, the Contamination Lab at University of Salento (Lecce, Italy), the learning approaches and the knowledge process to create an entrepreneurial awareness, mindset and capability in students with different educational background are presented.FindingsThe findings demonstrates the crucial role of stakeholders' engagement for business idea presentation, open innovation challenge, contamination workshop on specialized topics, enterprise projects are important vehicle for effective students' business ideas and innovative projects development in a multidisciplinary environment. The close interaction among students, academia, companies and institutions creates a favourable environment that enables opportunity identification, idea generation through a deep contamination of knowledge, skills and experiences.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations include the need to generalise the results even if this limitation is typical of the case study methodology. Other research is necessary for an in-depth analysis in deep of the other Contamination Lab in Italy and to derive the “invariance traits” of this environment according to the features of the local entrepreneurial ecosystems.Practical implicationsImplications for practices include recommendations for designing innovative programs where the interactions between University-Institutions-Industry are realized.Originality/valueA conceptual framework is proposed by defining all the entrepreneurial knowledge process and knowledge creation within the Contamination Lab, highlighting the contribution of the stakeholders in each phase and learning initiative of the program.

Shifting From Tokenism to Meaningful Adolescent Participation in Research for Obesity Prevention: A Systematic Scoping Review

Background: Traditionally, adolescent participation in research has been tokenistic. Adolescents are rarely afforded the opportunity to influence decision-making in research designed to prevent obesity. Engaging adolescents in meaningful decision-making may enhance research translation. This review aimed to analyze the current modes and nature of adolescent participation in obesity prevention research decision-making.Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's six-stage framework. Six major databases were searched for peer-reviewed primary research studies with adolescent participation related to obesity, physical activity, and diet. Modes of adolescent participation were categorized based on the Lansdown-UNICEF conceptual framework for measuring outcomes of adolescent participation. The framework outlines three modes of meaningful participation: (i) consultative, which involves taking opinions and needs into consideration; (ii) collaborative, where adolescents are partners in the decision-making process; and (iii) adolescent-led participation where adolescents have the capacity to influence the process and outcomes. The degree of involvement in research cycles was classified based on the National Health and Medical Research Council consumer engagement framework. Five stages of the research cycle were determined: identify, design and develop, conduct, analyze and disseminate.Results: In total, 126 papers describing 71 unique studies were identified. Of these, 69% (49/71) took place in the USA, and 85% (52/61) were conducted in minority or underserved communities, while males were more likely to be under-represented. In 49% (35/71) of studies, participation was consultative and 9% (6/71) of studies involved an adolescent-led approach. Furthermore, 87% (62/71) of studies incorporated adolescent participation in one or more of the research cycle's formative phases, which involve eliciting views, opinions and idea generation. Only 11% of studies engaged adolescents in all five stages of the research cycle where adolescents could have more influence over the research process.Conclusion: Meaningful adolescent participation in the obesity prevention research cycle is limited. Empowering and mobilizing equal partnership with adolescents should be at the forefront of all adolescent-related obesity prevention research.