International Journal of Innovation Science

Kawabata, Marcelo Koji; Camargo Junior, Alceu Salles

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-10-2019-0100

Innovation has been considered as an essential activity for companies to compete in modern and dynamic business environments. For the nations, innovation is considered a fundamental key activity for sustaining economic growth and competitive advantage over other countries. This paper aims to achieve a better understanding of the relationship between the quality of a country’s institutions and its levels of innovation activities and results.Design/methodology/approachControlling for the effects of the efforts and investments in research and development (R&D) and the foreign direct investments (FDI), this work proceeds to regression analysis to obtain the association between the quality of countries’ institutions and their innovation activities. Data was obtained from the Global Innovation Index (GII) for innovation activities and the Worldwide Governance Index, of the World Bank, for the quality of institutions for 127 countries.FindingsThe results show that the effectiveness of public administration and the regulatory quality are the quality of institution variables associated with the innovation activities. Also, this paper obtained a clustering of countries with a rank regarding not only innovation activities but also the conditions of the institutions’ quality, based on government effectiveness, regulatory quality, R&D, FDI and GII. This new compounded classification divided the 127 countries into three clusters – mature innovators, fresh innovators and structuring for innovation.Originality/valueNew forms of innovations’ ranking viewing can help to understand the conditionings that enhance countries’ and institutions’ competitiveness.

Kapoor, Madhavi; Aggarwal, Vijita

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-05-2019-0050

The purpose of this paper is to trace the evolution of dynamic capabilities theory in the primal theories of economics and strategic management. Then a comprehensive research framework is proposed to grapple with the dynamics of the contemporary global markets, incorporating the quintessential elements of the theory, i.e. absorptive capability, innovation capability and adoptive capability.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is conceptual in nature. It tries to review various economic systems of the world since 1770s till the present era. It also evaluates various theories of international business against dynamic capabilities theory and thus proposes various propositions for future empirical testing.FindingsThe study has delineated various theories tracing in them the roots of dynamic capabilities. Capitalism, communism and socialism is explained to reach the present state of world economy. Various theories such as the theory of creative destruction, transaction-cost approach, resource-based view and knowledge-based view of the firm have been elaborated to identify their features and shortcomings. Finally, the contemporary theory of dynamic capabilities has been elucidated to integrate the shortcomings of the previous theories. A research framework has also been proposed to overcome the recent criticism of the dynamic capabilities theory of having under-specified constructs.Originality/valueVery few studies have elaborated various economic systems and theories to trace the evolution of dynamic capabilities theory. Thus, this study is original in nature and the proposed research model is also novel which induces further empirical evidence as proposed by the authors.

Sartori, Rodrigo Vinicius; Reis, Dalcio Roberto dos; Bronzeri, Marcia; Silva, Adriana Queiroz

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-01-2018-0007

This paper aims to describe how the technology forecast process occurs at a technology-based company named Daiken, a Brazilian electronics industry, located in the state of Parana. The study helps to clarify the context that tech-companies in Brazil face when trying to forecast new technologies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper opted for a case study, in a qualitative and descriptive approach. Primary data were collected through a semi-structured interview and non-participant observation. Secondary data were generated through documentary research.FindingsOutcomes indicate that, for the studied case, technology forecast practices are adopted in an informal and unsystematic way, best aligned to the nature of competitive intelligence.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the chosen research approach, the results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the propositions further.Practical implicationsThe paper includes implications for the adjustment of technology forecast tools to the reality seen in emergent nations like Brazil.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills an identified need to study how to conduct the technology forecast processes in small and mid-tech-companies in Brazil.

Miller, Linda; Miller, Andrew Foster

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-04-2019-0042

The purpose of this study was to understand how innovative work behavior (IWB) was affected by leaders’ relationships with their employees to enhance engagement/job commitment in the grocery retail industry. The general business problem is some organizations in the grocery retail industry lack IWB to generate innovative solutions to remain competitive.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a qualitative method and a single case study design because the literature identified a need to understand how the leader–member relationships, employee engagement/job commitment and employee idea generation and implementation affect organizational innovation in the grocery retail industry. Using this method and design provided the appropriate approach to explore a single organization business process model for innovation. The three data sources for this study were semistructured one-on-one individual interviews, a single focus group and relevant organizational documentation.FindingsThe findings showed high-quality relationships between knowledge workers and their leaders can positively affect their engagement/job commitment and ability to generate and implement useful ideas. A fundamental catalyst for IWB is when all four critical forces are in alignment including high-quality relationships between the knowledge workers and their leadership, the employee is fully engaged and the organization promotes risk-taking behavior to create new ideas with its commitment to innovation through resources and prioritization. The millennial participants indicated their leaders should be more transformational leaders coaching and mentoring them rather than transactional task-oriented disciplinarians. The Generation X and baby boomer participants were seeking more autonomy and resources to explore ideas.Research limitations/implicationsFuture researchers could consider exploring a deeper understanding of the multigenerational knowledge workers’ needs to help leaders stimulate employee engagement/job commitment and increase IWB.Practical implicationsOrganizations are able to meet the market demand for innovation and remain competitive.Social implicationsHigher quality leader–member relationships lead to employee engagement/job commitment that can increase innovation.Originality/valueThe findings were the trends and preferences revealed within generational groupings. The needs and wants expressed by the millennial participants indicated that their leaders should be more of a coach and mentor. The Generation X and baby boomer participants were seeking more autonomy and resources to explore ideas.