International Journal of Innovation Science

Motiani, Naresh N.; Kulkarni, Abhay

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-09-2020-0159

The purpose of this paper is to study the role of leadership in implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in a knowledge process outsourcing/business process outsourcing (KPO/BPO) service environment. KPO/BPO organizations present unique operational challenges such as client contractual obligations, young worker age profile, high attrition, dynamic outsourced business processes, technological disruptions to list a few. To implement LSS in such an environment, leadership plays a crucial role. While it is known that leadership is a critical success factor for LSS implementation, their role in a recently evolved KPO/BPO sector is hardly studied leading to high failures. The present study aims to address this gap.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative case study research method is used. A case study protocol consisting of research outline, data collection plan, interview schedule and list of expert reviewers was prepared. A semi-structured interview schedule of the case organization was used that covered exploring the leadership role in terms of their leadership style, communication, employee engagement and their ability to guide program in entire LSS implementation process. Further depth is obtained by considering dimensions of LSS implementation process such as actors involved, processes adopted, performance outcomes, implementation challenges and competency requirements. Primary and secondary data from two case studies yielded rich insights and helped to answer the research questions around role of leadership in LSS implementation for the KPO/BPO service environment.FindingsThis research case study demonstrates key leadership competencies that lead to successful implementation of LSS in two KPO/BPO organizations. To handle implementation challenges, a combination of LSS and transformation style of leadership style was observed. Leadership role focussed on coaching and empowering, rather than telling and controlling. Apart from the 17 leadership competencies seen in published literature, the authors observed 12 specific competencies (7 interpersonal and 5 LSS) in two case organizations that enabled effective LSS implementation. This study also gives an in depth understanding of the leadership role and enabling competencies during LSS implementation.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the inherent limitations of case study research method, researchers and practitioners must be cautious to the extent of generalization of findings and the conclusions.Practical implicationsPositioning leadership to managing the LSS implementation in KPO/BPO service operations helps in innovative adaption of standard improvement methodologies (such as LSS) to address their specific problems and deliver on the overall organizational goals.Originality/valueCurrent study explores in depth how leadership role impacts LSS implementation in two KPO/BPO case organizations. Studies focussing on LSS service operations model in a KPO/BPO environment are not extensively published, especially those covering leadership role during LSS implementation.

Tripathi, Sachin; Hudnurkar, Manoj; Ambekar, Suhas Suresh

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-09-2020-0173

The purpose of this research paper is to understand the major factors considered before choosing the mode of transportation for the freight movement in India by different stakeholders and look into the future prospects on each of these sectors, i.e. railways, roadways and inland waterways.Design/methodology/approachThis paper collected the primary data from the various stakeholders in the transportation sector and the secondary data through websites and various ministries of each of the sectors. The various factors are then determined by thoroughly analysing the responses by performing factor analysis in SPSS.FindingsEarlier railways were the preferred medium of transportation, but the dynamics shifted during the 90’s to roadways, and now, it is responsible for nearly 60% of the freight traffic with waterways slowing increasing its share of the pie. Also, there are a lot of factors which stakeholders consider, but the major factors that came out are cost, sustainability, timing, government initiatives, visibility and performance.Practical implicationsThe result of this study implies that sectors should create a robust network for easy reach of the customers and try working in conjunction to create an efficient, affordable and highly connected network. This study will also help in taking vital decisions regarding the future planning of transportation sector.Originality/valueThe findings help in improving the transportation network and help in better decision-making by various stakeholders while choosing the mode of transportation.

Kronemeyer, Lena L.; Draeger, Raik; Moehrle, Martin G.

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-04-2020-0052

Identifying ideas for frugal innovations could substantially support engineers and managers in their work. Patents may be a promising source of ideas for frugal innovations. The purpose of this paper is to show how patents of this kind can be identified.Design/methodology/approachPrior work has developed a generic process model to identify frugal patent candidates. They use semantic analysis and a frugal thesaurus for searching and characterizing frugal patent candidates. The question is, whether and how this process model can be applied to a different industry successfully? The field of small household appliances is selected as a testbed because it is known for including frugal innovations while having a different business model than the industrial field in which the thesaurus was developed.FindingsApplying the process model leads to a number of 22 strongly frugal patent candidates, which are manually evaluated based on three frugal characteristics. Due to this analysis, a high fraction of the candidates could be identified as frugal patents, which validates the process model. In addition, this paper outlines several options for enhancing the process model, e.g. by separating between a frugal search and a frugal evaluation thesaurus.Originality/valueThe process model to identify frugal patent candidates can be used by engineers and technology managers to find ideas for frugal innovations. This paper not only shows its applicability in the industry of small household appliances but gives the basis for its successful transfer to other industries.

Paños-Castro, Jessica; Arruti, Arantza

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-07-2020-0106

The purpose of this study is to determine the differences and similarities between the terms entrepreneurship and innovation when they are implemented in teaching–learning processes involved in the education field and the main characteristics of entrepreneurial and innovative individuals.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative methodology was used. A total of 21 Spanish experts in entrepreneurship and/or innovation in education at different levels participated in in-depth structured interviews.FindingsThere seems to be some connection between entrepreneurship and innovation, as there are cases in which one involves the other. Although innovation is more related to the improvement of processes, products and services, entrepreneurship is linked to the creation and setting up of businesses. Educational entrepreneurship and innovation could be defined in the same way. Entrepreneurship education, in contrast to innovation education, encompasses innovation but goes beyond it. It includes curricula and long-lasting educational changes that are part of a more comprehensive organisational approach and educational plan, oriented to the accomplishment of teaching–learning outcomes. More characteristics were mentioned for entrepreneurs than for innovators.Originality/valueThis study is an initial attempt to explore ideas from experts in education that could facilitate the work of teachers and educational stakeholders in a crucial area, entrepreneurial and/or innovative education. Having an entrepreneurial attitude is essential for individuals in a globalised society to successfully meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Sheth, Ananya; Sinfield, Joseph Victor

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-03-2020-0019

Problem specification is a key front-end step in the innovation process. This paper aims to introduce ‘purpose-context’ – a conceptual framework to systematically explore problem-specification across mapped contexts. The framework’s logic is operationalized by the inherent structure of language – its syntax/grammar, which enables the systematic exploration of problem-specification. The method showcases two approaches to structurally explore the vast textual databases available to us today for problem-specification in innovation science, thereby furthering the pursuit of innovation through its foundational elements.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptualization of the purpose-context framework was guided by logic and the scholarship of integration applied to bodies of work including innovation, design and linguistics. Further, the key elements of the conceptual framework were unpacked and structured using the syntax of language. Two approaches to operationalize the method were developed to illustrate the systematicity of the process. The construct was then validated by using it to systematically specify problems in the technical context of Raman spectroscopy and in the socio-technical context of international development. Overall, this paper is a work of relational scholarship of integration that bridges academic-practitioner gaps.FindingsThe purpose-context framework is well-suited for application in the innovation process with applicability across several abstraction levels. One key contribution is the recognition that a broader problem-specification exercise covering one-one, one-many, many-one, many-many problem-context mappings expands the range of potential solutions (innovations) to address the problem-space. Additionally, the work finds that it is possible to provide structure to the cognitive elements of the innovation process by drawing inspiration from the structure inherent in other cognitive processes such as language (e.g., parts-of-speech, phrase composition). Drawing from language is particularly appropriate as language mediates communication in any collective pursuit of the innovation process and furthermore because a large amount of information exists in textual form. Finally, this paper finds that there is merit in approaching innovation science from its foundational elements – i.e. data, information and knowledge.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the purpose-context framework is broadly applicable, the methodical approach to provide structure to the front-end cognitive process is ‘one’ fruitful approach. We suspect other approaches exist.Practical implicationsThe purpose-context framework is simple in its framing yet provides innovators, scholars and thought leaders, the ability to specify the problem space with greater coverage and precision. Further, in the solution-space, it provides them the ability to choose the breadth of solution scope (e.g. targeted solution addressing a single problem, targeted solution addressing a set of problems, the combination of solutions addressing a single problem and combination of solutions addressing a combination of problems). In addition, by pairing the creative front-end innovation process with machine power, this study provides a formal method to scale-up the coverage of creativity (and potentially that of solutions to those problems) and reduces the chances of missed/blind-spots in problem-specification. Finally, evaluating purpose-contexts leads to ‘capability-contexts’ – a capability-oriented viewpoint informing capability development decisions such as the focus of R&D programs and related resource allocation decisions.Originality/valueThe paper uses logic to connect multiple bodies of research with a goal to provide systematicity to problem-specification – problem-specification, which is an under-addressed part of the innovation process. The use of data to systematically explore problem-space lends it systematicity (repeatability and measurability) and is therefore, valuable to innovation science. The proof-of-concept demonstrates the conversion of concept into a method for practical application.

AlMulhim, Abdullah Fahad

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-09-2020-0130

This study aims to analyze the effect of external and internal sources of knowledge on frugal innovation. Moreover, it investigated how this relationship is weakened/strengthened by the moderation of innovation capabilities.Design/methodology/approachThis empirical study’s data were taken from 288 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by using a questionnaire survey. To analyze this data, analysis of a moment structures software (AMOS) was used. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the hypothesis and the slope test investigated moderation.FindingsThe study results showed the significant effect of internal and external sources of knowledge on frugal innovation. Moreover, the results highlighted that the moderating role of innovation capabilities strengthens this relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe SMEs of “Saudi Arabia” were considered for this study. Among these, this paper only focused on enterprises owned by Saudi citizens. Moreover, the data were collected from 288 SMEs. Therefore, future studies can be conducted from any other country with larger sample size. This study has used moderation of innovation capabilities and future studies can use information credibility as a moderating variable.Originality/valuePreviously, many studies have highlighted the importance of knowledge for innovation, but the effects of knowledge sources from the perspective of SMEs and emerging markets remain unexplained. Very limited studies have explored the relation of knowledge sources with frugal innovation. This study first examines the moderating role of innovation capabilities between “internal and external knowledge sources” and frugal innovation. Moreover, this research reveals the SMEs of Saudi Arabia and its sector of frugal products.

Yousaf, Usman; Ali, Syed Ahmad; Ahmed, Muhammad; Usman, Bushra; Sameer, Izba

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-09-2020-0133

Does entrepreneurship education (EE) really enhance participants’ self-efficacy and influence their attitudes towards starting new business? How does this attitudinal influence relate to participants’ entrepreneurial intention (EI)? Researchers and entrepreneurs alike have been probing into these questions with a view to capacitate the need of EE. This study aims to understand and operationalize a framework for entrepreneurship development by measuring participants’ intention towards entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachThe study proposed a sequential mediation framework to examine the impact of EE on EI mediated by self-efficacy and attitude towards starting new business. Testing the hypotheses on data collected from 380 individuals, the study provided differentiated support for the theoretical propositions.FindingsThe findings of the study reflect that EE, self-efficacy and attitude towards starting new business contribute in establishing EI of audience. It was concluded that a sequential mediation exists between EE and EI by channelizing through entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy level that transforms an attitude towards starting a new business venture.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has both theoretical and practical implications that will enable academicians, managers and practitioners to facilitate entrepreneurship by enhancing their knowledge database, skillset and developing a positive and constructive attitude among potential entrepreneurs.Originality/valueThe study inculcates a cultural lens and differentiates Pakistani context with other developing countries in Asia.

Jilke, Sebastian

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-08-2020-0120

Technological uncertainty and technological complexity are the two dominant characteristics of new product development (NPD) projects that have a negative influence on NPD performance, relying on a strong theoretical argumentation based on organizational information processing theory. The purpose of this study is the development of reliable and valid scales for the measurement of technological uncertainty and technological complexity, especially in the context of the discontinuous technological change of digitization.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses material from 44 in-depth interviews, which has been transferred into a questionnaire, and survey data from 166 respondents from the German automotive industry in charge of the development and production of electric and electronic technologies (including software). In this context, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are used to test the developed scales for reliability and validity.FindingsIn this context, it can be stated that the developed scales affirm reliability and validity sufficiently. Interestingly, novelty, regarded as key item for measuring technological uncertainty, has to be dropped, as the factor loadings are under the cut-off of 0.40. Moreover, resulting items for measuring technological uncertainty and technological complexity do not deviate significantly from those discussed in previous study before the discontinuous technological change of digitization occurred.Originality/valueThis paper provides value for the discussion on how to measure technological uncertainty and technological complexity, especially in times of radical technological changes.