International Journal of Innovation Science

Lopes, João M.; Silveira, Paulo; Farinha, Luís; Oliveira, Márcio; Oliveira, José

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-11-2020-0267

Regional innovation performance is an important indicator for decision-making regarding the implementation of policies intended for regional development. However, regional development policies have led economies to very different competitive positions in matters of innovation. To address these issues, this paper aims to identify the variables that most contribute to the positioning of economies in terms of performance innovation in Europe.Design/methodology/approachThe data for this study were collected at the regional innovation scoreboard. This paper uses a quantitative methodology through a multivariate statistical technique (discriminant analysis).FindingsThe results suggest that specific innovation strategies explain the competitive positioning of economies within each group of countries. It was possible to demonstrate that economies with leader classification show greater comparative robustness in the variables “Small and medium enterprise (SMEs) with product or process innovations,” “SMEs with product or process innovations,” “research and development (R&D) expenditure public sector” and “population with tertiary education,” constituting an effective instrument of innovation policy. Furthermore, it was possible to show that the economies belonging to the modest group do not have a competitive advantage in any of the variables under study, thus providing a reflection opportunity for policymakers at this level.Originality/valueThe present research identifies which variables are most relevant to the classification considering the regional innovation performance in leader, strong, moderate and modest. Several suggestions were given to companies, policymakers and higher education institutions in the sense that the regions where they operate can improve their innovative performance, which may help to a change in their current classification.

Mishra, Aswini Kumar; Sinha, Abhishek Kumar; Khasnis, Abhijeet; Vadlamani, Sai Theja

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-10-2020-0179

This paper aims to analyse the impact of innovation on the productivity of firms in India using the data from the World Enterprise Survey. This paper first classifies three different types of innovation measures then further analyses their relation with the productivity of the firms.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology used for this study has incorporated the structural Crépon-Douget-Mairesse (CDM) model wherein productivity is measured using both the innovation inputs and the innovation outputs. Three main equations have been used to quantify this relation includes the knowledge intensity function, innovation function and the productivity equation.FindingsFindings indicate that decision to invest in research and development (R&D) is influenced negatively by financial obstacles and trade obstacles and positively influenced by telecommunication obstacles, government obstacles and the size of the firm in India. Similarly, financial obstacles and the size of the firm are affecting the firm’s research expenditure per employee. Also, financial obstacles seem to hinder the research intensity and larger firms seem to have higher research intensity. The size of the firm contributes significantly to product innovation. However, R&D spending seems to be negatively related to the innovation outcome. The findings relating to productivity shows neither product nor process innovation outputs, independently are not contributing significantly to the productivity of firms. However, product and process innovation, together serve as innovation outputs is a significant contributor to firm productivity. On the other hand, organisational innovation contributes significantly to the productivity of the firms in a negative manner.Originality/valueThe findings relating to productivity shows neither product nor process innovation outputs, independently are not contributing significantly to the productivity of firms (which has been measured by sales per worker is impacted by the capital and the labour inputs). However, product and process innovation, together serve as innovation outputs is a significant contributor to firm productivity. On the other hand, organisational innovation contributes significantly to the productivity of the firms in a negative manner. The reason could be due to the fact that the definition of organisational innovation incorporates both dissolutions and mergers.

Khaola, Peter Phomane; Musiiwa, Douglas

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-10-2020-0205

The effects of transformational leadership, affective commitment and organisational justice on innovative work behaviours (IWBs) have been widely published in extant literature. Yet, despite extensive scholarly publications in these areas, little is known about the joint effects of these factors on IWBs. The purpose of this study is to examine if the effects of transformational leadership on IWBs are moderated by affective commitment and organisational justice.Design/methodology/approachBased on data collected from 263 respondents, this paper uses social exchange, job demands-resources, information processing and broaden-and-build theories to explore these relationships. This study further deploys Hayes’s (2013) PROCESS Macro to analyse data.FindingsOf the three independent variables in this study, the results suggest that only transformational leadership has the main effects on IWB. More importantly, the results further suggest that transformational leadership has the largest impact on IWB when both affective commitment and organisational justice are high rather than low. The impact of transformational leadership is also significant when affective commitment is high and organisational justice is low.Practical implicationsThis paper submits that organisations can boost IWBs through engendering employee affective commitment and concomitantly assisting supervisors to acquire transformational leadership and fairness skills.Originality/valueTo our knowledge, this is the first study to analyse the effects on IWBs, of a three-way interaction between transformational leadership, affective commitment and organisational justice; with substantial potential to advance theory and practice in leadership and innovation sciences.

Ahmad, Saleha; Nanda Agarwal, Madhushree

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-11-2020-0256

This paper aims to introduce, define and propose a model for the concept of “frugal creativity” (FC), as the front end of the frugal innovation (FI) process. Modeling FC as a planned behavior makes it useful to large organizations who may wish to strategically promote such behavior.Design/methodology/approachIdentifying common themes from the literature, the authors propose a comprehensive definition of FI. Using this definition, they define FC. Next, a model for FC is proposed based on the theory of planned behavior.FindingsThe conceptual model proposes that frugal creativity intention (FCI) can be predicted by the prosocial motivation, dissatisfaction with status-quo and the threat-opportunity perception of resource constraints of an individual. The authors further propose that FCI would translate into FC more frequently when work is perceived as meaningful.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed model opens avenues for further conceptual and empirical research in the area, although it first requires empirical validation.Practical implicationsThe model of FC as a planned behavior can help multinationals, established firms or governments, seeking to use FI as a deliberate strategic choice, to develop suitable human capital and context for FI.Originality/valueFirst, the authors propose a comprehensive definition for FI by consolidating related constructs. Second, they introduce the concept of FC as the idea generation stage of FI. Third, they propose a model for FC as a planned behavior. To the authors’ knowledge, the last two have not been attempted earlier.

Barforoush, Nasrin; Etebarian, Akbar; Naghsh, Amirreza; Shahin, Arash

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-10-2020-0180

Many industries accomplish green innovation for sustainable development, but it should play a significant role in the sustainable development and implementation of an organizations benefit. The purpose of this paper is to examine if green business innovation in terms of technology, organization, stakeholder and policies is able to develop competitive advantages.Design/methodology/approachThis study was carried out in two stages and covered 4 variables and 21 indicators. Based on the experts’ opinions and literature review, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed among 113 experts of oil refining companies in Iran. The data were analyzed by the structural equation modeling technique.FindingsThe results indicated the effects of organizational factors, legislation, regulations and technology on green innovation. They also revealed the role of green innovation in reaching competitive advantages. Moreover, the relationship between stakeholder and green innovation was investigated.Practical implicationsThe findings provide guidance on how firms can be better prepared for green innovation and get the most out of it and deal with the risks involved in green innovation, it is important that companies evaluate organization, technology and environment readiness and formulate corresponding strategies. Such a proactive approach can help enterprise control and minimize the risks of green innovation. A self-evaluation of the green innovation readiness of an enterprise helps the enterprise establish a mechanism to keep track of technological evolution.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the emerging field of green innovation which embed organization, technology, stakeholders, legislation and flows of the value created, delivered and captured in a value network. It also highlights the gaps in addressing the challenges of an innovative model for competitive advantages and suggests avenues for future research.

Zuberi, Marium Arslan; Khattak, Arif

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-11-2020-0251

It has been established that innovation is determined by leadership and personality characteristics. Further inquiry in this line of research is encouraged. Accordingly, the authors propose inter-correlations between personality, leadership, innovation and job design characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to understand how proactive personality and leader member exchange can derive innovative work behavior, in employees of telecommunication industry, by increasing task feedback and task significance.Design/methodology/approachA deductive approach was used to propose hypotheses. Objective data were collected through a cross sectional survey of 292 samples from three large multinational telecommunication companies located in Islamabad (Pakistan). The survey instrument was a 25-item questionnaire adopted from previously developed and well-validated scales used by prior researches. The survey yielded findings in support of proposed hypotheses of the study.FindingsHierarchical regression analysis yielded findings, which suggested that proactive personality and leader member exchange (LMX) both have a strong positive relationship with innovative work behavior (IWB). Furthermore, task significance and task feedback were found to moderate the aforementioned relationships such that strong leader member exchange and proactive personalities resulted in increased innovative work behavior at higher levels of task feedback and task significance.Practical implicationsThe managers can raise their innovation enhancing strategies one step higher by integrating it with enhanced task feedback and significance. This can be done while working on the relationship of their employees with the leaders/managers and by encouraging proactive personalities at work. Infusing the proposed integrated and holistic framework, of innovative behavior, into their organizations will lead to better retention of key employees, higher job satisfaction and increased loyalty.Originality/valueThis paper adds significance to the extant literature by examining proactive personality and LMX as determinants of innovative work behavior and the moderating impact of job design characteristics in the context of telecommunication companies, particularly from developing countries, such as Pakistan. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that has tested the interplay between a relational concept of leadership (LMX), proactive personality, task significance and task feedback and the outcome variable innovative work behavior.

Rahman, Muhammad Sabbir; Hassan, Hasliza; Fattah, Fadi Abdel Muniem Abdel

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-10-2020-0195

This study aims to explore which drivers of innovation in the hospitality industry optimise hospitality performance in a multivariate nexus of restaurants’ value system for hospitality (VSH) and internal–external power understanding capability.Design/methodology/approachThe study applied a cross-sectional questionnaire survey research design, targeting employees who were working in full-service restaurants. Descriptive statistic, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) were performed. A total of 364 respondent’s responses were used in the data analyses.FindingsResults of the empirical analysis reveal that collaborative innovation capability has the closest relationship with hospitality performance optimisation (HPO), followed by VSH, employee creativity and knowledge management system capability. The analysis with the bootstrapping method shows that VSH mediates the relationship between the drivers of innovation and HPO. The empirical results also suggest that firms’ capabilities of understanding internal and external environments are significant moderators of the relationship between VSH and HPO.Research limitations/implicationsThe empirical findings provide restaurant managers with an improved understanding of how the drivers of innovation capability influence HPO. Findings from this research emphasise that hotel managers should consider internal and external environmental issues to adjust their strategies for improving hospitality performance in a competitive environment.Practical implicationsFindings suggest that restaurant managers should implement the drivers of innovation in their respective work environment, together with their adequate involvement with staff and understanding of environmental issues, to produce innovative hospitality strategies.Originality/valueThis research contributes a comprehensive framework of HPO in the restaurant business setting that leads to a competitive advantage. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is one of the pioneer studies to contribute to the hospitality literature that investigates the effect of the drivers of innovation on VSH and HPO by considering the moderation role of internal and external environmental understanding capability.

Farooq, Rayees; Sultana, Almaas

2021 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-08-2020-0121

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding. The study also examines the mediating role of distrust in the relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding.Design/methodology/approachThe procedure used in the study is a systematic literature review covering abusive supervision, knowledge hiding, distrust from 1994 to 2021. The studies were explored using the keyword search such as, “abusive supervision,” “knowledge hiding” and “distrust” from the selected databases including Emerald, ScienceDirect, EbscoHost and Google Scholar.FindingsThe study found that abusive supervision is positively related to knowledge hiding and distrust mediates the relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge hiding. The study also proposes procrastination as one of the dimensions of knowledge hiding.Originality/valueThe study is an attempt to uncover a series of relationships between abusive supervision, knowledge hiding and distrust, which may enhance academic discussion and also offer clarity to the conceptualization of these two fields.