International Journal of Innovation Science

Islam, Mohammad Monirul

2023 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-11-2021-0204

This study aims to identify the effects of innovation types on the service firm’s financial and nonfinancial performance as well as mediation and moderation effects of innovation and the firms’ performance linkages in the Indian service sector.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses combined data from the World Bank innovation survey 2014 and World Bank enterprise survey (WBES) 2014 for India. It classified innovations into technological innovation (service and process) and nontechnological innovation (organizational and marketing) and used financial and nonfinancial performance measures. This study applies variance-based partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS 3 software.FindingsThe study results suggest that service innovation has the highest significant effect on a firm’s financial and nonfinancial performance, followed by process innovation. Marketing and organizational innovation have a long route to contribute to a firm’s financial performance via innovative and nonfinancial performance. The study results do not find any synergy effects of innovation types. Multi-group analysis (MGA) results suggest several significant distinctions in the path relationships between small and medium-sizes and large firms.Originality/valueThis study provides several crucial policy suggestions for the managers and policymakers concerning the effects of service and process innovation on service firms’ performance in India and the mediating factors of these relationships. The study suggests that managers should pay the highest importance to service innovation to swiftly and markedly surge service firms’ financial and nonfinancial performances. In contrast, a service firm’s innovative performance mainly results from its organizational and marketing innovations.

Gu, Shengyu

2023 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-07-2021-0128

This study aims to examine the influencing factors of green innovation and their effect on economic performance of the hotel industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a quantitative and cross-sectional research design, and primary data were collected using structured questionnaire. To analyze this data, AMOS software was used. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to purify the measurement model. Moreover, validities and model fitness were confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the study hypothesis.FindingsThe study results showed green organizational culture, green organizational strategies, energy conservations and environmental regulations as key influencing factors in the adoption of green innovation. Moreover, the results also reveal a significant positive effect of green innovation on hotels’ economic performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to hotels operating in the sole city of Shanghai, China, and for more generalized results, the future study can be made by incorporating hotels in other cities as well. Moreover, the study is conducted in China and replication of this research might be possible in a different cultural and environmental context. Furthermore, this study address only the hotel industry, and future study can be made to investigate the implementation of green practices in industries other than hotels.Originality/valuePreviously, many studies have highlighted the influencing factors of green innovation, but there is limited research in the context of the hotel industry. The relationship between economic performance and green innovation is well established, but still, it is not fully understood how sustainable economic performance is contributed by green innovation in the tourism industry. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study first examines the influencing factors of green innovation and its potential effect on economic performance in the context of the Chinese hotel industry.

Erdin, Ceren; Çağlar, Mehmet

2023 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-07-2021-0118

The purpose of this study is to measure and analyze the national innovation efficiency of organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD) countries. This is to determine to what extent OECD countries efficiently use the elements that enable innovation activities possible in generating innovation outputs.Design/methodology/approachAn input–output model was constructed to measure efficiency. The inputs and outputs in the research model are the input and output sub-indices of the Global Innovation Index. Data envelopment analysis was used to measure the national innovation efficiency levels of OECD countries.FindingsThe results show that national innovation efficiency is generally high in OECD countries. However, some countries lag behind in innovation efficiency. OECD countries’ ability to create and provide the elements that enable innovation activities is higher than their ability to create innovation outputs. OECD countries have a good innovation environment and a high level of resources, but they should focus on how to create more innovation outputs.Originality/valueThis study presents a measurement of national innovation efficiency of OECD countries which contributes “Innovation Strategy” agenda. The results empirically show that overall innovation indices cannot be the only indicator of the performance of national innovation systems. In this study, an innovation efficiency/performance matrix is constructed to present the relative positions of the countries to help in examining countries’ strengths, weaknesses and potentials based on innovation efficiency and innovation performance simultaneously. This study contributes to the literature by presenting a broader perspective and measurement of national innovation efficiency by taking an extensive number of indicators into account.

Wang, Guilian; Zhang, Liyan; Guo, Jing

2023 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-06-2021-0108

Drawing on the integration of the knowledge-based theory and the resource orchestration theory, this study aims to develop a moderated mediation model on how design/manufacturing/administrative advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) influences product innovation performance. The authors hypothesized that the absorption capacity could mediate the AMT-innovation performance link and that design–manufacturing integration (DMI) could positively moderate the mediating effect of the absorption capacity.Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypothesis, the authors conducted a mail survey of equipment manufacturing firms and obtained 302 valid responses for data analysis. Both hierarchical regression and bootstrapping analysis were conducted to empirically test the research model.FindingsIt is revealed that the absorption capacity partially mediated the effect of AMT on innovation and that DMI enhanced the mediated effect. Specifically, the mediating effect of the absorption capacity was more substantial and significant when DMI was high. However, the mediating effect of the absorption capacity was weaker and insignificant when DMI was low.Originality/valueOverall, this study contributes to the AMT theory on innovation by identifying the absorption capacity and DMI as two key factors that elucidate why and under what conditions AMT affects innovation. Moreover, this study advises managers that besides developing AMT, firms should cultivate a strong DMI, which directs the absorption capacity toward converting the valuable knowledge in firms’ capital equipment into increased innovation performance.

Baleeiro Passos, Joana; Valle Enrique, Daisy; Costa Dutra, Camila; Schwengber ten Caten, Carla

2023 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-11-2021-0216

The innovation process demands an interaction between environment agents, knowledge generators and policies of incentive for innovation and not only development by companies. Universities have gradually become the core of the knowledge production system and, therefore, their role regarding innovation has become more important and diversified. This study is aimed at identifying the mechanisms of university–industry (U–I) collaboration, as well as the operationalization steps of the U–I collaboration process.Design/methodology/approachThis study is aimed at identifying, based on a systematic literature review, the mechanisms of university–industry (U–I) collaboration, as well as the operationalization steps of the U–I collaboration process.FindingsThe analysis of the 72 selected articles enabled identifying 15 mechanisms of U–I collaboration, proposing a new classification for such mechanisms and developing a framework presenting the operationalization steps of the interaction process.Originality/valueIn this paper, the authors screened nearly 1,500 papers and analyzed in detail 86 papers addressing U–I collaboration, mechanisms of U–I collaboration and operationalization steps of the U–I collaboration process. This paper provides a new classification for such mechanisms and developing a framework presenting the operationalization steps of the interaction process. This research contributes to both theory and practice by highlighting managerial aspects and stimulating academic research on such timely topic.

Duarte, Filipe A.P.; Madeira, Maria José; Fonseca, Susana Maria; Moura, Dulcineia Catarina; Guia, Ana Teresa Bernardo

2023 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-07-2021-0136

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of R&D investment as a determinant of ongoing or abandoned innovation activities. The literature review focuses especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that deploy R&D investment as a way of developing innovation processes.Design/methodology/approachThis study’s design used a sample of 4,229 Portuguese SMEs to analyse the effects R&D investment has on the innovation activities; the results obtained demonstrate the great importance of firms investing in R&D internal activities for the development of their innovation process.FindingsThe most important findings highlight the types of activities that emerge as relevant to innovation processes susceptible for development to avoid abandoning and maintaining ongoing innovation activities. Among them, the authors would highlight the design of products or services, the introduction of innovations to the market and the acquisition of machinery, equipment and specific software, among others.Originality/valueIn addition, other types of activities emerge as relevant to innovation processes susceptible for development to avoid abandoning and maintaining ongoing innovation activities. This research adds value to the current literature mainly showing several determinants related to R&D, which could be used by SMEs to improve and develop their activities of innovation.

Shah, Gowsia; Saqib, Natasha

2023 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-02-2022-0024

This study aims to develop an instrument that examines the franchisor as an entrepreneurial form. Although examining the entrepreneurial tendencies of the franchisors has been a central goal of the present research, the study also uncovers the factors that lead firms to offer franchises and promote franchisor growth.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from the population of franchisor organizations in India by following a survey approach. Statistical techniques including descriptive and inferential statistics like correlation and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data.FindingsThe study results show that franchisors possess entrepreneurship traits and reveal entrepreneurial behavior. The study also provides empirical evidence toward various dimensions that contribute to franchisor growth.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the present study propose research implications toward clarification of the entrepreneurial position of the franchisors in the extensively unclear research area.Originality/valueConsiderable ambiguity surrounds franchisors’ activities running and managing their business as entrepreneurial firms. By indicating franchisors’ entrepreneurial traits, the study expatiates on major franchising and entrepreneurship literature arguments.

Martinez-Sanchez, Angel; Vicente-Oliva, Silvia

2023 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-11-2021-0200

The purpose of this paper is to study the implications of managing human resource (HR) flexibility and absorptive capacity (AC) of knowledge for the implementation of agile innovation methods in the new product development (NPD) process of manufacturing firms.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this, the authors have carried out a meta-analysis by defining first a research question that determines the design of bibliometric data and compilation. The study question is: How firms can support agile initiatives in innovation considering their HR flexibility and AC? The Web of Science Collection has been consulted in three steps with several search strings. The analysis of 161 references without duplicities in the period 1997–2021 provides the foundations for exploring the research question.FindingsThe authors propose research hypotheses to analyze the interrelationship between HR flexibility, AC and agile innovation according to the literature-based discussion. The authors have identified and develop metrics to pilot the transition to agile that have been also adapted to specific innovation departures points before the transition. The authors also propose and discuss some organizational changes and practical guidelines to pilot transitions to agile that should be useful to the firm’s strategic decision of implementing the most adequate type of agile innovation.Originality/valueEven though flexibility and innovation are very important needs for many firms, agile schemes are still under-studied topics in the NPD of manufacturing firms. There are no specific studies in the literature that analyze the interrelationship between HR flexibility, AC and agile innovation, identifying common aspects and different approaches. Thus, this study is of original nature and the developed managerial tools, composed of metrics and organizational changes, will be useful to managers and permitted the authors to achieve the proposed goal.