The Mediating Impact of Innovation Types in the Relationship between Innovation Use Theory and Market Performance

Abstract

The ultimate goal of innovation is to improve performance. But if people’s needs and uses are ignored, innovation will only be a formality. In the past, research on innovation mostly focused on technology, processes, business models, services, and organizations. The measurement of innovation focuses on capabilities, processes, results, and methods, but there has always been a lack of pre-innovation measurements and tools. This study is the first to use the innovation use theory proposed by Christensen et al. combined with innovation types, and it uses the measurement focus on the early stage of innovation as a post-innovation performance prediction. This study collected 590 valid samples and used SPSS and the four-step BK method to conduct regression analysis and mediation tests. The empirical results obtained the following: (1) a confirmed model and scale of the innovation use theory; (2) that three constructs of innovation use theory have an impact on market performance; and (3) that innovation types acting as mediators will improve market performance. This study establishes an academic model of the innovation use theory to provide a clear scale tool for subsequent research. In practice, it can first measure the direction of innovation and performance prediction, providing managers with a reference when developing new products and applying market strategies.