Innovative Category Research Articles

Highly transparent and conductive metal oxide/metal/polymer composite electrodes for high-efficiency flexible organic light-emitting devices

Abstract Ultrathin metal films emerge as an innovative category of transparent electrodes in recent decades, holding great promises enabling the next-generation flexible organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). Although metal thin films with polymer nucleation inducers have been extensively studied in OLEDs, satisfying the requirements of both superior optoelectrical and high optical outcoupling characteristics is still challenging. Here, we demonstrate a metal oxide/ultrathin Ag/polymer (MAP) composite electrode with low sheet resistance of 15.1 Ω/sq, high transmittance of 87.4% at 550 nm, and smooth morphology with surface roughness of 0.768 nm. Besides, the composite electrodes significantly enhance the outcoupling of the light trapped in OLEDs due to the relatively high-refractive index polymer. Flexible OLEDs with the MAP anodes exhibit over 2.3 times enhancement in efficiency to that of indium tin oxide (ITO)-based OLEDs. The flexible OLEDs can survive 1000 bending cycles at a bending radius of 8 mm with negligible decrease in electroluminescent performance.

Mengulik Kompleksitas Proses Difusi Inovasi Teknologi di Perpustakaan

Innovation is a certain idea, practice or product that is realized and accepted as something new to be adopted. Adoption is a process from getting acquainted with an innovation to decide to accept or reject. There is an innovation category that is sustaining and discontinues. An indication that there has been an innovation acceptance process is that it appears in behavioral, cognitive, affective and psychomotor changes.

Who is the winner in an industry of innovation?

This paper offers insight as to why the average profitability of firms in categories characterized by innovation is high and a rationale for empirical evidence that firms with basic products in innovative categories often exhibit higher profitability than the leading innovator. The analysis is built on the simple fact that not all consumers in a market are willing to pay more for an innovation when it is introduced. Our model reflects price competition between an innovating firm that chooses an optimal level of innovation and a competitor that offers a basic product. The price equilibrium establishes that the innovator confers a significant positive externality on its competitor by innovating. This increases the profitability of both firms. Findings from our model demonstrate that the profitability of the innovator is affected by the cost of innovation, the fraction of consumers who are willing to pay more for the innovation and changes in the cost of producing the improved product. The model identifies market conditions that lead the non-innovating competitor to benefit as much or more than the innovator who invests to develop the innovation. We believe that these dynamics are pivotal in explaining high overall profitability in categories characterized by innovation. The analysis also provides important prescriptions for the management of firms in innovative categories.

What does cultural innovation stand for? Dimensions, processes, outcomes of a new innovation category

AbstractThis article introduces the notion of cultural innovation, which requires adapting our approach to co-creation. The argument opens with a first conceptualization of cultural innovation as an additional and autonomous category of the complex processes of co-creation. The dimensions of cultural innovation are contrasted against other forms of innovation. In a second step, the article makes an unprecedented attempt in describing processes and outcomes of cultural innovation, while showing their operationalization in some empirical case studies. In the conclusion, the article considers policy implications resulting from the novel definition of cultural innovation as the outcome of complex processes that involve the reflection of knowledge flows across the social environment within communities of practices while fostering the inclusion of diversity in society. First and foremost, cultural innovation takes a critical stance against inequalities in the distribution of knowledge and builds innovation for improving the welfare of individuals and communities.

Between innovation and restoration; towards a critical-historicizing understanding of social innovation niches

ABSTRACT Social innovation (SI) is gaining attention as an innovation category. However, the SI concept proves vulnerable to stereotypical understandings. Next to the radically novel, diffusion-oriented and thereby manifestly innovative social ‘niches’, it is important to also acknowledge the rather latent SI phenomena of restoration and shielding. This paper therefore develops a critical-historicizing perspective that highlights the social construction of innovations in social relations. Building on scholarship in Strategic Niche Management, grassroots innovation and critical innovation studies, four ‘shapes of social innovation’ are distinguished. Substantiating and deepening this conceptual classification through empirical evidence on 20 SI initiatives, the analysis highlights how social innovations may take on several of the theorised appearances throughout their existence in society (shapeshifting). Disclosing overlooked SI phenomena, this critical-historicizing understanding informs more comprehensive and balanced SI research and practice.

Use of Real-World Evidence in US Payer Coverage Decision-Making for Next-Generation Sequencing–Based Tests: Challenges, Opportunities, and Potential Solutions

ObjectivesGiven the potential of real-world evidence (RWE) to inform understanding of the risk–benefit profile of next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based testing, we undertook a study to describe the current landscape of whether and how payers use RWE as part of their coverage decision making and potential solutions for overcoming barriers. MethodsWe performed a scoping literature review of existing RWE evidentiary frameworks for evaluating new technologies and identified barriers to clinical integration and evidence gaps for NGS. We synthesized findings as potential solutions for improving the relevance and utility of RWE for payer decision-making. ResultsPayers require evidence of clinical utility to inform coverage decisions, yet we found a relatively small number of published RWE studies, and these are predominately focused on oncology, pharmacogenomics, and perinatal/pediatric testing. We identified 3 categories of innovation that may help address the current undersupply of RWE studies for NGS: (1) increasing use of RWE to inform outcomes-based contracting for new technologies, (2) precision medicine initiatives that integrate clinical and genomic data and enable data sharing, and (3) Food and Drug Administration reforms to encourage the use of RWE. Potential solutions include development of data and evidence review standards, payer engagement in RWE study design, use of incentives and partnerships to lower the barriers to RWE generation, education of payers and providers concerning the use of RWE and NGS, and frameworks for conducting outcomes-based contracting for NGS. ConclusionsWe provide numerous suggestions to overcome the data, methodologic, infrastructure, and policy challenges constraining greater integration of RWE in assessments of NGS.

Modern condition of venture capital market in Russia and in the world

Subject. The article reviews major trends in the global venture capital market for 2018. Objectives. The interrelated objectives of this study include identifying the categories of innovation that are of priority for investments, analyzing global trends in the venture capital market in Russia and in the world, considering the structure of investments in Russia by categories of investors and their activities. Methods. The study draws on methods of comparative evaluation and differentiated approach to analysis, analysis and synthesis of information collected in newspaper articles and earlier studies on the issue. Results. The findings show that in the Russian market, the most significant investment volumes are in the corporate sector. The segment of private clients is stagnating. The most popular categories for investing are business solutions, virtual and augmented reality, transport, marketplaces, logistics, finance, and medicine. Conclusions and Relevance. Investor activity has increased significantly as compared to the previous year. This points to further development of the venture capital market in Russia.

Soft innovation in hotel services: case of Izmir City

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to figure out the impacts of soft innovation in the city hotels in general, whereas the focus is on figuring out if there exists a difference in vitality on the components of soft innovation among the hotel categories, as 4 stars, 5 stars and boutique hotels in Izmir, Turkey. Design/methodology/approach The first part is related to a detailed literature review on the soft innovation components as color, sound, light, scent and decoration. Literature review is followed by a qualitative research where expert information on the research topic is collected. Judgmental sampling is used to identify experts’ views where in-depth semi-structured interviews are conducted with 12 hotel managers in Izmir city. The soft innovation hotel application areas taken into consideration are: lobby and reception, rooms, restaurant, bar and ballroom areas, meeting and congress halls, SPA and pools, gardens and landscape and other exterior hotel architecture. Findings The findings of the research reveal the sample hotel managers’ views as all the soft innovation applications are important for all city hotels regardless of their category, meaning that soft innovation may lead to better marketing results. Thus, according to hotel managers, soft innovation offerings have a potential for better customer satisfaction as positive feedback. However, the vitality degree among components changes according to the hotel’s category. For boutique hotels the most important component is found to be the decoration of the hotel, whereas for 4 stars hotels it is light and for 5 stars hotels it is scent. Research limitations/implications The results of this study give relatively limited information because only managers’ point of view are shown. In the research, customers’ perceptions on soft innovation based interviews with the top management of the hotels studied takes place, indicating which may not be the case to reflect the real perception of customers. Therefore, for further researches, it is recommended for the other researches to take into consideration of customers’ point of views as well. Also, time limitation, sample size and application of only qualitative research may be stated as the limitations for this study. Quantitative research applies to customers on the same topic and problem statement is recommended for further studies related to city hotels’ soft innovation applications. Practical implications Motivation of this study is to understand how soft innovation can change hotels’ atmosphere and make it more attractive from the managers’ perceptions. According to hotel managers’ views, soft innovation applications may lead to higher customer satisfaction, but the level of investment among the components may change according to the city hotel’s category. Research implications indicate that hotel managers may optimize the effectiveness of their soft innovation efforts by taking into consideration their hotel type, application areas and innovation category as decoration, color, scent, sound and light. According to hotel managers, decoration-related soft innovation is more important to boutique hotels, lighting-related soft innovation is an effective investment for 4 stars hotels and scent-related soft innovation is a suitable investment for 5 stars hotels. Originality/value The originality of the study lies in the analysis of the components of soft innovation as a means for effective city hotel marketing and innovative management applications. Though it is a very suitable industry for implementation, improvement and development, there are limited studies on soft innovation applications in the hotel industry.

LEED-CIv4 Commercial Interiors: United States (2014–2019)

This paper analyzes Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Interior Design and Construction: Commercial Interior (LEED-CIv4) projects, thereby presenting the first empirical evidence of these projects. The aim of the study was to reveal trends in Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum LEED-CIv4 US projects, certified in 2014–2019. The effect size between possible and achieved points in categories and credits was measured using Cliff’s δ. The following conclusions were drawn: (i) the Integrative Process, Innovation, and Regional Priority categories showed high achievements only in Platinum projects, so it is necessary to reconsider these categories toward increasing their acceptance at all certification levels; (ii) the Location and Transportation and Indoor Environmental Quality categories were quite well-designed because most credits in these categories showed varying levels of achievement (low/medium/high/very high) at all four certification levels; and (iii) the Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, and Material and Resources categories were badly designed because most credits there similarly showed low achievements at all four certification levels, thus needing more attention toward their improvement in the next LEED-CI version.

Modernization of the Raw Material Base for the Russian Meat Production Subcomplex in the Conditions of Improving the Production Innovativeness

We set a goal for the study to explore the issues on the development of the beef stock farming sector in the agro-industrial complex of the Russian Federation in the context of comprehensive modernization and increasing the innovativeness level of the industry segment. Being based on modern research methods (analysis, idealization, abstraction, synthesis and concretization), we have found that the category of innovation determines the practical application of qualitatively new scientific and technological, organizational and economic, manufacturing and/or other solutions, which provide breakthrough development and/or qualitative and quantitative changes of high intensity for a process and/or phenomenon (positive synergy). It was found by us that the key problems of beef stock farming are: high physical deterioration and obsolescence of durable equipment; low provision of complete feed; lack of qualified personnel; low commitment to innovative solutions; dependence of technical and technological support on imports; low availability of financial resources, especially for small businesses; lack of genetic selection work; underdevelopment of cooperation processes; high resource consumption rates. During the study, issues of information support for the modernization of beef stock farming on the basis of a single information resource of CALS-technologies and SLBE-tools have been explored, as well as ways to reduce labour costs, increase conversion, and weight gain rates and safety of farm animals in meat industry enterprises were suggested.

Salafi’s Criticism on the Celebration of the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad

This article explains the standing of the Salafis on the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (mawlid). It will also capture some opinions of the proponents of the mawlid against the understanding of the Salafis. The Salafis’ criticism of the mawlid has been mainly built on their theological perspective due to three reasons. The first is the requirement of authenticity, as they argue that the mawlid has no argument (dalīl) both in the Qur’ān and ḥadīth. The second is the prohibition of innovation (bid‘ah) due to the status of the mawlid as an act of innovation. The third is the reprehensibility of veneration and idolatry of the Prophet Muhammad. The proponents of the mawlid, on the other side, clearly reject these arguments. They admit that the mawlid is inauthentic. However, they argue that it falls under the category of good innovation (bid‘ah ḥasanah). Therefore, it is allowed to be practiced. In addition, the Salafis also condemned some practices within the mawlid, such as serving food, the act of standing up (qiyām), the recitation of mawlid books, and the use of musical instruments. For the proponents, however, these practices are allowed as they do not violate any Islamic teachings (sharī‘ah) and they also represent a sincere expression of joy and happiness for the birth of the messenger of Allah and the noblest person, i.e., the Prophet Muhammad.

Inovasi Pelayanan dalam Pengelolaan Sampah: Studi pada Bank Sampah

The purpose of this study is to conduct an analysis of public service innovation in waste management in the city of Malang through the Malang Garbage Bank (BSM). In 2015 BSM get an award at the public service innovation system competition (SINOVIK). BSM won the top 25 public service innovations and became a national pilot conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK). This research using innovation and waste management theory. A qualitative approach through interviews and secondary data through various documents is the method of this research. The results of this study indicate that the process of managing waste by BSM through the process of sorting waste by customers, taking or depositing waste, sorting waste by BSM and managing waste becomes plastic chopped. Waste management by BSM able to change the mindset of the people who initially assumed that waste is an item that is no longer have economic value. Waste management innovation includes the type of process innovation, service method innovation, strategy or policy innovation, and system innovation. BSM is in the level of transformative innovation and discontinues innovation category.

Which delivery model innovations can support sustainable HIV treatment?

The rapid scale-up of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV since the mid-2000s, mostly through disease-specific or “vertical” programmes, has been a highly successful undertaking, which averted millions of deaths and prevented many new infections. However, the dynamics of the HIV epidemic and changing political and financial commitment to fight the disease will likely require new models for the delivery of ART over the coming decades if the promises of universal treatment are to be met. Delivery model innovations for ART are intended to improve both the effectiveness and efficiency of the HIV treatment cascade, reaching new people who require ART and providing ART to more people without an increase in resources. We describe twelve models for ART delivery, which could be achieved through five categories of delivery innovations: integrating ART (“vertical ART plus”, “partially-integrated ART” and “fully-integrated ART”); modifying steps in the ART value chain (“professional task-shifted ART”, “people task-shifted ART” and “technology-supported ART”); eliminating steps in the ART value chain (“immediate ART” and “less frequent ART pick-up”); changing ART locations (“private-sector ART”, “traditional-sector ART” and “ART outside the health sector”); and keeping the status quo (“vertical ART”). The different delivery model innovations are not mutually exclusive and several could be combined, such as “vertical ART plus” with “task-shifted ART”. Suitability of the models will highly depend on local and national contexts, including existing health systems resources, available funding, and type of HIV epidemic. Future implementation research needs to identify which models are the best fit for different contexts.

Components of a Technology Roadmap for Automated Excavation

In the construction industry, especially in earthmoving equipment, automation has received a great deal of attention. Fully environmentally friendly automatic construction equipment, such as excavators, are perceived as vital for safe, productive, and resilient future construction sites. However, there is much uncertainty about the technologies which need to be adopted and developed in order to effectively achieve this end and provide the industry with strategic direction. This paper explores current academic thinking about technology roadmaps and technological innovations of excavation operations, in order to identify the components for automated excavation technology roadmaps. Literature in well-established databases are identified using robust search strategies. Text mining, a quantitative approach, was used to analyse and organise findings. Three main technology innovation categories were identified: 1) real time positioning systems; 2) technologies to detect over ground objects, 3) technologies to detect below underground objects. In addition, multi-sensory data fusion methods are identified as an essential and vital requirement for construction automation.

Towards higher quality green building agenda – An overview of the application of green building techniques in China

Building sector is one of the primary culprits of environmental deterioration and energy consumption. Green building (GB) can be an effective solution to these challenges and has been prioritised by many nations, while the quality of most GBs was still low. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the application of GB techniques. In specific, an empirical study was conducted among 106 GBs in China. Results indicate that both water-saving and site planning categories received the highest achievements, followed by indoor environmental quality and energy-saving, and the material-saving and innovation categories were the most difficult to achieve. The items in site planning, energy-saving and indoor environmental quality clusters that depended more on design techniques could be realised evenly, while the water-saving and material-saving clusters that relied more on materials and equipment witnessed two extremes: one approaching to 100% and one close to zero. There could be an increase in technique achievement from low-quality GBs to high-quality GBs. Nevertheless, the achievements of many items were extremely in both one-star, and two- and three-star groups. Some even witnessed the reduction from the low-quality GBs to the high-quality GBs. A further investigation indicated that the unavailability of GB technique checklist, the impact of economic cost, low technological operability and the unavailability of GB products constrained the GB technique application. The combining impacts of them could further lower the GB technique application. To unlock these barriers, efforts should be made from the perspective of (1) revision and localisation of GB standard, (2) extensive technical support, (3) government regulations and support, and (4) the co-benefits: integration with other programmes. Overall, this paper is of value to improve GB technique application and facilitate the transitions towards higher quality GB agenda.

Teachers\u2019 and students\u2019 perceptions on barriers and facilitators for eHealth education in the curriculum of functional exercise and physical therapy: a focus groups study

BackgroundDespite the growing importance of eHealth it is not consistently embedded in the curricula of functional exercise and physical therapy education. Insight in barriers and facilitators for embedding eHealth in education is required for the development of tailored strategies to implement eHealth in curricula. This study aims to identify barriers/facilitators perceived by teachers and students of functional exercise/physical therapy for uptake of eHealth in education.MethodsA qualitative study including six focus groups (two with teachers/four with students) was conducted to identify barriers/facilitators. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed in full. Reported barriers and facilitators were identified, grouped and classified using a generally accepted framework for implementation including the following categories: innovation, individual teacher/student, social context, organizational context and political and economic factors.ResultsTeachers (n = 11) and students (n = 24) of functional exercise/physical therapy faculties of two universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands participated in the focus groups. A total of 109 barriers/facilitators were identified during the focus groups. Most related to the Innovation category (n = 26), followed by the individual teacher (n = 22) and the organization (n = 20). Teachers and students identified similar barriers/facilitators for uptake of eHealth in curricula: e.g. unclear concept of eHealth, lack of quality and evidence for eHealth, (lack of) capabilities of students/teachers on how to use eHealth, negative/positive attitude of students/teachers towards eHealth.ConclusionThe successful uptake of eHealth in the curriculum of functional exercise/physical therapists needs a systematic multi-facetted approach considering the barriers and facilitators for uptake identified from the perspective of teachers and students. A relatively large amount of the identified barriers and facilitators were overlapping between teachers and students. Starting points for developing effective implementation strategies can potentially be found in those overlapping barriers and facilitators.RegistrationThe study protocol was a non-medical research and no registration was required. Participants gave written informed consent.

Basic research public procurement: the impact on supplier companies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to estimate and assess the impact of public procurement activities of an Italian basic research center (the National Institute for Nuclear Physics [INFN]) on supplier companies. Design/methodology/approach Starting from the exploratory nature of this research, a single case study research strategy has been applied. The impact of basic research public procurement has been estimated using survey data on 168 INFN supplier companies. Supplier companies have been surveyed on six different categories of company outcomes, namely, sales volume, learning and innovation, relationship with the market, alliances and network and social impact. Findings Results of the analysis reported that the activity of INFN public procurement generates a positive impact on supplier companies on different dimensions, especially related to learning and innovative outcome and economic impact and market penetration outcome. Social implications Policy implications can be derived from the current study. In particular, to support the policymakers in the effort of assessing the impact of basic research public procurement, this study, first highlights the impact dimensions on supplier companies, and second, it provides empirical evidence of public procurement as a viable tool to foster companies’ innovation. Originality/value This research explores a relevant but understudied topic that has recently attracted the attention of policymakers. In fact, although public procurement have been recognized as a tool to foster companies’ innovation, empirical evidence is still scant, particularly in the case of basic research.

BJN Awards 2019: innovation runner up: creating a staff flu vaccination game.

The Flu Bee Game earned Joan Pons Laplana a runner-up place in the innovation category, as Andy Yeoman of Focus Games Ltd explains.

POST-GRADUATE STUDENT, NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE, KYIV

It is well-proven that within the framework of technological approach an innovation is examined as an universal method, as a specific set of tools of providing of optimal technological process by means of the planned administrative action. In addition, attention is accented on innovative activity as special social practice, as to the system of actions of social subjects. In this context innovative activity is examined as a complex of events on creation, acquisition, mastering and distribution of absolutely new or improved types of products, services, technologies, methods of organization of production and management. Reasonably, that the system of grant of administrative services must be examined as an object of innovative activity, then and as criteria of efficiency of organization of innovative processes in her organizationally-economic system organizationally-administrative parameters that allow to compare charges on creation of innovative case frame and an economic and social effect is got as a result of her introduction will come forward in modern terms also. Harmonization of administrative process and folds the basic having a special purpose task of forming of dataware of the innovative system of grant of administrative services, that forces tuned under a new, innovative case frame. Certainly, that the variety of tasks of planning in the dataware of the system of grant of administrative services predetermines the necessity of forming of the specialized structures of planning, that unite the different types of plans in an only complex. The types of plans differentiate after aims, object, levels, maintenance and planning periods. Realization of planned tasks requires creation of certain organizational structures, bringing in of performers, organization of them the concerted activity. It is well-proven that forming of dataware of the system of grant of administrative services must be examined as totality the determined amount of processes a few types of resources unite on the "entrance" of that, foremost, financial, organizational, human and informative, and on a "exit" a product - administrative service is created for a citizen or economic subject of economy. In modern administrative practice while yet технократичний approach prevails in the choice of directions of innovative development of the system of administrative services, and the category of innovations in the system of state administration is examined mainly from technical and technological positions of organizationally-administrative factors of their development. Certainly, that forming of dataware of the system of grant of administrative services on the base of principles of innovative management efficiency of functioning of all system of state administration will allow substantially to promote, that, in turn, will assist upgrading of life of population, creation of favourable terms for a region.

The effect of social capital on exploratory and exploitative innovation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advance new insights into how internal and external social capital (SC) facets influence exploratory and exploitative innovation directly, and indirectly through absorptive capability (AC), by drawing on the relational and knowledge-based views.Design/methodology/approachThe paper empirically tests the developed model using 135 survey responses from managers in construction contractor firms. Data were factor analysed, and path estimates determined using partial least squares structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results reveal that each social capital (SC) facet has direct benefits for both exploratory and exploitative innovation. The findings also show a mix of full and partial mediation paths between the facets of SC and innovation types through AC.Originality/valueExtant research linking SC facets with innovation categories is fragmented. Added to this fragmentation is the dearth of studies linking both intra-firm and inter-firm SC with exploratory and exploitative innovation in firms. This paper makes a novel contribution by testing a model of the direct and indirect links (through AC) between internal and external SC and both exploratory and exploitative innovation in the context of construction contractor firms. The findings show how both facets of SC are necessary for exploratory and exploitative innovation. It reveals the types of relationships and capabilities necessary for specific innovation objectives.