Open Collaborative Innovation Research Articles

Performance Evaluation of School Enterprise Collaborative Innovation and Practice of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Based on the Improved AHP Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method

Under the influence of the COVID-19, great changes have taken place in China’s economic structure and market subjects and college students are facing difficulties in employment. By carrying out collaborative innovation between schools and enterprises, cultivating high-quality talents to meet social needs has become an important way to solve difficulties. Based on the input-process-output principle, a performance evaluation index system for collaborative innovation is constructed, which includes 3 primary indicators and 22 secondary indicators. The weights of each indicator are determined using improved AHP. A mathematical model for evaluating the performance of school enterprise collaborative innovation is established using the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The evaluation value of the innovation and entrepreneurship education case project is 0.82, indicating that the overall operation is in good condition. The cooperation between schools and enterprises has created a favorable atmosphere and accumulated rich experience for carrying out innovation and entrepreneurship education. Good results have been achieved in talent cultivation and scientific and technological output, but there are also problems such as low conversion rates of scientific and technological achievements. Based on the evaluation results, the article proposes suggestions to improve the performance of collaborative innovation between schools and enterprises. The research results provide theoretical reference for the performance evaluation of school enterprise collaborative innovation and the practice of innovation and entrepreneurship education.

Improving collaborative innovation performance in megaprojects: a system dynamic approach

PurposeThe development and evolution of stakeholder collaborative innovation in megaprojects is impacted by various influencing factors. The effect of influencing factors on collaborative innovation performance (CIP) in megaprojects is not a simplistic linear relationship but an iterative and non-linear relationship that requires a dynamic perspective to analyze. Therefore, this paper adopts the system dynamic (SD) approach to investigate the dynamic and interactive relationships between the CIP and the influencing factors.Design/methodology/approachThe study first develops a research framework with the system boundary of “CIP system – organizational collaboration subsystem – knowledge collaboration subsystem – strategic collaboration subsystem”. Then, the causal relationship model, the stock-flow model, and the mathematical equations were determined based on the literature review and the expert interviews. Finally, five performance improvement scenarios were designed according to the practice context of CIP in megaprojects, and simulations were performed using the Vensim PLE software to investigate the CIP from a dynamic perspective.FindingsThe findings reveal that the effect of different influencing factors on CIP grows non-linearly, with the cumulative effect becoming more pronounced as time advances. The incentive mechanism has the most significant effect, and the combined effect of multiple influencing factors has a highly significant facilitating effect on improving CIP. Strategic collaboration, organizational collaboration and knowledge collaboration are mutually conditional and reinforcing with each other, which ultimately promotes the improvement of CIP.Originality/valueThis study uncovers the inherent pattern and the interactive dynamic mechanism of factors for improving CIP in the context of megaprojects. It enriches the theoretical research in the area of collaborative innovation in megaprojects and provides practical management strategies for improving CIP.

Digital transformation for supply chain collaborative innovation and market performance

PurposeManufacturers increasingly resort to digital transformation to shape their competitiveness in the digital economy era, while supply chain (SC) collaborative innovation helps them cope with market uncertainties. However, whether and how digital transformation can facilitate SC collaborative innovation remain unclear. To address this gap, we aims to investigate the effects of digital transformation (strategy and capability) on SC collaborative (process and product) innovation and market performance.Design/methodology/approachWe use partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with a sample of 210 Chinese manufacturers to investigate the effects of digital transformation (strategy and capability) on SC collaborative (process and product) innovation and market performance.FindingsThe results show that digital strategy and capability positively impact SC collaborative process and product innovation, which enhances market performance. In addition, SC collaborative innovation mediates the relationship between digital transformation and market performance.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by identifying how digital transformation drives SC collaborative innovation towards improving market performance and providing practical guidance for enterprises in promoting digital transformation and SC collaborative innovation.

Collaborative innovation, strategic agility, & absorptive capacity adoption in SMEs: the moderating effects of customer knowledge management capability

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between collaborative innovation and the financial performance of information technology (IT) firms through the mediating role of strategic agility and absorptive capacity. Customer knowledge management capability (CKMC) is also explored as a potential moderator.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 300 respondents working in different small to medium IT enterprises operating in different cities around Portugal. The simple random sampling method was used for data collection, and Smart partial least squares-structural equation modeling (Smart PLS-SEM version 3.2.8) was used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that collaborative innovation contributes significantly to the financial performance of IT firms in Portugal. The results also indicate that absorptive capacity and strategic agility both positively and significantly affect the relationship between collaborative innovation and firms’ financial performance. However, while the moderating role of CKMC has a positive and significant effect on the relation between collaborative innovation and strategic agility, CKMC insignificantly moderates the relation between collaborative innovation and absorptive capacity.Originality/valueFew studies have explicitly connected collaborative innovation with firms’ financial performance; this study attempts to fill that gap. Moreover, this research investigates the mediating role of strategic agility and absorptive capacity in the relationship between collaborative innovation and financial performance. Finally, by discussing the moderating effect of CKMC, which leads to enhanced financial performance, this study proposes that when complex and unpredictable situations occur, managers should focus on customer-oriented strategies and innovation at the same time to outpace their competitors.

Open Design to Homesickness Elements in Tuping Village for Rural Revitalization

This paper discusses about problems facing in the rural revitalization and explore the social value of green design in promoting rural revitalization, as well as the principles and methods of rural revitalization design. From the three aspects of rural brand image design, cultural and creative product design, and rural tourism brand design based on the homesickness resources of Tuping Village. We analyzed the empirical case of Tuping Village homesickness design and social innovation project hosted by the author. In conclusion, design can play an important driving role, designers should carry out green design based on homesickness culture, maintain open collaborative innovation thinking, integrate all forces and resources, and realize the cultural inheritance and industrial revitalization of rural areas

Managing Technological Innovation: Dynamic Capabilities, Collaborative Innovation, and Born-Digital SMEs' Performance

In contrast to the digital transformation of the incumbents, born-digital small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) embrace digital logic in the organization's design, processes, and governance from the very start. So far, scholars have focused on the digital transformation of the incumbents; thus, little is known about how dynamic capabilities, collaborative innovation, and firm performance interact in the context of born-digital SMEs—a new generation of digital firms with no legacy of the incumbent firm. Therefore, the study's research question is how dynamic capabilities and collaborative innovation affect the performance of born-digital SMEs. We aim to investigate the impact of the dynamic capabilities of born-digital SMEs on their performance when collaborative innovations mediate it. The empirical research was based on 268 complete viable responses from born-digital SMEs in the U.S., Sweden, and Lithuania. The study results show that dynamic capabilities' effect on born-digital SMEs' performance is more potent when mediated by collaborative innovations. Furthermore, the study highlights that although the impact of dynamic capabilities on partnership networks and relational collaboration is significant, only relational collaboration significantly affects the performance of born-digital SMEs. Our study contributes to the management of technology literature by advancing knowledge on dynamic capabilities and collaborative innovation of born-digital SMEs. In addition, we are exposing the limited role of partnership networks in born-digital SMEs' superior performance and spotlighting the significance of relational collaboration—cocreating innovative products and services and sharing the cocreated value among the relevant partners.

Collaborative Innovation Performance Within Platform-Based Innovation Ecosystems: Identifying Relational Strategies With fsQCA

Collaborative Innovation Performance Within Platform-Based Innovation Ecosystems: Identifying Relational Strategies With fsQCA

The role of trust in open innovation collaboration: the experience of polish medium-high-tech SMEs

This paper contributes to an emerging debate on open innovation ecosystems and knowledge sharing in the innovation environment, by sharing insights on the role of trust in open innovation collaboration. Systematization of the state of art literature on the innovation networks show that trust is crucial for improving competition among Polish companies, yet its seems to have not an important place in the innovation environment. The main purpose of the research is to determine the role of personal traits, including trust, in the initiation of the potential open innovation collaboration. The study applies the qualitative survey method and shares up-to-date empirical evidence from Polish high- and high-mid-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study was conducted using the computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) method, in collaboration with the ARC Rynek i Opinia company, from January to April 2021. The study covers 100 SMEs active in advanced technology industries. The results reflect the opinions of middle- to high level managers. The study findings show that there is a need for a deeper understanding of the factors behind trust-embedded open innovation collaboration, and the perception of open innovation as a win-win game for all the partners. Better understanding of these factors will ensure more effective communication in developing an open innovation environment in Polish SMEs. The study findings also indicate the need for an active role of key stakeholders and intermediary agents in facilitating formal and informal networks stimulating mutual trust, as well as the importance to build the educational system enabling the strengthening of the creativity, and the diffusion of innovations.

The convergence mechanism and spatial spillover effects of urban industry-university-research collaborative innovation performance in China

ABSTRACT This study deconstructs the triple helix structure of urban industry-university-research collaborative innovation into a two-stage chain structure of knowledge innovation and technological innovation. Based on data of 285 China prefecture-level cities from 2004 to 2018, this study measures the urban industry-university-research collaborative innovation performance using the network data envelopment analysis model. Additionally, it clarifies its spatial convergence mechanism and spatial spillover effects using the spatial convergence test and spatial Durbin model. The results suggest that: (1) the performance of China's urban industry-university-research collaborative innovation at different stages shows a spatial pattern with obvious regional differences and diversified development modes. (2) The overall performance shows a trend of gradual σ convergence with a slightly fluctuating rate, and the gap is constantly decreasing. Additionally, it shows an absolute β convergence trend at different stages, with an obvious geospatial club convergence trend in the eastern, central, and western regions. (3) The spatial spillover effects of ‘research-to-production’ performance and overall performance are stronger than that of ‘university-to-research’ performance. Finally, the collaborative innovation performance of various cities is dominated by the polarisation effect, and the its role as the driving force of regional innovation needs to be strengthened.

Platform collaboration patterns, network structure, and innovation performance: An NK simulation approach

Prior research lacks understanding about how collaborative arrangements and network structures influence innovation outcomes in platform-based ecosystems. This paper addresses this gap by using an NK simulation model to investigate the impacts of different collaboration patterns and network structures on innovation performance. The NK simulation approach overcomes the shortcomings of empirical methods and enables examining the dynamic impacts. The results reveal that the “special platform + generic complementor” pattern leads to the highest innovation output. The impact of component correlations on the innovation performance follows an inverted U-shape. The small world network structure promotes innovation versus regular or random networks. The results provide novel theoretical insights into strategically configuring platform partnerships and network connections to optimize innovation. The findings offer practical guidance for firms to choose beneficial collaboration pattern and design proper network structure.

Study on the Impact of Corporate ESG Performance on Green Innovation Performance—Evidence from Listed Companies in China A-Shares

With the establishment of China’s “dual carbon” target and the promotion of high-quality development strategy, the role of green innovation has become increasingly important. Corporate ESG innovation, as a guiding principle for companies to practice sustainable development and an important signal for evaluating their environmental and social responsibilities as well as corporate governance level, deserves in-depth research on its impact on green innovation performance. This paper empirically analyzes the green innovation effect of corporate ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) performance using Chinese A-share listed companies as a sample from 2009 to 2021. The research shows that corporate ESG performance can enhance green innovation performance. Mechanism analysis reveals that ESG performance mainly improves green innovation performance by alleviating financing constraints and enhancing human capital. Further research shows that all three sub-dimensions of ESG performance contribute to improving green innovation performance, with the strongest effect observed in corporate governance performance. ESG performance not only enhances strategic green innovation performance and independent green innovation performance but also improves substantial green innovation performance and collaborative green innovation performance. Therefore, the government should improve the ESG information disclosure system, increase support for companies with excellent ESG performance, and improve local talent policies to attract high-quality green innovation talents. Investors should incorporate ESG performance into their decision-making and strengthen the identification and use of ESG information. Companies should formulate ESG strategies, increase relevant investments, prioritize corporate governance improvement, and enhance the quality of ESG information disclosure through various means.

Analysis of Service Quality Factors of the Regional Planning Agency of Aceh

Objective: This study examines how collaborative public innovation, transformational leadership, knowledge acquisition, employee competencies, innovative climate, and organizational performance affect service quality at the Regional Planning Agency of Aceh. Methods/Analysis: The study used quantitative analysis, qualitative interviews, and surveys. The data were analyzed using the SERVQUAL model and scatter analysis approaches. The correlation between variables was analyzed by Spearman rho correlation, while Kruskal-Wallis analyzed the significance between variables. Finding: The SERVQUAL model shows the Regional Planning Agency of Aceh provides good quality services; 98% of respondents gave an excellent rating, and 12% were good. Scatter analysis shows that the agency consistently meets expectations. Spearman rho correlation analysis shows that all determinant factor variables have a strong relationship with improving service quality and are also significant between variables (p<0.05). Novelty/Improvement: Improving the quality of the organization (Regional Planning Agency of Aceh) is primarily determined by the knowledge acquisition factor, which is followed by collaborative public innovation, transformational leadership, employee competencies, and an innovative climate. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-05-017 Full Text: PDF

Cognitive Characteristics of an Innovation Team and Collaborative Innovation Performance: The Mediating Role of Cooperative Behavior and the Moderating Role of Team Innovation Efficacy

Based on the theory of social cognition, this paper discusses the cognitive characteristics of an innovation team, the influence mechanism of cooperative behavior on collaborative innovation performance, and the moderating effect of team innovation efficacy in an enterprise collaborative innovation network. The hypothesis has been verified on the basis of 288 valid questionnaires. The results show the following: in the process of collaborative innovation, different dimensions of innovation team cognitive characteristics, namely collaborative innovation experience, the internal innovation environment of the enterprise, and emotional experience, have a significant positive impact on the collaborative innovation performance; and cooperative behavior plays a partial mediating role in the cognitive characteristics of the innovation team and collaborative innovation performance. In addition, the team’s innovation efficacy positively moderates the relationship between cooperative behavior and collaborative innovation performance. The results of this study not only expand the application of the social cognitive theory to the scope of collaborative innovation activities, but also have a certain reference significance to effectively mobilize the innovation initiative of the enterprise innovation team and improve the performance of collaborative innovation.

Do Team Boundary-Spanning Activities Affect Innovation Performance?

In order to reveal the impact of boundary-spanning activities of cooperative innovation teams on team innovation performance, this paper takes the panel data of 71 cooperative innovation teams from January to November 2022 as the research sample. It introduces intermediary variables (teamwork crafting and individual work crafting) to analyze the impact mechanism of boundary-spanning activities of teams on innovation performance, 71 teams were divided into 41 experimental groups and 30 control groups, and a quasi-natural experiment was conducted on the innovation performance of team boundary-spanning activities using the Double Difference Model (DID). Research has shown that boundary-spanning activities of collaborative innovation teams can promote team innovation performance. Team job crafting has a mediating effect on team innovation performance in boundary-spanning activities of collaborative innovation teams. Team job crafting and individual job crafting mediate between the boundary-spanning activities of collaborative innovation teams and team innovation performance. Further analysis using the double difference model found that compared to teams without boundary-spanning activities, teams with boundary-spanning activities can directly improve team innovation performance. When team reflection is vital and task interdependence is high, it will promote team innovation performance. This research enriches the research on the effects of boundary-spanning activities of collaborative innovation teams, explores solutions based on quasi-nature, and provides a reference for improving the team innovation performance of collaborative innovation teams.

Innovation of school-enterprise collaborative cultivation mode for university e-commerce majors in the context of symbiosis theory

School-enterprise collaborative training model is a system of cultivating talents through school-enterprise cooperation and combining practice. This paper explores the practical model of university collaborative innovation based on symbiosis theory, aiming at examining and analyzing the complex synergistic relationship between each inner symbiotic unit, revealing the inner practical evolution logic, and providing useful reference and inspiration for the improvement of university collaborative innovation performance. The symbiotic model of collaborative innovation between universities and enterprises interacting with each other is constructed, and innovation is carried out with market demand as the link. Based on this, e-commerce majors in colleges and universities should integrate enterprise elements, form multilateral communication mechanisms and promote the stability of symbiotic relationships. In order to verify that the symbiosis theory can innovate the school-enterprise collaborative training model, a school-enterprise cooperation internship training platform was built. 19.1% of students felt very dissatisfied and 18.9% felt very satisfied with it before the internship. The students who were very dissatisfied after the internship decreased from 19.1% to 2.1% before the internship, and 53.1% of the students completely achieved the goal, which indicates that improving the symbiotic integrated governance system of university collaborative innovation can improve the ability of university collaborative innovation comprehensively.

The impact of the collaborative innovation network embeddedness on enterprise green innovation performance

As the market environment becomes increasingly competitive, enterprises that rely solely on internal research and development innovation are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of competition. Consequently, enterprises have broken down organizational boundaries and shifted from closed innovation to open collaborative innovation. The flow of knowledge across organizations facilitates the acquisition of heterogeneous resources from partners, promotes the integration and configuration of internal and external knowledge, thereby enhances the competitiveness of enterprises. However, some scholars argued that collaborative innovation does not always achieve win-win outcomes, and the existence of substitution effects between enterprises and their partners may hinder the innovation level of the focal enterprise. Therefore, based on the resource-based theory and the network embeddedness theory, this study constructs a theoretical model to investigate the effects of network embeddedness, network experience and partner diversity on enterprise green innovation performance in the Chinese green collaborative innovation network. The impact of network embeddedness on innovation performance is examined from two dimensions: structural embeddedness and relational embeddedness. The moderating effects of network experience and partner diversity are analyzed to further explain this phenomenon. Using Chinese green patent data from 2000 to 2015 as the research object, the collaborative innovation network of enterprises is constructed, and the network characteristic variables are calculated using social network analysis methods. Finally, negative binomial regression and robustness tests are conducted using STATA software. The research findings provide managerial implications for Chinese enterprises to achieve competitiveness and sustainable development.

Collaborative innovation evolution of the logistics and manufacturing industry in China.

The logistics industry and the manufacturing industry are mutually productive factors and service objects, which determines that the two must develop cooperatively. In the increasingly fierce market competition, open collaborative innovation is more conducive to improving the level of linkage between the logistics industry and the manufacturing industry, and promoting industrial development. Based on the patent data of 284 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2020, this paper uses Gis spatial analysis, spatial Dubin model and other methods to analyze the collaborative innovation between the logistics industry and manufacturing industry. The results lead to several conclusions. (i) The overall collaborative innovation level is not high, and in terms of the evolution cycle, collaborative innovation has experienced three stages: embryo, rapid development and stable development. (ii) The spatial agglomeration characteristics of the collaborative innovation between the two industries are more and more obvious, and the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River urban agglomeration play an important role in the collaborative innovation between the two industries. (iii) The hot spots of collaborative innovation between the two industries are concentrated in the eastern and northern coastal areas, while the cold spots are concentrated in the south of the northwest and southwest areas in the late stage of the study. (iiii) The positive influencing factors of local collaborative innovation between the two industries include economic development, scientific and technological level, government behavior, and employment, while the negative influencing factors include information technology level, and logistics infrastructure. Economic development has a negative spatial spillover effect on surrounding areas, while the spatial spillover effect of scientific and technological level is significantly positive. This article aims to explore the current situation and influencing factors of collaborative innovation between the two industries, with a view to proposing countermeasures and suggestions for improving the level of collaborative innovation between the two industries, and also providing new ideas for research on cross industry collaborative innovation.

Perspectives of Collaboration between Large Firms and High-Tech SMEs Regarding Open Innovation (OI)

This article aims to explore Open Innovation (OI) collaborations between high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large customers. The aim of the study is to add new perspectives regarding the specific and special way in which smaller companies initiate and develop relationships based on trust with larger customers in order to innovate and, at the same time, highlight the special contribution of customers in terms of the innovation process of SMEs. It presents perspectives regarding the way in which SMEs, by building trust, initiate and grow OI relationships with research clients but also with clients present in industry. According to the results, large customers, directly and indirectly, contributed significantly to the innovation processes of SMEs. The study focuses on SMEs aiming to adopt an OI strategy that involves enhancing legitimacy, building trust, and leveraging relationships with research institutions and larger clients. By investigating how SMEs develop partnerships with these entities, the study contributes to the existing OI literature by exploring how SMEs navigate the advantages and challenges associated with OI while fostering trust-based relationships.

Exploring the Curvilinear Relationship between Academic-Industry Collaboration Environment and Innovation Performance: A Multilevel Perspective

Academic institutions play a crucial role in knowledge production and driving innovation and economic growth. To enhance their capacity to deliver on these responsibilities, they are increasingly urged to establish academic–industry collaboration (AIC) environments to support research and innovation activities by their faculty and students. Despite the recognized importance of AIC in stimulating innovation performance, there is limited research exploring the cross-level impact of AIC on innovation performance. This study aims to address this research gap by investigating the relationship between the AIC environment and innovation performance while specifically examining the cross-level mediating role of researchers’ technological capability in this relationship. The study used a hierarchical linear model (HLM) approach, drawing on data from 187 researchers at 14 universities and academic institutions in the United Arab Emirates. The study’s results reveal a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) effect of the AIC environment on innovation performance and a positive correlation between researchers’ technological capability and innovation performance. Furthermore, the AIC environment demonstrates a curvilinear effect on researchers’ technological capability, with researchers’ technological capability partially mediating the relationship between the AIC environment and innovation performance. These findings have significant theoretical and practical implications for policymakers in government agencies and university management seeking to develop evidence-based policies for effective science and technology management that enhance innovation performance.

IT investment and corporate collaborative innovation: the moderating role of the top management team's educational background and absorptive capacity

PurposePrevious studies have shown that the application of information technology (IT) can help break through the innovation boundaries of firms and has undoubtedly become a key enabler of collaborative innovation. These studies, however, are mainly based on theoretical analysis and case studies, and little is empirically known about the relationship between IT investments and collaborative innovation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to empirically explore how firms' IT investments affect the firms' collaborative innovation performance. The authors also examine the moderating roles of the top management team's (TMT's) educational background and absorptive capacity in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data on 2,097 listed Chinese manufacturing companies and used the ordinary least squares (OLS) method to perform regression analysis. In addition, the authors conducted robustness tests using the propensity score matching (PSM) method and the instrumental variable method.FindingsThe results show that the relationship between IT investments and collaborative innovation is inverted, U-shaped and curvilinear. In addition, the TMT's educational background and absorptive capacity positively moderate the inverted U-shaped relationship between IT investments and collaborative innovation.Originality/valueThe study's findings on the relationship between IT investments and collaborative innovation differ from previous mainstream findings that recognized a positive linear relationship. The authors' findings deepen the understanding of the dual role of IT investments. Moreover, this research helps expand the contingency perspective in IT investments and collaborative innovation research.