Dysfunctional Competition Research Articles

Layered Double Hydroxide-Based PdCux@LDH Alloy Nanozyme for a Singlet Oxygen-Boosted Sonodynamic Therapy.

Redox nanozymes have demonstrated tremendous promise in disrupting cellular homeostasis toward cancer therapy, but a dysfunctional competition of diverse activities makes it normally restricted by the complex tumor microenvironment (TME). As palladium nanocrystals can achieve the precise regulation of the enzyme-like activity by regulating exposed crystal planes, noble metal nanoalloys can enhance the enzyme-like activity by promoting electron transfer and enhanced active sites. Herein, bimetallic nanoalloys with optimized enzymatic activity were intelligently designed via the interaction between the Pd and layered double hydroxide, denoted as PdCux@LDH. This PdCux@LDH is able to produce long-lived singlet oxygen (1O2) with high efficiency and selectivity for ultrasound-improved cancer therapy. In addition, this PdCux@LDH nanozyme demonstrated unique surface-dependent multienzyme-mimicking activities for catalyzing cascade reactions: oxidase (OXD)- and catalase (CAT)-mimicking activities. Interestingly, ultrasound (US) stimulation can further improve the dual-enzyme-mimicking activities and impart superior reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation activity, thereby further consuming nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to cause mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in a highly efficient alloy nanozyme-mediated cancer therapy. This work opens a new research avenue to apply nanozymes for effective sonodynamic therapies (SDT).

Blockchain technology adoption and supply chain resilience: exploring the role of transformational supply chain leadership

PurposeAlthough blockchain technology holds significant promise in influencing supply chain resilience (SCR), its effectiveness depends on a variety of factors. However, given that blockchain adoption in SCR is still in its infancy, there is a lack of empirical research to reveal the critical success factors maximizing its efficacy. This study aims to apply an organizational information processing theory (OIPT) perspective to explore how transformational supply chain leadership (TSCL) can facilitate the deployment and connection of blockchain technology to meet the imperatives of enhancing SCR.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a two-wave survey method to gather data from 317 Chinese manufacturers to empirically examine the hypothesized relationships.FindingsThe findings suggest that the adoption of blockchain technology enhances both the proactive and reactive dimensions of SCR, and these effects can be realized through the mediating role of TSCL. Furthermore, the positive effect of blockchain technology on TSCL is strengthened in the context of dysfunctional competition.Practical implicationsThese findings suggest that companies can only enhance the benefits of disruptive technologies, such as blockchain, by fully integrating them into the operational and supply chain processes.Originality/valueThis research offers novel insights into the specific processes of how blockchain technology can be used to enhance SCR. It also deepens our comprehension of how digital technology can be optimally harnessed within the framework of OIPT, thus providing a contribution to the literature on emerging technologies and SCR.

CSR and new product development performance in transition economies: roles of internal capabilities, external networks, and dysfunctional competition

ABSTRACT Despite abundant research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) outcomes, few studies have examined whether CSR contributes to new product development (NPD) performance. Existing studies argue that CSR increases firms’ innovation activities and launches more new products, however, these arguments have yet to fully extend to the understanding of underlying mechanisms in the CSR-NPD relationship and how CSR fosters NPD performance in different scenarios, especially in transition economies. Building on the resource-based view, social capital theory, and structuration theory, this paper hypothesizes that the CSR influence on NPD performance is mediated by internal capabilities and external networks and moderated by dysfunctional competition. Using empirical data of 219 small and medium-sized firms in China, we find that CSR not only directly increases firms’ NPD performance but also has positive effects on internal capabilities and external networks, which in turn improve NPD performance. Moreover, as one of the most representative institutional environments in transition economies, dysfunctional competition strengthens the effects of CSR on internal capabilities and external networks. This research contributes to the CSR and NPD literature in transition economies and offers strategic guidance to innovating firms in transition economies on how to foster and benefit from CSR initiatives, NPD managers should comprehend the coevolution of CSR, innovation, and institutional environments in transition economies.

Charity can still begin at home: Examining the drivers and boundary conditions of Africa-to-Africa outward foreign direct investment (OFDI)

Recent studies on ‘Africa Rising’ and ‘Africa-to-Africa Internationalization’ have propelled conversations on how African Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) can continue to internationalize within African countries. From the tenets of the institutional theory and the dynamic capabilities perspectives, this study proposes and tests a framework of how and when dysfunctional competition drives SMEs' outward foreign direct investments within African countries. Analysis of a survey data from 196 Ghanaian SMEs operating across the African continent indicates that cross-border open innovation mediates the relationship between dysfunctional competition and SMEs' intra- Africa OFDI activities. Further analysis revealed that SMEs' strategic agility plays a double-edged sword moderating role in enhancing the effects of dysfunctional competitions and cross-border open innovation on intra-Africa OFDI. These findings have significant implications for the international business and finance literature as well as the management and growth of African SMEs.

Moving from reverse engineering to disruptive innovation in emerging markets: The importance of knowledge creation

Disruptive innovation is a powerful means of expanding and developing new markets and delivering new functionality, and serves as a viable innovation strategy for emerging market firms. Existing literature indicates that reverse engineering, as a common type of informal technological learning, is an important driver for firms to catch up and improve their innovation capabilities. However, the literature lacks an adequate explanation of how firms can move from reverse engineering to disruptive innovation. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework to investigate how reverse engineering influences disruptive innovation through knowledge creation, as well as the moderating effect of the institutional environment. Using a two-wave time-lagged study of 294 informants in 147 Chinese manufacturing firms, we find that reverse engineering has a positive impact on disruptive innovation, and that this relationship is fully mediated by knowledge creation. In addition, the institutional environment in emerging markets plays a dual role: government support strengthens the positive relationship between reverse engineering and knowledge creation, while dysfunctional competition weakens it. These findings provide a micro-level perspective on how latecomer firms in emerging markets can achieve technological catch-up through reverse engineering-based technological learning practices, implying that firms can only move from reverse engineering to disruptive innovation through a knowledge creation process.

Firms' innovation modes and novelty of innovation: the moderating role of dysfunctional Competition

ABSTRACT Weak institutions leading to a dysfunctional competitive environment affect firms’ innovation. Drawing on the innovation modes approach and institutional theory, we suggest that STI (science and technology-based innovation) and DUI mode (learning by doing, using, and interacting) are moderated by perceived dysfunctional competition. Based on the Colombian innovation survey (EDIT) and using logistic regression modelling, we find that perceived dysfunctional competition prevailing in emerging markets weakens the positive effect of firms’ STI and DUI modes on innovation novelty. We explain this finding based on managers’ perceptions of value appropriability. While intellectual property rights affect the innovation of STI firms, DUI firms’ innovation is affected by information exposure. The results contribute to the innovation modes literature by showing that appropriability influences managers’ perception in STI and DUI firms, weakening firms’ innovations. In practice, firms need mechanisms to protect innovation against competitors’ opportunistic or unlawful behaviour, and governments could foster means of appropriability associated with STI and DUI modes.

How does entrepreneurial orientation influence firm performance? The roles of corporate social responsibility and institutional environments

AbstractA growing number of firms are realizing that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is an effective means to cope with competition and maintain sustainable growth. However, with the results of extant studies on EO‐performance relationship are not fully consistent, the potential mechanism about how EO influences firm performance needs to be further explored. Accordingly, this research investigates the mediating mechanism of EO‐performance by considering the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) from the resource dependence perspective. In addition, we assess the relationship between EO and CSR by examining the moderating roles of institutional support and dysfunctional competition. Using the sample data of 214 Chinese firms to test the hypotheses, we find that CSR mediates the relationship between EO and firm performance. Moreover, institutional support negatively moderates the EO‐CSR relationship and dysfunctional competition positively moderates the relationship between EO and CSR. Based on the above results, our study provides practical implications for entrepreneurial firms striving to translate their EO into superior firm performance.

Linking environmental corporate social responsibility to firm performance: The role of partnership restructure.

In this study, we integrate the signal institutional theory and stakeholder theory to examine partnership restructure as a critical mechanism linking environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) to corporate financial performance. Keeping in line with most prior studies, we first argue that a positive relationship exists between ECSR and firm performance. Then we propose that partnership restructure mediates the nexus between ECSR and firm performance because ECSR may motivate firms to change their partners in the better interests of the firms. In addition, we propose that the firms' industry power will exaggerate while dysfunctional competition will weaken the positive nexus between ECSR and partnership restructure. Evidence based on a survey covering 206 manufacturing firms in China offers good support for our predictions. This last section offers research contributions and implications for the managers based on the findings.

CSR and Sustainable Growth in China’s Technology Firms between 2010 and 2021

In this study, we examine the relationships between CSR (e.g., CSR aimed at employees, customers, suppliers, and governments) and firm sustainable growth, and how dysfunctional competition moderates these relationships. Based on resource dependence theory, we argue that CSR aimed at four chosen groups of stakeholders (e.g., employees, customers, suppliers, and governments) is positively related to firm sustainable growth and that the levels of dysfunctional competition will positively moderate these relationships. Our results, using a sample of technology firms in China, provide support for these arguments. We find that CSR aimed at employees, customers, suppliers, and governments is positively related to firm sustainable growth. In addition, using the contingence approach, we find that CSR aimed at the four chosen groups of stakeholders has a stronger positive relationship with firm sustainable growth when the level of dysfunctional competition is high than when it is low. Our findings have important theoretical and managerial implications, which are discussed in this study.

Base of the pyramid orientation, imitation orientation and new product performance in an emerging market

This study investigates the effect of base of the pyramid (BOP) orientation on new product performance through the mediating mechanism of imitation orientation. Using time-lagged data from 505 new ventures, the results revealed that (1) BOP orientation positively influences imitation orientation, (2) imitation orientation mediates the relationship between BOP orientation and new product performance, (3) competitive intensity has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between imitation orientation and new product performance, and (4) dysfunctional competition positively moderates the effect of imitation orientation on new product performance. These findings provide a nuanced understanding of the role of BOP orientation in the context of new product performance by introducing imitation orientation as a mediating mechanism. The implications for theory development and directions for future research are discussed.

Impacts of R&D investment on absorptive capacity and firm innovativeness: contingent roles of dysfunctional competition

PurposeDrawing upon relative absorptive capacity (AC) perspective, this study proposes a research model connecting R&D investment, three types of supply chain AC—AC from suppliers, customers and university and research institutes (U&RIs)—and firm innovativeness and investigates the contingent effects of dysfunctional competition on the link between R&D investment and supply chain AC.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used data collected from 262 manufacturers in three areas of China to empirically examine the conceptual model. The corresponding hypotheses were tested with structural equation modeling and regression analysis.FindingsThe empirical results demonstrate that AC from customers and AC from U&RIs play significant mediating roles in the relationship between R&D investment and firm innovativeness. Moreover, R&D investment has a significantly greater effect on AC from U&RIs under high levels of dysfunctional competition.Originality/valueFirst, by conceptualizing AC from a relative view, this study discloses the unique roles of knowledge from different supply chain partners in realizing the benefits of R&D investment in innovation. Second, the exploration of the contingent roles of dysfunctional competition in the emerging economy of China enriches insights on the roles of institutional environment on knowledge absorption and the knowledge on relative AC in emerging economies.

Influence of IT support on firms' cross-channel integration: the moderating role of institutional environment

PurposeUsing dynamic capability theory, this study investigates how information technology (IT) support affects firms' online and offline cross-channel integration (CCI). In addition, it applies institutional theory to examine how the relationships between IT support and CCI are moderated by firms' institutional environments.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 308 firms in China that conduct business in online and offline channels was empirically tested through hierarchical regression analysis.FindingsThe results showed two types of IT support facilitated CCI: IT support for strategy and IT support for process. The relationship between IT support for process and CCI was stronger than that between IT support for strategy and CCI. The results further indicated institutional environment (i.e. dysfunctional competition and government support) played differing roles in these effects, such that the relationship between IT support for strategy and CCI was significantly weakened by dysfunctional competition yet enhanced by government support. However, neither dysfunctional competition nor government support had a significant moderating role in the relationship between IT support for process and CCI.Originality/valueThis study identifies different IT support types as antecedents of CCI. It is also one of the earliest attempts to explore the influence of institutional environment on the relationship between IT support and CCI.

The effects of shared vision on value co-creation in megaprojects: A multigroup analysis between clients and main contractors

Value co-creation is a new and important organisational strategy for addressing complex and fragmented practices in megaprojects. However, the existing literature rarely explores the influences of shared vision on value co-creation in megaprojects. Hence, this study aims to explore the relationship between shared vision and value co-creation, and the main factors that moderate it from the perspectives of clients and main contractors. The results reveal that shared vision can improve value co-creation and that its influence is moderated by requirements risk and dysfunctional competition, which serve as environmental and institutional factors. Specifically, for main contractors, requirements risk strengthens the positive effect of shared vision and value co-creation, whereas dysfunctional competition mitigates it. For clients, dysfunctional competition attenuates this relationship, while requirements risk exerts no significant moderating effect. This research contributes to the knowledge advancement and managerial implications of value co-creation for both clients and main contractors in megaprojects.

Value variations of political ties in the acquisition of R&D capabilities: The roles of non-SOEs and dysfunctional competition

The issue of how enterprises acquire research and development (R&D) capabilities from their political ties is neglected by previous studies. Drawing on the resource-based view, this study examines the effect of political ties on the acquisition of R&D capabilities. Moreover, based on institutional theory, this study offers contingent situations that specify how can nonstate-owned enterprises (non-SOEs) and dysfunctional competition determine the value variations of political ties in the acquisition of R&D capabilities. Besides, this study also investigates the effect of the acquisition of R&D capabilities on radical innovation. The findings from a survey of 189 Chinese firms indicate that political ties of enterprises have a positive effect on the acquisition of R&D capabilities. Furthermore, non-SOEs weakens the effect of political ties on the acquisition of R&D capabilities. However, dysfunctional competition strengthens the relationship between political ties and the acquisition of R&D capabilities. Besides, the acquisition of R&D capabilities is positively related to radical innovation.

Organizational unlearning, knowledge generation strategies and radical innovation performance: evidence from a transitional economy

PurposeEmpirical results remain unclear as to whether organizational unlearning can improve radical innovation performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate how, and under which conditions, organizational unlearning influences firms’ radical innovation performance.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the knowledge-based view, this study develops a theoretical model that hypothesizes a positive relationship between organizational unlearning and radical innovation performance, which is mediated by knowledge generation strategies. It also proposes that the impact of unlearning on knowledge generation strategies will be moderated by dysfunctional competition. Using survey data from 191 Chinese manufacturing firms, the hierarchical regressions were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe empirical results show that organizational unlearning not only impacts radical innovation performance directly, but also indirectly affects radical innovation performance through two distinct types of knowledge generation strategies: (internal) knowledge creation and (external) information searching. Moreover, dysfunctional competition plays a dual role, strengthening the positive relationship between organizational unlearning and information search and weakening the positive relationship between organizational unlearning and knowledge creation.Research limitations/implicationsThe present research broadens the understanding of how to promote radical innovation performance, which has great potential to improve the performance of firms on the market. Specifically, it deepens the knowledge of how organizational unlearning facilitates radical innovation performance by focusing on two distinct types of knowledge generation strategies as the crucial links, and enriches existing literature on the effectiveness of organizational unlearning in a dysfunctional competitive environment.Practical implicationsPracticing organizational unlearning for firms’ long-term success requires firms to develop and implement appropriate knowledge generation strategies in accordance with the characteristics of market competition in their operating environment.Originality/valueThis study offers new insights into how and under what conditions organizational unlearning affects radical innovation performance, enhancing the understanding of how organizational unlearning can be implemented to drive firm radical innovation.

Interfirm coopetition, interfirm knowledge creation, and collaborative innovation performance: The moderating roles of environmental competitiveness and dysfunctional competition

This paper investigates whether and how interfirm coopetition—the combination of cooperation and competition—affects collaborative innovation performance in competitive environments. We address this issue by introducing interfirm knowledge creation as a mediating mechanism based on knowledge creation theory and by examining the moderating effects of environmental competitiveness and dysfunctional competition. The hypotheses are tested using survey data from a sample of 170 Chinese high-tech firms. The results show that interfirm knowledge creation mediates the impact of interfirm coopetition on collaborative innovation performance. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the positive relationship between interfirm coopetition and interfirm knowledge creation is stronger under higher levels of environmental competitiveness but weaker under higher levels of dysfunctional competition. The positive relationship between interfirm knowledge creation and collaborative innovation performance is more evident under higher levels of environmental competitiveness. These findings enrich the interfirm coopetition literature, contribute to knowledge creation theory by extending it to the interfirm context, and provide a better understanding and useful advice for enterprise managers and government officials.

Innovation and Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Aspirant Markets: An Institutional Environment Approach

The recent years have witnessed an increasing number of manufacturers in developed markets pursuing service-led innovation to secure their sustainable growth and competitive positions. This study compares the manufacturing firm performance outcomes of two types of innovation activities in the value chain (i.e., service innovation and product innovativeness) contingent on institutional environment but in an aspirant market – China. To do so we conducted two studies: A secondary data study (Study 1) used a longitudinal panel dataset of 1,167 manufacturing firms and a robustness study (Study 2) used primary survey data from 171 manufacturing firms. Both studies offer consistent empirical results that in the dysfunctional competition environment, and in contrast to product innovativeness, service innovation is less effective for manufacturing performance but works more effectively for performance in the complicated institutional environment when government support and dysfunctional competition co-exist. The research contributes to the fields of aspirant markets and innovation by developing our understanding of the firm’s strategic responses pertaining to innovation in the context of a complicated institutional environment, the latter informed by structuration theory. The paper offers a fine-grained view to manufacturing innovation and provides the practical implications for managers and clear guidance to firms and governments in the aspirant markets in regards to innovation practice, strategy, and policy.

Top management service commitment and new product development in manufacturing firms: the moderating role of dysfunctional competition

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate how top management service commitment (TSC) affects two dimensions of new product development (NPD), speed and product innovativeness, and to examine how dysfunctional competition moderates the effects in emerging economies.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 151 high-tech manufacturing firms in China. In one firm, two different top managers were surveyed to reduce the common method variance. The authors used the seemingly unrelated regression approach to test the hypotheses.FindingsFirst, TSC negatively influences product innovativeness, an effect that dysfunctional competition attenuates. Second, despite not being significantly positive as hypothesized, the direct effect of TSC on NPD speed remains positive when dysfunctional competition is high rather than low. Third, the findings reveal that product innovativeness increases firm performance, but NPD speed shows no similar effect.Practical implicationsFirst, top managers should pay attention to the synergistic effect between industrial services and product businesses. Second, manufacturing firms in developing countries need to implement servitization when facing unlawful competitive behaviors.Originality/valueIn literature, the effect of industrial services on NPD is unclear. The present study enriches literature by connecting servitization with NPD and by focusing on the importance of top managers to the implementation of servitization. In addition, the authors extend the servitization literature to emerging economies and thereby provide significant insights into this context.

The impact of buyer–supplier interaction on ambidextrous innovation and business performance: the moderating role of competitive environment

PurposeThis study is based on knowledge-based view to examine the relationships among buyer–supplier interaction, ambidextrous innovation and business performance. It includes competitive intensity and dysfunctional competition to clarify boundary conditions.Design/methodology/approachThe ordinary least squares regression was conducted to test hypotheses. The survey data were collected from 182 Hong Kong manufacturing firms.FindingsBuyer–supplier interaction facilitates ambidextrous innovation, namely exploitative innovation and exploratory innovation. In turn, exploitative innovation enhances business performance, whereas exploratory innovation has no influence on business performance. Competitive intensity strengthens while dysfunctional competition weakens the impact of buyer–supplier interaction on ambidextrous innovation.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is based on the knowing processes of knowledge-based view. It contends that business performance is derived from ambidextrous innovation, which depends on the utilization of acquired supplier knowledge and the influence of external competitive environment. The test of relationships is constrained by the single-source and cross-sectional data.Practical implicationsFirms should engage in buyer–supplier interaction to acquire and utilize supplier knowledge. Meanwhile, they should monitor competitive environment to seize opportunities and avoid threats.Originality/valueThis study builds a holistic framework for buyer–supplier interaction, which reconciles the mixed arguments by distinguishing its effects on ambidextrous innovation, and by clarifying boundary conditions in terms of competitive intensity and dysfunctional competition.

The Effect of Firms' Innovation Modes on Novelty of Innovation: The Moderating Role of Dysfunctional Competition

The Effect of Firms' Innovation Modes on Novelty of Innovation: The Moderating Role of Dysfunctional Competition