Foster Innovation Research Articles

The CSR practices of Western Australian mining based on innovation ecosystems: Pathways to collaborative innovation and sustainable development

This study investigates the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices of Western Australian mining companies, focusing on their integration of innovation ecosystems to promote sustainable development. Through case studies of BHP Group, Rio Tinto, FMG, and South32, the research examines how these companies reduce carbon emissions, enhance community development, and foster collaborative innovation. The findings highlight the significant role of innovation ecosystems in enabling these companies to adopt cleaner technologies, improve social outcomes, and maintain a competitive edge in a sustainability-conscious global market. The study also explores the challenges and opportunities faced by mining companies in leveraging collaborative innovation to address complex environmental and social issues. This research contributes to the understanding of CSR in the mining industry and offers practical insights for improving sustainability practices through innovation-driven collaboration.

Moderating Role of Transformational Leadership between Strategic Lenses and Organizational Innovation in the Jordanian Telecommunication Companies

This research study focuses on the interplay of strategic lenses with transformational leadership and organizational innovation in Jordanian telecommunication companies. Strategic orientation, hence enabled by the application of strategic lenses, becomes very important within the dynamic environment of the telecommunications industry to respond to market complexities and innovation. The strategic lenses provide a multilateral frame for understanding and appraising organizational strategies through the importance of holistic strategy making. Although strategic lenses significantly influence organizational innovation, this study suggests that transformational leadership could play a moderating role. Transformational leadership based on inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration adds value to the relationship between strategic orientations and innovation outcomes. This study will use a quantitative research approach and target the management staff at the top and middle levels of employees from various Jordanian telecommunication companies to assess the moderating effect of transformational leadership in the strategic lens-organizational innovation nexus. The results show that while the role of transformational leadership is to moderate the translation of strategic insights into innovative practices, it further strengthens the impact of strategic orientations on organizational innovation. Thus, this study makes its contribution to the existing literature through an emphasis on the synergistic effect of strategic lenses and transformational leadership on the fostering of organizational innovation. It, therefore, means that scholars and practitioners will find valuable insights targeting the enhancement of innovation capability within the telecommunications sector.

Innovative Pathways to Net-Zero: The Role of Startups in Accelerating Circular Economy Transitions

Startups play a pivotal role in advancing circular economy transitions and achieving sustainability goals, particularly in emerging economies like UAE. This study examines the contributions of two UAE startups, Careem and El Grocer companies, to innovation, scalability, and sustainability, providing insights into their operational dynamics and challenges. A qualitative research design was employed, incorporating semi-structured interviews, organizational document analysis, and observational data. The thematic analysis revealed key themes, including innovation and agility, sustainability practices, scaling challenges, and external influences. Careem demonstrated agility through its use of data-driven innovation and agile frameworks, enabling successful scaling and impactful sustainability practices via shared transportation models. In contrast, El Grocer faced significant operational inefficiencies and scaling challenges, despite its focus on reducing packaging waste and optimizing delivery logistics. Comparative analysis highlighted Careem’s ability to benefit from supportive policies and external funding, whereas El Grocer struggled with limited access to sector-specific support. The findings emphasize the critical role of scalable innovation and tailored support systems in enabling startups to overcome challenges and achieve systemic sustainability impacts. Recommendations include adopting agile frameworks, leveraging technology for operational efficiency, enhancing policy and funding ecosystems, and fostering collaboration across industries. This study provides valuable insights for startups, policymakers, and ecosystem enablers aiming to foster innovation and sustainability in the startup ecosystem, ultimately accelerating the transition to a resilient and circular economy.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: MODERN CONNOTATIONS

This article explores the critical need to understand the evolving landscape of project management within the public sector, driven by the imperative to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in public service delivery. The study aims to identify and analyze the key determinants that shape the development of project management in public administration, thereby providing insights into future trajectories and adaptation strategies. To achieve this, a comprehensive analytical approach is employed, synthesizing diverse factors influencing project management, including institutional frameworks, organizational capacities, cultural-social dynamics, economic constraints, and technological advancements. This research utilizes a multi-dimensional framework, examining both internal and external factors that impact project success. The analysis incorporates a review of contemporary literature, case studies, and comparative analysis to identify patterns and trends. The results reveal a complex interplay of these determinants, highlighting the growing significance of stakeholder engagement and the integration of advanced technologies. The study underscores the shift towards value-driven project management, emphasizing the importance of aligning project outcomes with societal needs and expectations, rather than solely focusing on traditional metrics like time and budget. The practical value of this research lies in its potential to inform policymakers and public administrators on strategies to optimize project management practices, enhance transparency, and foster innovation within the public sector, ultimately contributing to improved governance and public service outcomes. By providing a deeper understanding of the factors influencing project management in public administration, this study offers actionable insights for enhancing project success and ensuring that public projects deliver maximum value to society. The findings emphasize the need for continuous adaptation and innovation in response to evolving challenges and opportunities in the public sector.

STRATEGIC INNOVATION

This study investigates the insertion of an innovative culture in the administrative strategies of contemporary companies, with the objective of elucidating how organizations can integrate innovative practices to ensure competitiveness and sustainability. The current context is marked by rapid technological transformations, social responsibility pressures and constant adaptation demands, making innovation an essential strategic differentiator. The relevance of the theme is the need for companies to align their values, processes and objectives with creativity and experimentation, promoting a positive impact on the market and society. The adopted methodology was qualitative, based on conceptual analysis and practical examples that demonstrate as visionary leadership, interdepportal collaboration and use of technologies can foster innovation. The results indicate that the adoption of an innovative culture requires continuous commitment, investment in training and integration of sustainable practices. When implemented in a structured way, this approach allows organizations to anticipate trends, quickly respond to changes, and consolidate their competitive position. It is concluded that innovation must be seen as an indispensable strategic pillar for long-term organizational success.

The Differences between China and the Western World with Respect to New Media Art

This paper explores the development, characteristics, and challenges of new media art in China, comparing it with its Western counterparts. It traces the evolution of new media art in China from its emergence in the late 1980s to its current status, highlighting key movements such as video art, multimedia interaction, web-based art, and conceptual photography. The study examines the socio-cultural, economic, and institutional factors that have shaped the trajectory of new media art in China and analyzes the fundamental differences between Chinese and Western practices in terms of artistic philosophy, technological integration, and institutional support. Furthermore, the paper discusses the shortcomings in interdisciplinary collaboration, funding, and academic infrastructure in China, while proposing strategies to strengthen its new media art ecosystem. Looking ahead, the article anticipates increasing recognition for Chinese new media artists and underscores the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration and sustainable funding models to foster innovation and cultural identity in this dynamic field.

Agility in the Digital Era: Bridging Transformation and Innovation in Supply Chains

This study aims to examine how digital supply chain (DSC) dimensions—including digital performance measurement, information technology, digital suppliers, manufacturing, logistics and inventory, and digital client management—influence supply chain agility, and how agility subsequently impacts innovation performance within Moroccan industries. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was employed, collecting data via structured questionnaires from 634 supply chain professionals across sectors such as agri-food, textile, automotive, and aerospace in Morocco. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS 4, evaluating direct and mediating relationships among variables. Results reveal that digital performance measurement, information technology, and logistics significantly enhance supply chain agility, which in turn strongly boosts innovation performance. Surprisingly, digital manufacturing negatively impacted agility, while digital suppliers and digital clients showed no significant direct effect. Theoretically, the study provides empirical evidence linking DSC dimensions to agility-mediated innovation performance, enriching dynamic capabilities and resource-based views. Practically, it advises managers to prioritize digital performance monitoring and IT integration to foster agility-driven innovation. This paper disaggregates digital supply chain dimensions, clarifying their distinct impacts on agility and innovation, thus addressing a research gap in digital transformation literature.

How do knowledge management and technological capability impact innovation performance of MSMEs? Role of ambidexterity

ABSTRACT Enterprises are experiencing an ever-evolving dynamic business environment characterized by technological advancements, market disruptions, geopolitical shifts, and changing consumer preferences. In such a volatile landscape, innovating and thriving are crucial for sustainable success. Ambidexterity, the capacity to simultaneously explore new opportunities while exploiting existing capabilities, emerges as a vital concept to enhance organizational performance amidst environmental dynamism. Considering the dynamic capabilities approach, the study unveils the ever-increasing importance of ambidexterity and how it facilitates the innovation performance of MSMEs. In this regard, a conceptual research framework has been formulated to evaluate the impact of Knowledge management (KM), Technological capability (TC), and Organizational ambidexterity (OA) in influencing Innovation Performance (IP). The Partial Least Squares-SEM approach is utilized to test the framework. The empirical data was gathered from 214 manufacturing and service MSMEs based in India. KM and TC explain 49.1% of the variance in ambidexterity, with ambidexterity accounting for 16.7% of the variance in IP. Moreover, the results reveal the partial mediation of ambidexterity in defining the link between KM-IP and TC-IP. These findings offer practitioners and policymakers valuable theoretical and empirical insights to foster innovation among MSMEs.

Artificial intelligence in project management: A bibliometric analysis

This study explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into project management through a bibliometric analysis of scholarly publications and patents from 2001 to 2024. The paper aims to identify key trends, emerging applications, and global contributions to this evolving field. The study analyzes 51,752 patents from Lens, 5.5 million scholarly records from Google Scholar, and 436,380 records from Web of Science, providing a comprehensive overview of AI’s impact on project management. The analysis maps the evolution of AI-driven project management practices, focusing on resource allocation, risk management, and scheduling optimization. The findings reveal a substantial increase in AI-related project management research, with China and the United States leading in research output. A notable surge in publications post-2019 suggests acceleration due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing demand for digital transformation in project execution. Despite the rising adoption of AI in project management, research gaps persist, particularly in interdisciplinary methodologies, practical AI applications, and ethical concerns related to algorithmic decision-making. This study contributes to understanding AI’s transformative role in project management and highlights future research directions to enhance AI adoption for improved efficiency, decision-making, and project performance. The findings underscore the need for continued exploration of interdisciplinary approaches, practical implementations, and ethical considerations to foster innovation and efficiency in AI-driven project management.

Assessment of the Impact of Credit Risk on the Financial Performance of Listed Commercial Banks in Tanzania

This study explored the impact of various financial and risk management factors on the financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania between 2017 and 2024. Specifically, the research addresses four primary questions: To what extent do non-performing loans (NPLs) affect the financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania? What is the effect of capital adequacy on financial performance? How does a firm's size impact financial performance? And what is the impact of the debt-to-equity ratio on financial performance? The study employed a descriptive research design; the study utilized secondary data sourced from annual reports of the listed commercial banks. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression were used to analyze the data, but because panel data were used, the Hausman test was also used to decide whether or not the use of a random effect model or a fixed effect model would yield more accurate results. The analysis focuses on the effects of NPLs, capital adequacy ratio (CAR), firm size (F_SIZE), and debt-to-equity ratio (DER) on return on equity (ROE). Findings have revealed a non-significant positive relationship between NPLs and ROE, suggesting that factors beyond NPLs predominantly influence profitability. Firm size exhibits a marginally positive yet inconclusive impact on ROE, while DER demonstrates complex leverage effects. Additionally, CAR shows a negative but insignificant effect on the balance between financial stability and profitability. The research highlights the importance of addressing credit risk management within the Tanzanian banking sector, given its unique regulatory and economic challenges. Recommendations include adopting advanced credit risk assessment tools, improving asset quality management, effectively leveraging economies of scale, and implementing regulatory reforms to foster innovation and strengthen risk management. These strategies are aimed at improving the financial resilience and sustainable growth of commercial banks in Tanzania's competitive financial landscape

The Impact of AI Usage on Innovation Behavior at Work: The Moderating Role of Openness and Job Complexity

In the context of the digital transformation era, the extensive application of artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly altering the workplace environment, thereby underscoring the critical need to elucidate its impact on employee innovation behavior. Such insights are essential for optimizing human resource management and enhancing organizational competitiveness. Grounded in cognitive evaluation theory, this study explores the underlying mechanisms through which AI usage influences employee innovation behavior and develops an integrated theoretical model that incorporates both employee personality traits and job characteristics. A two-wave questionnaire survey was conducted, and hierarchical regression analysis was employed to test the hypotheses using a sample of 339 employees from 13 manufacturing enterprises in China. The findings reveal that AI usage is positively associated with employee innovation behavior, with self-efficacy serving as a significant mediator. Furthermore, openness and job complexity positively moderate the relationship between AI usage and self-efficacy, thereby facilitating innovative behavior. Additionally, a moderated mediation mechanism was identified. The conclusions of this study not only enrich the theoretical understanding of how AI impacts employee innovation behavior but also offer practical guidance for organizations on leveraging AI to foster innovation during digital transformation.

Research on the Path of Integrating the Spirit of Third-Line Construction into Learning-Oriented City Construction-Taking Chengdu as an Example

This paper examines the potential of "The Spirit of the Third Line Construction"to contribute to the development of Chengdu as a learning city. The Third-line Construction, a massive industrial relocation effort in the 1960s and 70s, instilled values of self-reliance, innovation, and dedication that continue to resonate in western China. This paper argues that these values can be leveraged to address the challenges facing Chengdu in its quest to become a leading learning city. Through a review of existing literature and analysis of Chengdu’s urban development initiatives, this paper identifies specific paths for integrating the the spirit of the third line construction into learning city construction. The findings provide practical recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders on how to foster innovation, promote lifelong learning, and enhance community engagement in Chengdu.

The Role of Human Resource Re-engineering Dimensions in Achieving the Strategic Renewal Dimensions: An Exploratory Study of the Opinions of a Sample of Administrative Leaders in a Number of Public Schools in Duhok Governorate

This research aims to highlight the role of human resource re-engineering in achieving strategic renewal and to develop a hypothetical model that illustrates the relationships between the study variables. The research problem stems from the fact that strategic renewal has become essential for organizations to adapt and thrive in a competitive environment. Therefore, school administrations must focus on human resource re-engineering and strategic renewal to foster continuous innovation and creativity, enabling schools to survive and achieve future growth. Strategic renewal is considered a cornerstone of excellence. The study is guided by several research questions, including: Is there a correlation and effect relationship between the dimensions of human resource re-engineering and the dimensions of strategic renewal? What is the level of agreement among the surveyed sample regarding the study variables, represented by the dimensions of human resource re-engineering and the dimensions of strategic renewal? The field study relied on a questionnaire to collect data from the sample, designed with input from experts in various disciplines. The analysis revealed positive correlations between the study variables, indicating homogeneity between the dimensions of human resource re-engineering and the dimensions of strategic renewal. This correlation supports the schools in achieving an entrepreneurial position in the education sector. Based on these findings, the study recommends that schools explore new strategies to foster a culture of change and development among teaching staff, focusing on the core elements necessary for effective human resource re-engineering to achieve long-term renewal.

Multi‐Module Micro/Nanorobots for Biomedical and Environmental Remediation Applications

Micro/nanorobots (MNRs) are untethered, small‐scale devices designed to perform complex tasks in challenging and inaccessible environments, with promising biomedicine and environmental remediation applications. Recent advancements in multi‐module MNRs, which incorporate functional components such as actuators, propellers, imaging modalities, and manipulators, have significantly expanded their capabilities while addressing the limitations of single‐module designs. This article reviews recent progress in these core modules, emphasizing their application in biomedicine, including targeted drug delivery, tissue repair, and diagnosis, as well as in environmental remediation, such as pollutant removal and microorganism treatment. It highlights practical strategies to address real‐world challenges in these domains, with a focus on the multi‐module design in enhancing functionality. Despite substantial advancements, key challenges persist, including scalability, real‐time imaging, and intelligent control. Future research directions include the development of intelligent modules equipped with memory, data processing, and communication functions, enabling autonomous decision‐making and closed‐loop control. These developments hold the potential to foster innovation in medicine, environmental sustainability, and other critical fields.

Leadership Theory into Practice

This paper explores the application of leadership theories—namely, distributed leadership, transactional leadership, transformational leadership, and participative leadership—by critically comparing theoretical perspectives and examining their practical implementation in educational settings. The first section contrasts Parker’s case-based study of distributed leadership in British primary schools with an AI-generated article that offers a broad theoretical overview. While the AI-authored article demonstrates clarity and breadth, it lacks empirical depth. The second section reflects on the author’s experience as a principal in a private educational institution, evaluating the limitations of a purely transactional leadership model and advocating for the integration of transformational and participative approaches to foster innovation and employee engagement. The final section outlines specific practices of transactional leadership and critically assesses its shortcomings in sustaining intrinsic motivation and long-term organizational development. The paper concludes by recommending a hybrid leadership strategy that combines transactional precision with transformational inspiration, offering a practical pathway toward sustainable educational leadership.

Validated Innovation Process: A Framework for Managing Business Development Process Based on a Learning-Oriented Approach

The innovation process typically comprises several stages with specific objectives and a logical sequence to mitigate uncertainties inherent to stage-specific challenges. Traditional models, however, often fall short for established firms aiming to foster innovation amid significant uncertainty. This paper introduces the Validated Innovation Process, designed to facilitate the conception and development of ventures in highly regulated and high-risk environments, emphasizing validation through experiential learning. It integrates traditional business, product, and service development methods with lean innovation perspectives, incorporating abductive reasoning and effectuation principles. This hybrid approach was developed over an 18-month research initiative, grounded in Design Science Research and addressing real-world needs in a large-scale health insurance company. The resulting structured process comprises three maturity levels, progressing from abstract concepts to validated and robust business models. The findings demonstrate strong alignment with practical applications, providing a clear framework for new venture development, effective team communication, phase integration, and the maturation of innovative outcomes. This process effectively addresses the specific challenges of launching new ventures amid high uncertainty within a regulated corporate environment.

The Role of Relational Capital in the Innovativeness of Women-Led Startups: Case Studies from Italian Food & Beverage Sector

This research explores the challenges small businesses face, such as limited resources and competitive pressures, emphasizing how intellectual capital (IC) plays a key role in fostering innovation. Intellectual capital is divided into human, structural, and relational capital (RC), with RC being particularly crucial for women-led startups. Open Innovation (OI) plays a vital role in helping small businesses manage external relationships and develop new business models. The Italian government has introduced legislation to promote innovative startups, but women still remain underrepresented in sectors like agri-food, which is deeply traditional and innovation-resistant. The research focuses on women-led innovative startups, highlighting the educational and financial gaps they face compared to male-led businesses. In particular, it explores three key questions: RQ1: Can RC help fill an educational and financial gap in WIS? RQ2: What kind of relationships mainly support WIS ? RQ3: How do these relationships affect their innovation process? The study uses a qualitative methodology and multiple case studies, applying the C.A.O.S model, which investigates the influence of personal, environmental, organizational, and startup motivations on entrepreneurial success. By focusing on women in the agri-food sector, the research provides new insights into the role of relational capital and formal relationships in female entrepreneurship. This study’s findings highlight the importance of family ties, education, and professional networks in overcoming gender-specific challenges in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The study fills a gap in existing research by analyzing the qualitative aspects of relational capital in women’s innovative startups. It examines how women entrepreneurs leverage networks to navigate challenges and drive innovation, despite systemic barriers. The research can contribute to identify strategies to foster innovation among female entrepreneurs, contributing to economic growth and gender equality.

A Study on Cloud Computing Solutions and Their Impact on Business Operations at Cloudblitzs Pvt Ltd, Nagpur

The adoption of cloud computing solutions has become an essential element in modern business operations, transforming organizational structures and enhancing efficiency. At Cloudblitzs Pvt Ltd, Nagpur, the integration of cloud technologies has revolutionized the company's ability to manage resources, streamline processes, and deliver services. This study delves into the various cloud computing models employed by the company and their profound impact on business operations. A thorough analysis of the implementation and utilization of cloud-based infrastructure, software, and platform services within the organization reveals significant improvements in scalability, cost-efficiency, and collaboration. Furthermore, it explores how these solutions have enabled Cloudblitzs Pvt Ltd to maintain operational flexibility, reduce downtime, and foster innovation. By examining key performance indicators and operational data, this research highlights the strategic benefits of cloud adoption, such as enhanced data security, faster decision-making, and better customer satisfaction. The study also evaluates the challenges faced during the cloud transition and offers recommendations for overcoming these hurdles. Through this research, businesses in similar industries can gain insights into the practical applications of cloud computing solutions and how they can optimize their operations to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. KEYWORDS : Cloud computing, business operations, scalability, cost-efficiency, collaboration, data security, cloud transition, operational flexibility, innovation, customer satisfaction.

Framing of Seeker-Generated Information and New Solver Participation in Open Innovation Contests: An Empirical Analysis of the Temporal Effects

In today’s highly competitive global market, firms recognize innovation as a key driver of success. To foster innovation, firms (or seekers) increasingly leverage open innovation contests to engage external solvers in addressing challenges. These contests are dynamic, allowing new solvers to enter at any point before the deadline, with their participation influenced by seeker-generated information (SGI), including contest descriptions, clarifications to solvers’ questions, and solution reviews. When communicating requirements, firms can frame SGI by specifying the extent of preference disclosure and defining boundaries for unacceptable design elements. This study examines how SGI framing impacts new solver entry and how its effects evolve as the contest progresses. Using a comprehensive data set from an open innovation contest platform, we find that extensive preference disclosure attracts more new solvers daily, with its effect intensifying as the deadline approaches. Additionally, clear and precise rejection criteria initially deter but later encourage solver participation as the deadline nears. When the deadline is distant, overly restrictive requirements can overshadow other important factors, such as solvers’ need for exploration, and deter participation. These findings provide actionable insights for firms on how to strategically frame SGI at different contest stages to optimize solver participation in open innovation contests.

Barriers to the Adoption of Big Data Analytics in Saudi Arabia’s Manufacturing Sector: An Interpretive Structural Modeling Approach

Big data analytics has the potential to greatly improve the operations of manufacturing industries, aid in decision making, and foster innovation. However, there exist several barriers that undermine the successful adoption of big data analytics in these industries. This paper presents a structural analysis of the barrier to big data analytics adoption in manufacturing industries. Through an extensive literature review and expert analysis, a compilation of the various barriers was made. The interpretive structure modeling (ISM) technique was then used to analyze the interplay between the barriers: this technique was used to build a hierarchy whose respective objective functions indicated how each barrier influenced the other. These findings help in the understanding of the hierarchical relationships between the various barriers and can thus help organizations in prioritizing strategies to mitigate these barriers. The results depict some barriers which do have a high-power influence over others and, as such, depict critical points that manufacturing industries need to address when adopting big data analytics. This paper also elaborates the relationships between the barriers, which will help the decision makers create strategies to mitigate them effectively. This study’s findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge on barriers to adopting big data analytics in manufacturing industries and provides an efficient approach for organizations to systematically address barriers.