Innovation In Context Research Articles

Design: Episteme and Doxa. Co-design as an Opportunity to Share Choices

This paper delves into the concept of co-design, a collaborative approach involving stakeholders in the conceptualization and design phases to understand diverse perspectives and jointly define project directions. Examining the relationships between co-design, Design Thinking, and user-centred design, the paper emphasises distinctions in their goals and methods. It addresses potential biases in co-design processes, providing strategies to mitigate analogical relations, cognitive effort minimization, and emotional influences. Epistemological reflections highlight the efficacy of participatory methods in generating theoretical hypotheses while underscoring the need for evidence-based validation. The article explores co-design’s applications in speculative design and ludo-didactics (game design). In speculative design, co-design aids in framing problems and generating plausible contextualizations, while in game design, participatory processes, particularly playtesting, enhance the exploratory and refinement phases. The paper suggests avenues for further research, emphasising the strategic placement of Co-design processes in project phases, considering potential biases, and exploring its application in disruptive innovation contexts.

The integration of construction planning and budget using Building Information Modelling (BIM): a systematic literature review

Although the current context of technological innovation and the applicability of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology in Brazil and in several countries are widespread and in increasing evolution, errors/lack of information are noticed in the planning and budgeting structure of the construction industry daily during the design process, which often leads to delays in expected deadlines and, as a consequence, failure to meet expected costs during the construction process. Current tools show their relevant contribution regarding integrating information from the project domain by providing simulations aiming at increasingly assertive results. In this context, a systematic literature review was carried out through bibliometric analysis and addressed in this article to direct and guide the object of this study towards the development of a method for integrating construction planning and budgeting using BIM. The proposed method contributes to academia and industry in relevant issues, such as time management involving the generation/updating of schedules, construction time simulation, and cost management involving the generation/updating of quantitative surveys, cost estimates, and simulation of construction costs. The results obtained were highlighted and addressed. The research concluded that a small number of few documents were obtained, which can direct the study to fill in gaps, thus contributing to the development of new studies in the context of this article. During the development of the study, the authors highlight the contribution of the research to the proposed method, aiming for dissemination in the Academic area and application in Construction Companies. The proposed method is based on existing literature; however, due to the context of the topic, it inspires future investigations and continuous improvements.

Optimizing PCF-SPR sensor design through Taguchi approach, machine learning, and genetic algorithms

Designing Photonic Crystal Fibers incorporating the Surface Plasmon Resonance Phenomenon (PCF-SPR) has led to numerous interesting applications. This investigation presents an exceptionally responsive surface plasmon resonance sensor, seamlessly integrated into a dual-core photonic crystal fiber, specifically designed for low refractive index (RI) detection. The integration of a plasmonic material, namely silver (Ag), externally deposited on the fiber structure, facilitates real-time monitoring of variations in the refractive index of the surrounding medium. To ensure long-term functionality and prevent oxidation, a thin layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) covers the silver coating. To optimize the sensor, five key design parameters, including pitch, air hole diameter, and silver thickness, are fine-tuned using the Taguchi L8(25) orthogonal array. The optimal results obtained present spectral and amplitude sensitivities that reach remarkable values of 10,000 nm/RIU and 235,882 RIU-1, respectively. In addition, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) optimization techniques, specifically Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), are used to predict a critical optical property of the sensor confinement loss (αloss). These predictions are derived from the same input structure parameters that are present in the full L32(25) design experiment. A genetic algorithm (GA) is then applied for optimization with the goal of maximizing the confinement loss. Our results highlight the effectiveness of training PSO artificial neural networks and demonstrate their ability to quickly and accurately predict results for unknown geometric dimensions, demonstrating their significant potential in this innovative context. The proposed sensor design can be used for various applications including pharmaceutical inspection and detection of low refractive index analytes.

Exploring the confluence of bioinspired technologies and the metaverse: Business and societal implications in the anthropocene era

In the Anthropocene era, characterized by sustainability and environmental challenges, the Metaverse emerges as a virtual alternative with the potential to reduce the ecological footprint while enhancing human experiences. However, the development of Metaverse encounter unprecedented technical, social, and ethical challenges. Bioinspired technologies, referring to those developed with inspiration from the biological world, have demonstrated successful applications across various fields and show potential in addressing challenges within the Metaverse. This paper explores the integration of bioinspired technologies with the Metaverse, focusing on its social and ethical implications. It proposes a conceptual model for a bioinspired Metaverse, elucidating how bioinspired technologies may shape the evolution of the Metaverse through four dimensions: Enhancement of User Interaction, Promotion of Digital Inclusivity, Advancement of Sustainable Development, and Guidance of Ethical Considerations. This paper makes a significant contribution by adopting an innovative context - the bioinspired Metaverse - that facilitates a deeper reexamination of the relationship among technology, nature, and human society through interdisciplinary discussion.

Navigating Digital Transformation: Current Trends in Digital Competencies for Open Innovation in Organizations

This study explored both the evolution and the integration of digital competencies within the context of open innovation, emphasizing the impact of technological advances across various sectors. The goal was to analyze documents indexed in Scopus from 2017 to 2023 using a quantitative and bibliometric approach. The methodology employed RStudio version 4.3.2 and Microsoft Excel 365 for data analysis, focusing on variables such as documents per year, h-index, total citations, and academic sources. The findings indicated a significant increase in research, highlighting a diversity of approaches, a trend towards international collaboration, and an evolution from basic concepts to complex applications, particularly the integration of digitization with sustainability and innovation. This research underscores the transformation of the business sector through digital competencies in open innovation and suggests further exploration into the effects of the pandemic on digital competencies, the role of artificial intelligence, the digital competencies–sustainable development relationship, and their application across different sectors.

ChatGPT: Enhancing Learner Agency and Multilingual Practices in English Writing Class

ChatGPT is a newly developed artificial intelligence (AI) model that has the potential to improve student motivation and engagement in English writing classrooms. By using ChatGPT, teachers can create more engaging and effective writing instruction that fosters learner agency. This study explored how AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can be used to enhance learner agency and multilingual practices in English writing classrooms. The study successfully integrated learner agency theory and power dynamics theory into the specific and innovative context of ESL classrooms. The study investigated students' attitudes and experiences with the use of AI in writing classrooms. The results showed that most students had positive attitudes towards AI writing tools and believed that they could improve writing efficiency and quality.

Perspectives of COPD patients, publicly funded scientists, and industry representatives on responsibility and stakeholder engagement in drug discovery research

ABSTRACT Ensuring societal influence in research and innovation through stakeholder engagement is vital in the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) framework. By studying a drug discovery project, we examine how stakeholders can influence drug discovery and development meaningfully. Through semi-structured interviews, we explore: How do patients as potential users of a new drug, the scientists who discover it, and the industry that might develop it, think about responsibility and stakeholder engagement in drug discovery? Most of the responses voiced by our informants about responsibility and stakeholder engagement relate to the broader institutional and political context of health-related innovation, rather than the specific research project. We argue, that in order to make stakeholder engagement work within some forms of drug discovery research, it should be used as a forum for mobilizing political and organizational debate, taking critical dialogues beyond project-specific engagement in innovation.

Will Machines Innovate for and with Us - What Kind of Strategic Themes Could Belong to Innovation Automation?

The Internet economy and computer-aided innovation enable improvements in the quality and quantity of outcomes of innovation processes. Traditional “research pipes” are often too slow to fit with contemporary business logic. In this paper, we focus on the intersection of innovation and automation and the potential they create together. Innovation automation represents a next generation of automation that has structural implications. Automation in the innovation context is about maintaining the richness of creative innovation processes while also absorbing a greater amount of data, information, and knowledge inputs and producing more holistic outputs that meet customer needs better and are faster on the market. The paper builds a novel academic “playground” for the research on innovation automation as the efficient and effective use of co-creative intelligence—the fusion and mixture of artificial intelligence, human intelligence, and the intelligence of crowds. Covering the wide field of innovation automation requires various future research programs. The main focus areas in this paper are related to understanding innovation automation, enabling the way to new management of innovation and ecosystem development. We also propose relevant research themes for the future.

TEACHERS' TRAINING SKILLS & STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE IN ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, the symbiotic relationship between effective teaching methodologies and students' academic achievements has garnered considerable attention. This study explores the intricate nexus between teachers' training skills and students' performance in academic competitions, focusing on Hubei University of Science and Technology(HUST). As a beacon of academic excellence, HUST's participation and success in the 'Internet+' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition provide a unique context for investigation. The central research problem delves into understanding the dynamics between teachers' training skills and students' performance, emphasizing the specific context of innovation and entrepreneurship within the 'Internet+' competition. The study scrutinizes whether educators at HUST significantly influence their students' success in academic competitions, particularly those demanding a synthesis of technical skills, innovation, and entrepreneurial acumen. Contributing nuanced insights to the well-established link between quality teaching and student success, this study aims to unravel specific skills and pedagogical approaches beneficial in the context of academic competitions. Additionally, the research explores how teachers contribute to shaping students' innovation and entrepreneurial mindset, crucial in the contemporary, technology-driven economy. With a twofold purpose, the study empirically examines the relationship between teachers' training skills and students' success in academic competitions while elucidating the mechanisms through which teachers contribute to students' innovation and entrepreneurial capabilities. Focusing on HUST, this research provides context-specific insights that extend beyond the university, contributing to the broader discourse on the interplay between teaching effectiveness and students' achievements in academic competitions.

Evaluation of technologies for oncology medicines: how value is assessed

Pricing or understanding the value of a technology is a very complex activity, after all, valuation is a multidisciplinary activity. This activity is inserted in the broad context of science, technology and innovation, which requires knowledge of several tools. Therefore, this manuscript aims to answer which technology valuation models are applicable, in technology transfer, in the oncology drugs sector. To achieve success, a documentary study was carried out, mapping the main manuscripts focused on this topic. The research was carried out through surveys in the Scopus database and VOSviewer was used to formulate the citation network. It was concluded, in terms of results, that analytical methods are best applied to the proposed objective, it was also possible to understand that valuation is not a single process, but a set of criteria that allows the analyst to know the various methods and various possibilities application of methodologies in the context of technology transfer.

Cultivating educational adaptability through collaborative transdisciplinary learning spaces

Empowering students and scholars to effectively address complex societal challenges frequently entails embracing unconventional pathways to foster transdisciplinary (TD) education. This empowerment is further facilitated by collaborative efforts supported by the TD experience. This paper examines one such initiative: a student-centered, experimental design of a TD doctoral pilot program for environmental sustainability at the University of British Columbia, a large, research-intensive public university in Canada. In this study, we documented shifts in participants’ development and assessed the impact of TD collaboration conditions on the educational design process. The findings indicate that engaging in collaborative TD experiences yields substantial pedagogical benefits, introducing novel opportunities for design and experimentation. This TD space appears to offer conducive conditions for students and faculty to more effectively navigate adaptive and innovative contexts within higher education. Pedagogical experimentation of this nature provides insights that are challenging to derive from theoretical speculation alone, offering potential pathways for today’s learners and educators as they confront complex societal challenges.

MODERN TEACHING METHODS IN THE CONTEXT OF INNOVATIONS AND QUALITY EDUCATION

MODERN TEACHING METHODS IN THE CONTEXT OF INNOVATIONS AND QUALITY EDUCATION

Intuitionistic Possibility Fermatean Fuzzy Soft Sets

In this study, we introduce a new concept by making Possibility Fermatean fuzzy soft sets into a more general concept, namely Intuitionistic Possibility Fermatean fuzzy soft sets. We present examples of the application of this theory to a decision-making problem. From a theoretical point of view, we review the basic properties of this model and define the operations essential to its framework. Comprehensive definitions of complement, union, and intersection, as well as AND and OR operations are meticulously presented. As a transition from theory to practical application within this innovative context, we present an algorithm for solving decision-making problems, contributing to the practical implementation of this extended concept. This research aims to improve our understanding of the intuitionistic possibility of Fermatean fuzzy soft sets and to bridge the gap between theoretical advances and their real-world utility in decision-making problems.

Organizational context for circular-oriented innovation

Organizational context for circular-oriented innovation

Artificial Intelligence’s Impact of the Management Consultancy Sector over the Next Five Years

Abstract This essay explores the imminent impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the management consultancy sector over the next five years. After tracing the historical context of technological innovation and societal unease with disruption, we delve into the current landscape of management consultancy, emphasizing its evolution and present dynamics. Specialized themes in the consultancy market today, such as internal consulting and data-centric approaches, highlight the industry’s dynamism. The core focus anticipates the implications of AI on management consultancy, with a shift towards AI-powered analytics and insights transforming consultants’ roles. Market segmentation deepens as specialized AI-driven consulting firms emerge, challenging traditional players. The competitive landscape witnesses the entry of tech giants, intensifying competition and prompting strategic shifts in consultancy models. A forward-looking perspective considers changes in pricing and cost structures, emphasizing ethical considerations in AI deployment. In this transformative landscape, a blended future emerges, envisioning AI-driven quick insights complemented by human consultants offering context, creativity, and empathy. This condensed exploration provides a crucial foundation for academics, industry practitioners, and policymakers navigating the evolving interplay between AI and management consultancy.

비트코인 내러티브

This article critically examines the development process of the “Bitcoin Narrative” course, designed within the Industry-Coupled Project/Problem-Based Learning (IC-PBL) framework. It explores how humanities respond to the technological advancements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. By shifting the perspective from a defensive stance to proactive engagement and practical application, the article highlights IC-PBL’s role in connecting humanities with the evolving technological landscape. The narrative of Bitcoin is used as a case study to investigate this intersection, delving into its philosophical, economic, and cultural origins. This approach also analyzes how Bitcoin’s development reflects broader trends in technology and society. The article addresses how Bitcoin’s initial anti-establishment ethos is gradually transforming towards institutionalization and regulatory acceptance. This shift underscores the evolving social context of technological innovations and the unpredictable nature of their impact on society. The “Bitcoin Narrative” course, as outlined in this article, aims to provide students with a critical understanding of Bitcoin’s influence on the humanities. It explores the ethical, social, and cultural dimensions of this digital currency. The course structure facilitates a comprehensive exploration of Bitcoin’s multifaceted implications, encouraging students to think critically about the intersection of technology and humanities.

Why so serious? The effects of humour on creativity and innovation

Humour is an integral part of human interactions, but it is not clear how it contributes to creativity in innovation. This paper provides new insights into the emerging literature about the impact of humour on creativity in innovation by conceptualizing humour as a situation‐specific state and using a mixed methods research design to investigate the use and impact of humour in two specific innovation contexts: idea generation by customers and collaboration in innovation teams. Our research makes four important contributions. (1) It suggests and demonstrates the relevance of a situation‐specific humorous mood. (2) It distinguishes between natural and instrumental humour and emphasizes that a purposely induced humorous mood can enhance creativity. (3) It shows that the impact of humour is not limited to a firm's individual employees but can also include external actors, such as customers and interactions between members of innovation teams. (4) It identifies the key drivers and effects of humorous mood in innovation. The findings from two empirical studies are integrated into a framework that captures the key concepts and relationships and that is also used to derive several directions for further research to better understand the effects of humour on creativity in the context of innovation.

Insight into the structural, elastic, and optoelectronic properties of XPaO3 (X = Cs, Rb) compounds employing density functional theory

Our research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of XPaO3 (X = Cs, Rb) compounds, employing density functional theory as a guiding tool. Through the examination of their structural, electronic, elastic, and optical properties, we offer valuable insights into their versatility and potential in emerging technologies. This study strives to make complex materials more accessible, paving the way for their application in practical and innovative contexts. We commence our investigation by studying the structural aspects of XPaO3 (X = Cs, Rb) while using Birch-Murnaghan fitting. We endeavor to reveal the underlying crystal structures, lattice parameters, and overall stability, providing a fundamental understanding of their composition and behavior. Continuing into the electronic realm, we delve into the band structures, electronic density of states, and charge transfer properties of these compounds by using the recommended modified Becke–Johnson potential. This facet of our research sheds light on how they behave in electronic applications, offering insights into their suitability for emerging technologies. Our study also undertakes the mechanical properties of XPaO3 materials, including elastic constants, bulk modulus, and shear modulus utilizing the IRelast package. These mechanical characteristics are pivotal in determining their resilience and suitability for a wide range of practical applications. Lastly, we explore the optical properties of XPaO3 (X = Cs, Rb) by calculating parameters such as dielectric functions, refractive indices, and absorption coefficients. These optical insights hold promise for potential use in optoelectronics, where materials interact with light to power various devices.

ANTi-microhistory of social innovation: humanistic education at Robert Owen’s New Harmony experiment

Purpose The purpose of this study is to present ANTi-microhistory of social innovation in education within Robert Owen’s communal experiment at New Harmony, Indiana. The authors zoom out in the historical context of social innovation before zooming into the New Harmony case. Design/methodology/approach The authors used ANTi-microhistory approach to unpack the controversy around social innovation using the five-step procedure recently proposed by Mills et al. (2022), a version of the five-step procedure originally proposed by Tureta et al. (2021). Findings The authors found that the educational leaders of the New Harmony community preceded proponents of innovation, such as Drucker (1957) and Fairweather (1967), who viewed education as a form of social innovation. Originality/value The authors contribute to the history of social innovation in education by exploring the New Harmony community’s education society to uncover the enactment of sustainable social innovation and the origin story of humanistic management education.

Political connection heterogeneity and firm innovation: An investigation of privately controlled, publicly listed firms in China

AbstractThis study investigates the influence of ascribed and achieved political connections on corporate strategies of incremental versus radical innovation. The corporate political strategy literature maintains that while politically connected firms have access to resources controlled by the government, they also have an obligation to reciprocate for this access by fulfilling government expectations. We integrate an institutional perspective with the political strategy literature to develop the argument that ascribed political connections enhance incremental innovation because firms with these connections will tend to innovate just enough to meet government expectations. In contrast, firms with achieved political connections will tend to prefer radical innovation because these innovations help them to maintain their relationships with the government and expand their competitive advantage in the market. Furthermore, we propose that these effects depend on firms' innovation orientation, captured by the firms' technological capability, industry characteristics, and the innovation context of their geographical region. Our predictions are largely supported by analysis of a panel dataset of privately controlled, publicly listed Chinese firms during the period 2008 to 2018. Our findings reveal that the positive effect of ascribed political connections on incremental innovation is less salient when a firm has stronger technological capability, or when a firm operates in a high‐tech industry or a region with a strong innovative climate. Conversely, the positive influence of achieved political connections on radical innovation is stronger when a firm has stronger technological capability, or when a firm competes in a high‐tech industry or is located in a region with a strong innovative climate. We also discuss the important implications for firms and the government.