Innovative Research Articles

Design-driven innovation in the public sector: insights from case studies of initiatives in Taiwan

ABSTRACT Contemporary public sectors face inefficiency, poor service quality, and limited innovation capacity. Existing solutions often lack flexibility, overlook organizational and human factors, and fail to address complex challenges. While Taiwan has successful design-driven public sector innovation cases, systematic analysis and implementation guidelines remain scarce. This study aims to analyse 6 cases from the Taiwan Design Research Institute using a framework covering ‘Background and Origins’, ‘Challenges and Difficulties’, ‘Key Breakthroughs’, and ‘Major Output Achievements’. It identifies key success factors, such as cross-department communication, collaborative design participation, and design capacity building, and proposes a six-step innovation process: 1) Understanding Challenges and Opportunities, 2) Cultivating an Innovative Culture, 3) Integrating Design Thinking, 4) Allocating Resources and Training, 5) Partner Collaboration, and 6) Continuous Evaluation. The study highlights implementation challenges like resource limitations, bureaucratic delays, and regulatory constraints while demonstrating how design-driven approaches enhance public service quality, efficiency, and responsiveness to citizen needs. This study demonstrates that design-driven innovation enhances public service quality, efficiency, and innovation. It aids officials in understanding citizen needs, aligning services with requirements, and providing systematic guidelines to address challenges, improve efficiency, and deliver better services in the public sector.

Unraveling the relationship between ESG strategy and sustainable performance in the Spanish wine industry: a structural equation analysis

Purpose This study aims to assess the relationship between environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and sustainable performance, in addition to exploring the mediating role of green innovation in this connection. Moreover, age, size and membership in a Protected Designation of Origin are incorporated as control variables to increase the precision of the relationships examined. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual model was created to meet the intended research objectives and then validated using partial least squares structural equation modeling with primary data obtained from a survey administered to 196 Spanish wineries, which took place between September 2022 and January 2023. Findings The study findings indicate that the implementation of an ESG strategy has a positive and significant relationship with the sustainable performance of wineries. In addition, green product and process innovation appear to partially mediate this relationship. Research limitations/implications The sample size (196 wineries) limits the generalizability of the findings to the population under study, which suggests caution in their interpretation. In addition, the cross-sectional design of the study prevents from observing dynamic changes over time. Originality/value This research significantly advances the understanding of ESG strategy through a holistic view of its relationship with the sustainable performance of the wine industry. Indeed, it fills a critical gap in the academic literature, as ESG strategy has been scarcely explored in the wine industry setting, despite the specific environmental and social challenges faced by this sector. Furthermore, it pioneers the investigation of green innovation as a mediating factor in the relationship between ESG strategy and sustainable winery performance, providing new findings that can shape strategic management practices in the wine sector.

The impact of firm-level innovation on labor productivity and employment in selected African countries

The paper examines the impact of different types of innovations—such as process, product, and R&D—on labor productivity and employment across several African nations. Utilizing data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey, the study constructs pseudo-panel data based on legal status, firm size, and industry type and employs the propensity score matching and the dose–response model to explore the relationship between innovation and labor market outcomes. The descriptive analysis indicates that 2,673 firms are engaged in at least one of the innovation activities, and 250 firms do not have any innovation activities. The propensity score matching finds that the overall combined effect of all types of innovation is statistically significant and has a positive effect on the employment of non-production workers and skilled workers, but it harms their productivity. Not only this, but it has also a negative impact on the productivity of permanent, and unskilled workers. The only positive impact goes to the productivity of production workers. Except for skilled labor, no segments of the labor force have been impacted by product innovation, but it has statistically significant influences on the productivity of all types of workers, still, production workers received a positive influence. It also finds that process innovation positively influences the productivity of production workers and the employment of skilled, non-production, and production workers. On the other hand, permanent, non-production, and skilled employees respond negatively to process innovation. Regarding R&D innovation, except for production workers, all are negatively impacted and statistically significant. On employment creation, R&D has also a positive and statistically significant impact on employment except for permanent employees. On top of this, the findings of the dose–response function are also in line with the propensity score matching method except for the combined effect of innovation on production workers. In other words, the intensity has a declining dose effect while innovation has a growing effect by the propensity score method for production workers. Additionally, the dose–response function shows a strong positive correlation between the intensity of innovation and skilled workers with various trends as well as permanent employees. The effect is initially diminishing for unskilled workers and non-production workers, but it gradually increases over time. In general, the finding challenges the assumption that innovation uniformly improves productivity, instead revealing a more complex dynamic where job creation comes at the cost of lower productivity in certain labor segments.

Does green innovation facilitate buyer firms’ attainment of trade credit from suppliers? A signalling theory perspective

Purpose As a crucial supply chain financing instrument, trade credit has become increasingly important for firms to enhance financial flows in supply chains. Yet, scant research has examined how firms’ green innovation affects the attainment of trade credit from their suppliers. To bridge this gap, this study aims to draw on signalling theory to investigate the impacts of incremental green innovation (IGI) and radical green innovation (RGI) on trade credit and the contingent roles of supplier concentration and industry dynamism. Design/methodology/approach Using a data set of 3,302 Chinese listed manufacturing companies from 2007 to 2021, our research adopts fixed-effect regression models to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The authors find that both IGI and RGI exert a positive effect on trade credit. Interestingly, supplier concentration weakens the association between RGI and trade credit, whereas it does not significantly influence the association between IGI and trade credit. Moreover, industry dynamism attenuates the relationship between IGI and trade credit, whereas it does not significantly alter the relationship between RGI and trade credit. Originality/value The paper extends the supply chain finance literature by applying signalling theory to uncover the effects of IGI and RGI on trade credit and the distinct contingency roles of supplier concentration and industry dynamism. It also provides supply chain managers with important implications regarding how to tailor the strategies of implementing different types of green innovation to acquire more trade credit in different situations.

The Dual Effect of Work Rumination in the Relationship Between Challenge Stress and Innovative Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model of Information Literacy.

Innovation in healthcare is crucial for enhancing patient care and operational efficiency. Nurses often experience stress that may impede the process of innovation. This study utilizes the Job Demands-Resources model and Cognitive Appraisal Theory to investigate the impact of challenge stress, work rumination, and information literacy on the expression of innovative behaviors among nurses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in China in June 2024, involving a sample of 533 nurses. Participants were required to complete online questionnaires designed to evaluate challenge stress, work rumination, information literacy, and innovative behavior. The data collected were analyzed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS. Challenge stress exhibited a statistically significant positive correlation with innovative behavior (r = 0.142, p < .01) and work rumination (r = 0.348, p < .01). The relationship between challenge stress and innovative behaviors was partially mediated by work rumination. Affective rumination was found to exert a negative influence, while problem-solving pondering demonstrated a positive impact. The relationship between work rumination and innovative behaviors was moderated by information literacy (β = 0.069, p = .019), indicating that the effects were more pronounced at higher levels of information literacy among nurses. Challenge stress enhances innovative behaviors through work rumination. The presence of information literacy further amplifies these positive effects, particularly via problem-solving pondering. However, it is important to note that affective rumination impede this process.

Achieving reproducibility in the innovation process

Reproducibility is essential for innovation but is often hard to achieve in practice. One reason for this is a lack of appreciation of what needs to be reproduced and how in each phase of the innovation process. In the discovery phase, conclusions need to be reproduced through orthogonal investigation. In the translation phase, key attributes and outputs of derived products or processes should be reproducible by defining transferable specifications and protocols, whereas in the application phase, the goal is to achieve reproducible performance in real-world environments through appropriate quality assurance systems.

Developing Teacher‐Leaders for Multilingual Students on the Mexico–United States Border

ABSTRACTThis brief describes how three school districts, one charter school system, a county office of education, and one institution of higher education collaborated to develop the leadership, equity, and access for languages (LEAL) professional development certificate for teacher‐leaders committed to serving multilingual learners on the Mexico–United States border. LEAL was designed and implemented using knowledge, dispositions, and skills for critically conscious pedagogy as the guiding framework to create consensus definitions of teacher‐leaders of multilingual students. Researchers reviewed and interpreted weekly meeting agendas, email correspondence, and the evaluation plan to define and use criteria for the selection of LEAL participants. Researchers implemented an innovative collaborative process of surveys, meetings, and goal‐setting with school district and charter school system administrators to identify current in‐service teachers that would exemplify commitment to serving multilingual learners in their schools and communities. This brief highlights the importance of interinstitutional partnerships for calibrating consistent definitions of teacher‐leaders as well as the value of creating customized seminars and conferences for collegial collaboration across local education agencies (LEAs).

The Radicalness of Innovation in Nonprofit Community Sport Organizations

Our study examined and compared the type, process, conditions, and consequences of radical and incremental innovations in community sport organizations (CSOs), which are a type of nonprofit membership association. Interviews were conducted with the president (or representative) of 14 CSOs engaged with both radical and incremental innovations. Radical innovations were reported to be mostly technical (but also administrative), undertaken with the goal of club growth and enhancing club management, adopted and further adapted from outside the organization, influenced by the culture and expertise of the board and the culture and capacity of the CSO at large, and informed by market opportunity and best practices. The radical innovations were reported to be successful in reaching their intended goals, and a wide variety of unanticipated (positive) consequences was also realized. The findings have implications for the management of radical (and incremental) innovation in the focal nonprofit context and contribute to theorizing about the radicalness of organizational innovation.

From Structure to Strategy: How Organization Design Influences Innovation and Performance in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)

The objective of this study is to investigate relationship between organizational structure, innovation and performance in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with a particular focus on the mediating role of innovation. The research provides a novel lens by examining how distinct dimensions of organizational structure—formalization, flexibility, centralization, complexity, and specialization—interact with stages of innovation to influence multidimensional performance outcomes. This research explores how structural design aligns with environmental contingencies and drives innovation as a dynamic capability in MSMEs. The integration of these theories enables a nuanced understanding of organizational adaptability and performance within resource-constrained settings.The methodology adopted for this research comprises employing a quantitative cross-sectional design, data from 400 MSMEs was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that innovation significantly mediates the relationship between organizational structure and performance. Key structural dimensions such as flexibility and complexity demonstrate a pronounced impact on adaptive capacity and strategic agility in MSMEs. By integrating structural and innovation paradigms, this study provides actionable insights for policymakers and MSMEs leaders who aim to enhance competitiveness and sustainability in a rapidly evolving business landscape. This research adopts a holistic approach by considering the interactive effects of structural dimensions and staged innovation processes on MSMEs performance. This comprehensive perspective addresses critical gaps in understanding how structural design facilitates continuous innovation and sustainable performance

‘Press Start’ on Collaboration: Game‐Based Practices for Fostering Innovative Collaboration in Online Contexts

ABSTRACTThis study explores the potential of game‐based practices in enhancing organizational innovation, particularly in the context of remote work. Specifically, we examine how collaborative practices within digital gaming environments can inform and enhance the creation of social capital in remote settings and further facilitate collaborative innovation processes. Existing research predominantly focuses on the use of game‐based formats aimed at enhancing idea generation, crowdsourcing, and design processes. However, our research extends this by investigating the sustained application of game‐based practices to foster deeper relationships and cultivate a culture of learning in remote work environments. We present insights from a qualitative study involving 28 interviews with technology professionals equipped with gaming backgrounds. Overall, our results reveal three sets of game‐based practices that hold promise in supporting innovative collaboration in online settings: (1) Rich use of platforms and expressions to achieve interactional sensitivity, (2) Using games as boundary objects to enable idea flows and candid encounters and (3) Routinizing reflective practices and aligning motivations to cultivate learning cultures. Our study highlights the role of game‐based practices in meeting the diverse interactional needs of online collaboration, reducing hierarchical barriers, enabling idea flows and cultivating a learning culture through collective accountability and feedback.

Arms control and innovation: Precedents for U.S.-Russian technology regulation from the Cold War

ABSTRACT When might decision-makers in Washington and Moscow perceive limits on emerging technology to be to their mutual advantage? Mainstream arms control theory suggests that interest in arms control may emerge early in the innovation process, but the literature on competitive arms control suggests the opposite. To determine which expectations are supported, I present a mixed methods analysis of the pursuit of strategic missiles and efforts to limit them between 1951 and 1979. The results, which support the competitive arms control school and directly challenge the theory of the nuclear revolution, suggest that neither side will likely be interested in limiting specific emerging technologies before the point of mass production and deployment.

A Comprehensive Review of Phenolic Compounds in Chia Seeds and Their Applications in the Food Industry.

Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) have emerged as a significant focus in the food industry due to their rich nutritional profile and health-promoting attributes. They are a major powerhouse of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tocopherols that have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cholesterol functions, enhance cognitive performance, and improveheart health. This article provides an in-depth review of the phenolic compounds in chia seeds and various fractions such as oil, and chia meal, their bioaccessibility, along with unique applications in food products. Additionally, 'green techniques' for extracting chia oil, as a sustainable alternative to conventional methods, have also been discussed. The findings presented in this review suggest that chia seeds, due to their bioactive components and versatile functional properties, are well-positioned to be a valuable ingredient in the development of novel foods, contributing to better health outcomes and innovation in food processing.

Barriers and Facilitators of Implementing Colorectal Cancer Screening Management in China: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths in China. Timely screening is essential for reducing mortality, but implementing comprehensive programs in Chinese healthcare settings is challenging. This study identifies barriers and facilitators to colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) in China and recommends effective implementation strategies. Conducted from October 2023 to April 2024, this mixed-methods study under the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research involved 128 practitioners and 440 residents near 5 community health centers and 4 tertiary care hospitals in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, whereas qualitative data from 21 practitioners and 23 community members underwent directed content analysis. The study identified 18 facilitators and 29 barriers to CRCS implementation in China, analyzed across 5 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains: innovation (2 facilitators, 5 barriers), outer setting (5 facilitators, 4 barriers), inner setting (3 facilitators, 4 barriers), individual characteristics (5 facilitators, 11 barriers), and implementation process (3 facilitators, 5 barriers). This study highlights critical facilitators and barriers from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and the screening-eligible population. It suggests strategies to enhance early CRCS initiatives in China, including regular training, public education, financial support, and improved accessibility. The findings from this study provide actionable insights for enhancing the implementation of CRCS in Chinese healthcare settings.

Enhancing surface energy and characterizing optical properties of ultra-high translucency zirconia via an innovative heat treatment process.

Ultra-high translucency zirconia (UT-Zr) is known for its high esthetic quality; however, its inert surface results in low hydrophilicity and surface energy (SE). To address this limitation, this study proposes an innovative zirconia heat treatment process (ZHTP) and aims to evaluate the effects of ZHTP on the surface characteristics of UT-Zr, offering a novel and practical approach for surface pretreatment in dental practice. The plate-shaped UT-Zr samples were fabricated. After sintering, the samples without additional staining or polishing were divided into the following nine groups: NT (no additional pretreatment), AB (airborne-particle abrasion), PL (nonthermal plasma), PO (polishing), HPO (fine-polishing), NTH (treat with ZHTP), POPL (PL followed by PO), POH (ZHTP followed by PO), and HPOH (ZHTP followed by HPO). The surface roughness (Ra), microstructure, transmittance, glossiness, wettability, and SE of the samples (n=10), and statistical analyses were conducted. AB showed the highest Ra and lowest glossiness (P<0.05), while HPO and HPOH yielded the smoothest surfaces, with HPOH achieving the highest glossiness (P<0.05). Although the ZHTP approach slightly improved transmittance, it did not affect the microstructure. PO reduced hydrophilicity and SE (P<0.05), and HPO slightly increased them. PL significantly enhanced both properties (P<0.05), and ZHTP also increased them (P<0.05) to levels similar to PL. Notably, hydrophilicity in nonthermal plasma and ZHTP-treated samples decreased similarly after 24h. The ZHTP approach enhances UT-Zr wettability and SE, with slight transmittance improvement. HPOH achieves hydrophilicity and SE comparable to PL, validating ZHTP as a promising strategy for UT-Zr surface optimization in dental applications.

Disruptive and incremental innovation as mediators in the CSR-financial performance link: evidence from Vietnam

Disruptive and incremental innovation as mediators in the CSR-financial performance link: evidence from Vietnam

Employee innovation behavior, technology adoption, and process innovation among public universities: Basis for digitalization construction framework

Employee innovation behavior, technology adoption, and process innovation among public universities: Basis for digitalization construction framework

Exploring Singlet Carbyne Anions and Related Low-Valent Carbon Species Utilizing a Cyclic Phosphino Substituent.

ConspectusThe advancement of synthetic methodologies is fundamentally driven by a deeper understanding of the structure-reactivity relationships of reactive key intermediates. Carbyne anions are compounds featuring a monovalent anionic carbon possessing four nonbonding valence electrons, which were historically confined to theoretical constructs or observed solely within the environment of gas-phase studies. These species possess potential for applications across diverse domains of synthetic chemistry and ancillary fields. This Account details our focused efforts to isolate singlet carbyne anions and explores our isolation of a range of related low-valent carbon species. Our achievements include the synthesis and characterization, under normal laboratory conditions, of gold-substituted free carbenes, copper carbyne anion complexes, ketenyl anions, keteniminyl anions, and a free stannyne. These have been accomplished using a bulky cyclic phosphino substituent, which effectively stabilizes these reactive species.Our journey commenced with the isolation of gold-substituted phosphinocarbenes, characterized by a robust carbon-gold covalent single bond, and progressed to the isolation of copper carbyne anion complexes featuring a carbon-copper ionic bond. This was realized through the synergistic combination of a bulky cyclic phosphino group and a closed-shell electron-rich late transition metal. The robustness of the carbon-gold bond contrasts markedly with the susceptibility of the carbon-copper bond, which imparts to the copper complexes the behavior characteristic of a phosphinocarbyne anion within the coordination sphere of copper, thereby enabling unique carbyne anion transfer reactions. The tri-active ambiphilic nature of the anionic carbon in these copper carbyne complexes enables the formation of three chemical bonds at the carbon center through one-pot reactions. Subsequent investigations unveiled ligand exchange reactions at the carbyne anion site, leading to the generation of stable crystalline ketenyl and keteniminyl anions. These species emerge as potent synthons capable of producing a diverse array of derivatives. In addition, we isolated a free phosphinostannyne, a rare species featuring a carbon-tin multiple bond and two adjacent ambiphilic centers. Collectively, these compounds have demonstrated a remarkable propensity for engaging in a spectrum of unique reactions, underscoring their versatility and confirming their utility in synthesizing uncharted, unique main group species.The methodologies and insights derived from our research contribute to the broader understanding of low-valent carbon species and may provide a platform for future innovations in synthetic chemistry, catalytic processes, and novel materials. As we continue to explore and develop this area of study, we hope that these low-valent carbon species might follow in the footsteps of stable singlet carbenes, potentially finding applications across various fields in the future.

Analyzing Shock Transmission and Spillover Effect in the Day-Ahead and Intraday Markets: Key Implications for Price Forecasting

Abstract The increasing capacity in renewables (RES) and batteries in the Romanian power system stirred discussions on increasing interdependency between day-ahead market (DAM) and intraday continuous (IDC) market. In this paper, we analyze hourly market-cleared prices and selling and buying quantities in the DAM and IDC over 3 months (4th of June to 11th of September 2024) to verify the connectedness between prices of the two markets, possible shock transmission and spillover effects. We employ generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models to examine volatilities. The Diebold–Yilmaz spillover index is 95.69%, demonstrating an extremely high degree of volatility interdependence. This suggests that nearly all volatility in both markets is driven by cross-market shocks. Price shocks in the DAM initially raise IDC prices by 0.3 units, with this effect fading after 8 to 10 periods. Conversely, IDC shocks similarly raise DAM prices by 0.3 units, but both effects are temporary, indicating a short-term dynamic link between the two markets. Moreover, numerical results from the BEKK-GARCH model highlight significant volatility spillovers between Price_DAM and Price_IDC, with stronger cross-market volatility effects and evidence of interdependence, particularly from Price_IDC to Price_DAM. The findings suggest implications for market players to create bidding strategies and decision-makers to mitigate price volatility connectedness in DAM and IDC. Furthermore, our findings underscore the critical role of knowledge creation and diffusion in understanding the interconnected dynamics of electricity markets. By leveraging advanced econometric tools and spillover analysis, our research contributes to the body of knowledge essential for innovation in market strategies and decision-making processes.

New insights into the Fe(III)-activated peroxyacetic acid: oxidation properties and mechanism.

Iron-activated peroxyacetic acid (PAA) represents an innovative advanced oxidation process (AOP). However, the efficiency of PAA activation by Fe(III) is often underestimated due to the widespread assumption that Fe(III) exhibits much lower ability than Fe(II) to activate PAA. Herein, the oxidative degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) by Fe(III)-activated PAA process was investigated, and some new insights into the performance and mechanism of the Fe(III)/PAA system were presented. Although the reaction rate of Fe(III) with PAA was slightly slower than that of Fe(II), Fe(III) was still able to activate PAA effectively, and the degradation efficiency of RhB was comparable to that of the Fe(II)/PAA system after 30 min of reaction. Notably, the Fe(III)/PAA system demonstrated superior oxidation capacity compared to conventional oxidant systems, including Fe(III)/H2O2, Fe(III)/PDS, Fe(III)/PMS. The degradation efficiency varied significantly across different water substrates. While Cl- exhibited a certain inhibitory effect on the degradation of RhB, H2PO4- exerted a pronounced inhibitory influence, whereas NO3-, SO42- and HCO3- had negligible effects. The increase of humic acid (HA) showed a facilitating effect in the initial stage, followed by an inhibitory effect. Furthermore, mechanistic studies indicated that H2O2 in PAA solution was not effectively activated. The degradation of RhB primarily occurred through a non-radical pathway generated by PAA activation, with the contribution of reactive species (RS) in the order of FeIVO2+ >•OH > R-O• (CH3COO• and CH3COOO•). RhB degradation was achieved not only by attacking the chromophore of RhB molecules, but also the effective destruction of the stable structures such as benzene rings. This study enhances the understanding of Fe(III)-activated PAA and broadens its potential for developing and applying PAA-based AOPs.

Innovative Practices in Large-span Prestressed Concrete Beam Construction for Housing Projects

Large-span prestressed concrete beam is a structural form widely used in modern buildings, and the rationality of its construction technology is directly related to the engineering quality and safety. Article on the analysis of large span prestressed concrete beam construction points, on the basis of new template support system application, steel connection, high performance concrete mix ratio design, intelligent tension system application of key construction technology, and discusses the BIM technology application, prefabricated construction, green construction process optimization and innovation. The results show that the construction technology of large-span prestressed concrete beam is feasible and effective, which can provide a reference for similar projects.