Innovative Companies Research Articles

FinTech as a digital innovation in microfinance companies – systematic literature review

PurposeThe main purpose of the paper is to identify the most important directions of research to date and to indicate new, emerging areas of research concerned with application of financial technology (FinTech) solutions in microfinance companies.Design/methodology/approachThis paper systematically reviews the literature on FinTech in microfinance, highlighting its role in enhancing operational efficiency, customer experience and financial inclusion through technologies like blockchain and AI. Despite these advancements, significant gaps remain in understanding the key drivers of FinTech as a digital innovation, most important direction of research to date and emerging areas for future research in microfinance literature. This paper has attempted to systematise the results of the research carried out so far, based on the publications indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, using selected multidimensional statistical methods.FindingsThe findings identify key themes, gaps and future research directions, shedding light on the strategic implications of digital technology in microfinance. This comprehensive analysis significantly advances the understanding of how FinTech enhances microfinance management operations and objectives, contributing to both academic discourse and practical applications.Originality/valueThe research’s novelty lies in its focussed exploration of digital innovation within microfinance, an area that remains relatively underexplored. No similar paper was found during the literature review.

Quality management - effective tool for the development of a modern innovative company

Introducing the quality management system in the company leads to: continuous frequent improvement, increased competition, increased efficiency and profitability, clear procedures, minimization of errors, reduction of production time, greater motivation, better communication and information, optimization of image, security and trust in products or services. The problem we will address is the use of quality tools and techniques to observe the factor sthatinfluence the final quality of product sand services. Manufacturers or researchers are more product-oriented, where quality is described by specific measurable indicators and characteristics of the product. However, consumers, sellers and economists describe quality as a combination of consumer want sand needs, which includes product characteristics, shelflife, permanent supply, food safety and ethical aspects.

Exploring the impact of low-carbon city pilot policy on urban ecological welfare performance: A quasi-natural experiment in 282 Chinese cities

Ensuring urban ecological welfare performance through low-carbon city pilot policy is essential for building sustainable and livable cities with human well-being as the priority. However, current research often emphasizes carbon emission reduction while overlooking a comprehensive evaluation of ecological welfare performance. This study examines the impact of low-carbon city pilot policy on ecological welfare in 282 Chinese cities from 2001 to 2021, employing a double fixed-effects model and propensity score matching difference-in-differences approach. The results show that (1) the low-carbon city pilot policy significantly enhances urban ecological welfare performance on the whole. (2) The policy positively affects environmental performance in non-resource-based and non-old industrial cities, while showing no significant impact in resource-based and old industrial cities due to their economic dependencies and structural challenges. And (3) optimizing industrial structure is vital for advancing low-carbon city pilots policy as it supports technological innovation in companies. This paper recommends interventions focused on industrial structure optimization and technological innovation to enhance urban low-carbon development and ecological welfare.

Біхевіористичні підходи до процесів машинного навчання у контексті вирішення проблем сучасного публічного управління

The article discusses the possibilities of applying a behavioral approach when creating machine learning models of artificial intelligence mechanisms, taking into account the possibilities of tracking the behavioral reactions of users of digital tools, collecting and analyzing the information received and identifying hidden dependencies, and, as a result, developing management decisions based on the correct interpretation of the data obtained by AI algorithms based on the results of the above analysis. It has been established that when building machine learning models, it is advisable to track the behavioral reactions of users of digital tools, collect and analyze the information received, in order to identify hidden dependencies, since this contributes to increasing the efficiency of prediction and modeling by artificial intelligence of various scenarios of behavior of social groups and ensures an increase in the level of personalization of administrative services. Specific examples of the application of the behavioral approach in fields other than public administration, including economics, mass communications, sociology, and others, are presented. The author analyzes the experience of popular social networks in the current conditions of digital development, which use artificial intelligence tools to adjust the behavior of social groups. It is determined that artificial intelligence is able to quickly process large amounts of data and build certain predictive models on their basis and correct the behavior of controlled systems. However, the correctness of the interpretation of the obtained data by artificial intelligence algorithms depends on the conceptual framework used by the developer in the process of machine learning. It is emphasized that the study of the possibilities of applying artificial intelligence mechanisms based on the use of behavioral approaches is already being actively carried out by leading innovative companies, in particular Netflix, Meta, Google and others, to ensure internal management and other business processes. It has been proven that the use of behavioral approaches to machine learning, which focus on the study of behavioral patterns, can provide more effective methods for predicting and modeling user reactions to various scenarios in the field of public administration and contribute to the development of the most effective solutions without the use of coercion and administrative levers

The interaction between industry-talent integration and two-phase green innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing companies: Moderating effects of corporate financing constraints and executive short-term compensation incentives

In the era of green economy, the synchronous resonance of industry-talent integration and green innovation is crucial for the high-quality development of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, but few studies have explored the interaction between the two factors and its situational conditions. To fill this gap, this study decomposes green innovation into green technology research and development (R&D) and achievements commercialization phases based on the two-phase value chain. Meanwhile, a sample of 99 listed Chinese A-share pharmaceutical manufacturing companies from 2013 to 2022 is examined to demonstrate the interaction between industry-talent integration and two-phase green innovation. The results show: (1) There is a reciprocal effect between industry-talent integration and two-phase green innovation efficiency; green technology R&D efficiency has a greater enabling effect on industry-talent integration, and industry-talent integration has a stronger driving effect on green achievements commercialization efficiency. (2) Midwestern and non-state-owned companies have yet to realize a mutually reinforcing response to industry-talent integration and green achievements commercialization efficiency; state-owned companies have not formed a positive interaction between industry-talent integration and green technology R&D efficiency. (3) Enhanced corporate financing constraints can weaken the driving effect of industry-talent integration on two-phase green innovation efficiency; increased short-term compensation incentives for executives will also weaken the facilitating effect of two-phase green innovation on industry-talent integration. In future, pharmaceutical manufacturing companies should alleviate financing constraints and dynamically adjust executive incentive mechanism, so as to promote the mutual response of industry-talent integration and two-phase green innovation through precise measures.

Economic inequality and the purchasing power of a country as predictors of the level of business innovation

Objective of the study: The general objective of this study is to establish the relationship between the economic inequality of a country, the purchasing power of its inhabitants and the level of innovation in companies Methodology/approach: A factorial analysis was carried out with the countries that had the three indices simultaneously. Likely, a structural equation model was used. Originality/Relevance: There is no consensus in the literature on the role of economic inequality in relation to innovation. Some studies present results that show that economic inequality can drive or even hamper innovation, while other studies explain the difficulties of development when there are economic gaps among citizens and low purchasing power. This study helps to understand this role and how innovation presents a model of structural equations that relates economic inequality, innovation and purchasing power of a country. Main results: People's purchasing power positively predicts a country's level of innovation and a nation's economic inequality negatively impacts the degree of innovation. Theoretical/methodological contributions: proposal for a model that relates economic inequality, business innovation and purchasing power of a country Social /management contributions: the study of macroeconomic factors and their relationship with innovation allow marketing to have a vision that leads to the construction of penetration strategies and respond to specific needs in order to increase the sales success of a given product.

Obstructive factors encountered when using immersive technology in tourism heritage: the moderating effect of the personal capability via SEM-PLS process

Purpose There is a void in systematically assessing obstructive factors as antecedents in the technology acceptance model (TAM). Three obstructive factors are investigated, namely, discomfort, insecurity and risk. Besides, this study aims to propose the moderator – personal capability (PC) and tested its effects on the relationship between perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU) and behavioral intention (BI). Design/methodology/approach Quantitative data analysis was used to verify the adapted model by using Smart PLS4. The data from 327 valid respondents are analyzed. Findings Discomfort is a significant antecedent impacting both PU and PEU. Insecurity and risk are inhibitors of PEU and PU, respectively. This study contributes to the scarce literature on the moderating effects of PC that moderates the influence between PU and BI positively. Originality/value This study contributes a new TAM extension by incorporating obstructive factors and exploring the moderating role of personal capability about AR Glasses. This research also enables innovation companies to enhance the design of their products and services via users’ feedback.

Penerepan Budaya Inovasi & Kreatifitas dengan Metode DMAIC dan Kaizen ( Continuous Improvement) pada PT. Indolakto Pasuruan

A culture of innovation is very important to implement in a company to be able to maintain the existence and survival of the company. Successful innovation depends significantly on ability, skills and interpreting a rapidly changing environment. Apart from that, employee involvement also influences success in innovation. Innovation and creativity use the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) method which is associated with KAIZEN in Japanese terms, which means "continuous improvement" which emphasizes human effort, morals, communication, training, cooperation, empowerment and self-discipline . The purpose of this research is to find out the strategy carried out by PT. Indolakto Pasuruan in motivating its employees to implement a culture of innovation as well as identifying factors inhibiting its implementation and efforts made to minimize these obstacles. This research uses qualitative research methods and tests the validity of this research data using source triangulation and member checking. From the results of this research, researchers concluded that implementing a culture of innovation in companies can have a positive impact on the company's survival. Research implications - This research makes a contribution to human resource management related to corporate culture.

Process Synthesis, Design and Techno-Economic Assessment of Malonic Acid Production

This work focuses on the design and techno-economic evaluation of an industrial facility for the production of malonic acid. The raw material utilized is commercial glucose syrup with a concentration of 95%. Based on a patent of Lygos, Inc., an innovative biotechnology research company, this study presents a comprehensive synthesis, design, and simulation framework for the production of malonic acid through oligosaccharide fermentation. An integrated process flowsheet is proposed and simulated using SuperPro Designer™. The analysis indicates that for an installation capacity of about 8000 MT/yr of the final product with a purity of 99.5%, the production cost is estimated at USD 7.92/kg. A comprehensive study of the capacity’s impact on economics reveals that this cost could decrease to as low as USD 6.05/kg. A parametric analysis and optimization conducted at the flowsheet level identifies opportunities for further reducing production costs, laying the groundwork for a potential decrease in the product’s selling price.

Crowdsourcing of Inventive Activities, AI, and the NIH Syndrome

This study examines how crowdsourcing can support innovation in companies. It focuses on the Not Invented Here (NIH) syndrome—a reluctance to adopt external ideas—that varies depending on which organizational boundaries are considered, such as power, competence, and culture. By analyzing how these boundaries influence resistance to crowdsourced solutions, this study finds that although crowdsourcing brings valuable diversity and insights, many organizations struggle to leverage these effectively. Moreover, with the rise of generative AI, many organizations are increasingly focused on internal data and AI-driven innovation, which further intensifies NIH syndrome by deprioritizing external insights. We discuss why and how companies that have managed NIH syndrome effectively may be better positioned to overcome resistance to AI.

Varieties of Digital Capitalism and the US–China Rivalry: The Rise of Competing Technological Spheres

The rise of China as a global high-tech nation is challenging US hegemony. While US tech companies like Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft have expanded globally and have integrated most world regions into US-led digital capitalism, China has developed its own variety of digital capitalism. Shielded by the ‘Great Firewall’, Chinese corporations such as Alibaba, Huawei, and Tencent have emerged as innovative high-tech companies. Instead of relying on a US-style liberal-internationalized mode of governance, China’s state-managed digital capitalism was domestic market-based. However, since the mid-2010s, Chinese tech companies have emerged as global competitors. In response, both Trump and Biden administrations enacted sanctions and investment controls to ban Chinese companies from the US market while pressuring their allies to follow suit. In this article, we argue that beyond the development of distinct US and Chinese varieties of digital capitalism, two separate digital technological spheres are emerging. After examining these distinct varieties of digital capitalism, it will be investigated how the US have weaponized institutional differences to sanction Chinese digital companies. In a third step, the emergence of a US and Chinese digital technological sphere will be analyzed, with a focus on 5G network equipment.

An Evaluation Framework of Industry 4.0’s Impact on SDGs and its Application to AI Reporting

Digital technologies of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) are key drivers of sustainable development. However, addressing the impact of I4.0 on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires overcoming the challenge of lacking suitable assessment tools. Despite sustainability reporting serves to assess how companies face sustainability challenges, communicate efforts, and promote a sustainable corporate culture, a critical need arises for a comprehensive tool that clarifies the impact of I4.0 technologies on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that builds on existing literature regarding how I4.0 technologies contribute to SDGs and leverages the recognized linking between SDGs and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards to improve the reporting of SDG progress. Thus, the proposed framework identifies the GRI-based Key Performance Indicators necessary for a thorough understanding of how innovation stemming from I4.0, significantly impacts SDGs. Through a content analysis of sustainability reports of innovative companies in the electronic field, the study shows how the proposed framework can be applied in practice. Focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the application case allows a comprehensive understanding of the transformative potential of AI solutions towards sustainable development.

New challenges in European innovation partnerships: SOEs, POEs and foreign MNEs during crises

AbstractCooperation for innovation, not only enhances the innovative and economic performance of companies but also fosters growth and strengthens the resilience of firms in the realm of innovation activities. In this study, we delve into the cooperative activities of innovative Spanish companies with their European counterparts. We employ six logit models using panel data to scrutinize the impact of ownership on innovation cooperation and the determinants of collaboration across different phases of the business cycle, spanning from 2004 to 2016, which we divide into three sub-periods: the pre-crisis (2004–2007), the crisis (2008–2013), and the recovery (2014–2016). Throughout the businesses cycle, state-owned enterprises are the most prone to engage in cooperative innovation with European partners, while unaffiliated domestic firms are the least prone. Foreign subsidiaries clearly outperform unaffiliated domestic firms and slightly outperform domestic business groups in prosperous times, but do not outperform state-owned enterprises even during crises. The drivers of cooperation for innovation with European partners evolve over time, becoming particularly challenging during crises. The factors influencing cooperation with European universities exhibit distinct characteristics. The results contain policy and management implications.

Management myopia and corporate innovation in China: Focus on the moderating role of equity incentives

This study selected a sample of A-listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2010 to 2022 to examine the relationship between management myopia and corporate innovation. The findings are as follows. First, management myopia has an inhibiting effect on corporate innovation, whereas market competition significantly enhances such innovation. Second, equity incentives can alleviate the inhibiting effect of management myopia on corporate innovation by motivating managers to focus more on long-term development and innovation investments. Third, market competition has different impacts on innovation of companies with different levels of ownership. In this regard, its impact on companies with high equity concentration is more significant. Finally, market competition has different impacts on the innovation of state-owned and private enterprises, with a more significant impact on the latter.

Analysis of Information Technology Governance in the Transportation Agency using the Cobit 4.1 Framework

Information technology plays a role in supporting the goals of companies and government agencies by providing a fast, easy and accurate information and communication platform, increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the planning process, and supporting innovation in companies and government agencies to develop. The existence of Information Technology has experienced development and the relationship between its operational roles in running an organization, where it is not only as a support for operations. Research was conducted at the Transportation Agency which concluded that the old system used was ineffective because the process carried out took time and space, making employee performance less efficient. After searching for data at the Transportation Agency by collecting data, it can be concluded that the information system used is still not optimal. Therefore, a system design was carried out. The results of the analysis were applied to a cobit system application program. After the research was conducted, the results of the calculation of the maturity model level obtained an average index of 3.16 ( Level 3). This means that the system. The new information system designed is expected to improve the quality of information and performance in the future

Environmental Innovation and Sustainability Practices Manufacturing Companies in Bali Through Government Regulations

This study aims to examine the influence of environmental innovation and sustainable practices, and the second objective is to examine the influence of environmental innovation and sustainable practices through government regulations as a moderating variable. This study uses a quantitative approach. This model contains variables that are sought from the literature and are relevant to the study. This study surveyed 413 manufacturing companies in Bali Province. Each statement is a five-point item (i.e., 1-5) asking respondents to agree or disagree with the perception, behavior, or experience specified in the statement. Data processing and analysis were carried out using MRA Analysis Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 22.0.

Financial constraints for R&D and innovation: new evidence from a survey experiment

ABSTRACT We utilize a survey experiment to evaluate the existence and degree of financial constraints for R&D. The experiment not only allows for the deduction of the presence of financial constraints but also for evaluating their economic significance. Using data on German companies, we find that financial constraints exist, but their relevance might have been overestimated in the literature. Most R&D projects that have not been implemented because of financial constraints seem to have low expected marginal rates of return. While this finding contrasts with other studies, we also find results that align with the literature: young firms are most constrained, and the constraints occur at the intensive margin, i.e. our results do not suggest that firms are deterred from innovation. Instead, highly innovative companies are restricted by the capital market. Small firms, in particular, had innovation projects in their portfolios that were not implemented.

Antecedents - Consequences Of Innovation Culture In Family Firms

This research aims to see how innovation culture is essential for a business organisation. However, more than a culture of innovation needs to look only at the trigger aspect, it also needs to look at the impact that will be created. Therefore, this research will explain the relationship between entrepreneurs and business characteristics in the context of the ability to see opportunities and improve in creating an innovation culture and the impact of innovation culture on achieving business continuity. Using a sample of 147 (98 per cent) entrepreneur respondents in Palembang, the research hypothesis was tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) and partial least squares (PLS) analysis with Warp PLS version 5.0 software. The results conclude that the entrepreneur's characteristics, the ability to see opportunities, and the ability to improvise positively affect company innovation culture, and innovation culture positively affects business continuity in family firms in Palembang.

THE WHY AND WHAT OF AI DEPLOYMENT AND INNOVATION IN COMPANIES — RESULTS AND LEARNINGS FROM A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE RESEARCH ENLIGHTENED BY THE CAPABILITY THEORY

Despite soaring interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI), only one-tenth of companies have reported tangible business results. We conducted a Systematic Literature Research on peer-reviewed reports to establish an updated status and baseline of AI deployment for research and companies. We analysed selected peer-reviewed articles for deployment objectives, approaches, results, and learnings. This research confirms that AI is still at the early stages of deployment and innovation in companies. Deploying AI successfully represents a management — rather than a technology — challenge. It requires more cognisance, innovation, learning, and effort than generally thought. Through the results and a novel conceptual framework, this research increases the knowledge and emphasises the importance of the pre-deployment from theoretical and practical viewpoints. The Sensing stage of the Dynamic Capability theory aligns well with the developed pre-deployment concept. We propose several research topics to increase the knowledge and theoretical understanding of deploying AI cognisably for business and stakeholder benefits.

Rediscovering paternalistic leadership: a powerful engine for startup

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effects of paternalistic leadership, a predominant leadership style in Confucian-influenced East Asia, on the growth and innovation of start-up companies, particularly within the information technology sector. Contrary to the prevailing belief that paternalistic leadership stifles innovation, our findings reveal that this leadership style can significantly enhance business performance. This study identifies key mechanisms, such as fostering employee loyalty, improving decision-making processes, and encouraging proactive behaviours, that drive growth under paternalistic leadership. Empirical evidence shows that employees under such leadership exhibit entrepreneurial behaviours marked by innovation, risk-taking, and initiative, leading to measurable improvements in profitability, customer satisfaction, and market share. These results underscore the role of paternalistic leadership in accelerating the success of East Asian start-ups and provide valuable insights for organisations seeking to balance cultural leadership styles with the demands for innovation.