Innovation Performance Research Articles

Learning by exporting: the moderating role of employee human capital

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the means by which exporters foster innovation via the learning-by-exporting effect and to appraise the moderating role of employee human capital in the export–innovation relationship.Design/methodology/approachLeveraging the linked-survey-secondary data from the Human Capital Corporate Panel (HCCP) spanning 2011–2017, with 890 observations from 228 Korean exporters, this study utilizes Generalized Least Squares (GLS) regression to empirically test the proposed hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that exporting significantly boosts a firm’s innovation performance by encouraging the generation of new concepts in products, services, technologies and/or production lines. Moreover, the presence of international talent and highly educated staff positively moderates the relationship between export intensity and innovation performance.Originality/valueBy integrating organizational learning and human capital theories, this study yields theoretical and managerial insights by elucidating the roles of exporting and human capital in advancing innovation performance, thereby guiding corporate export strategies and human resource policies.

Entrepreneurial Bricolage, Business Model Innovation, and Sustainable Entrepreneurial Performance of Digital Entrepreneurial Ventures: The Moderating Effect of Digital Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Empowerment

Digital entrepreneurial ventures are increasingly embracing a high-quality development trajectory that prioritizes green, low-carbon, and sustainable practices, necessitating ongoing environmental enhancements and the active assumption of social responsibilities alongside economic progress. Despite this, there is a significant disparity in the sustainable entrepreneurial performance among these ventures, highlighting the need for an in-depth exploration of the underlying factors. This study develops a theoretical framework that links entrepreneurial bricolage to business model innovation and ultimately to sustainable entrepreneurial performance, all within the context of a digital entrepreneurial ecosystem (DEE). The research focuses on 371 digital ventures operating within the DEE, examining the relationships and effects among the variables. The findings indicate that entrepreneurial bricolage has a positive impact on sustainable entrepreneurial performance. Furthermore, entrepreneurial bricolage is found to foster business model innovation, which in turn, enhances sustainable performance. The investigation demonstrates that business model innovation partially mediates in the link between entrepreneurial bricolage and the sustainable entrepreneurial performance. Additionally, the DEE’s empowering influence is shown to positively regulate the connection between entrepreneurial bricolage and business model innovation, as well as between business model innovation and sustainable entrepreneurial performance. The empowering effect of the DEE also exerts a positive moderating influence on the indirect impact of sustainable entrepreneurial performance mediated by business model innovation, stemming from entrepreneurial bricolage. This study underscores the significance of entrepreneurial bricolage and the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, demonstrating that digital startups ought to augment their bricolage skills and leverage the ecosystem’s support to attain enduring sustainable entrepreneurial performance. The conclusions drawn from this research offer valuable insights and serve as a reference for strategies aimed at enhancing the sustainable performance of digital entrepreneurial ventures within the DEE.

Configurational risks and innovation performance of complex product systems development: A fsQCA lens

Complex products and systems (CoPS) development demands effective risk management, which is frequently impeded by a lack of clarity regarding the impact of risks on performance. This study aims to investigate how multiple risks jointly affect innovation performance in CoPS projects. Based on the configurational theory and WSR framework, we use fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) with data from 97 CoPS projects and examine the combined effects of risks on innovation performance. We identify two types leading to high innovation performance and four patterns causing low innovation performance. The results verify the asymmetrical causality of the influence of risks on innovation performance in CoPS projects. The findings contribute to broadening the relationship studies of risk and innovation performance by adopting an empirical method in the context of CoPS. Moreover, our study can help managers implement flexible risk management activities within CoPS projects, by addressing several equivalent and distinctive paths.

THE INFLUENCES OF PERSONALITY AND INNOVATIVE CULTURE ON EMPLOYEES’ INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE CHINESE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY: THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY

This study investigated employees’ innovative performance in a highly competitive and rapidly changing workplace. Specifically, employees’ innovative performance is correlated to the Big Five personality and innovative culture through the mediation effect of psychological safety in the Chinese manufacturing industry. Time-lagged data were collected from 285 employees and analysed on both SmartPLS and SPSS software. Resultantly, the innovative culture and the Big Five personality of extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, conscientiousness, and openness individually impacted employees’ innovative performance. Furthermore, psychological safety significantly mediated the relationships between agreeableness and innovative performance, between neuroticism and innovative performance, and between openness and innovative performance. Organisations should consider employees’ personalities when fostering workplace creativity and adjusting training and development. Recognising employees’ personality types may also assist employees in unique performance, fulfilling career goals, and uncovering growth potential.

Research on the Expression of Naturalistic Style in the Landscape Design of Xuzhou Abandoned Mine Park

In recent years, more and more mines have been left idle, and the formed mine wasteland has become a visual pollution of the urban landscape, and the study of landscape design of mine parks has become a focal topic. To address this issue, the sample of this study was selected from Xuzhou Anran Mountain Quarry Abandoned Quarry, to enhance the ecological environment and landscape value of the site through the sample's naturalistic style design and performance. The goal of the study is to explore the innovative design and performance of naturalistic style in the landscape of Xuzhou abandoned quarry park. Methods of this study: observation forms, questionnaires and interview forms, relevant cases and other research methods were used to analyse the overview of mine transformation in China, the landscape characteristics, ecological status and problems of Xuzhou mine wasteland. The design strategy of naturalistic style in the landscape of Xuzhou mine park is proposed.The results of the study show that (1) mine rehabilitation. China's big cities have more mine rehabilitation, and the proportion of cases in small cities is relatively small. (2) Characteristic aspects. Abandoned mines in Xuzhou are characterised by serious ecological damage and chaotic and dilapidated site landscapes. (3) Design strategy. It should be carried out from the ecological restoration and management of the site environment, the aesthetic expression of naturalistic landscape, and the use of natural elements and natural materials. In addition, through the in-depth analysis of the sample landscape design, the originally desolate abandoned mine was transformed into a naturalistic style landscape space, adopting ecological and cultural strategies. The results of the study contribute to the ecological and economic development of the region, and also provide theoretical and practical guidance for the rehabilitation of other mines in China.

Carbon emission right circulation and corporate green innovation: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China

This paper studies how carbon emissions right circulation affects corporate green innovation performance. Using the carbon emissions trading policy in China as a quasi-natural experiment, we find that carbon emission right circulation has a significant positive impact on corporate green innovation performance. This finding is robust to various checks, including the parallel trend analysis, placebo test, the instrumental variable approach, and alternative measures of green innovation. Mechanism tests show that the carbon emission right circulation policy promotes corporate green innovation performance by reducing environmental uncertainty, alleviating financing constraints, and improving external monitoring. In addition, cross-sectional analyses reveal that the positive impact of carbon emission right circulation on corporate green innovation is more significant in firms without political connections and lower levels of capacity utilization.

The impact of leadership behaviors on organizational innovative performance and learning in AI-driven Industry 5.0 environments

Purpose Our aim was to elucidate how leaders’ behaviors may impact innovation and organizational learning in a fast-changing, human-centric and sustainability responsive AI-driven Industry 5.0 environment. Design/methodology/approach An unsystematic narrative review of relevant literature was conducted focusing on the influence of leadership behaviors on innovation and learning in Industry 5.0 environment. Findings We found that leadership behaviors that align with Industry 5.0 demands and values must emphasize collaboration, empathy, and continuous learning. The translation of leaders’ actions into desired outcomes requires a psychologically safe work environment, ensuing team cohesion, empowering team members, promoting a learning culture, engendering trust, and vision and goal alignment. Research limitations/implications Being aware of leadership qualities required in Industry 5.0 environment, characterized by machine–human collaboration, sustainable innovations, and continuous learning, enables organizations to focus their recruitment efforts on leaders’ characteristics that align with this environment. It also helps them design suitable leaders’ training and development programs. This study requires further expansion and empirical testing to validate the proposed model. Originality/value There is a plethora of studies on leadership in various contexts; however, there is very little research on the type of leadership that maybe effective in the fast changing and AI-driven Industry 5.0 environment. The findings of this paper shed light on such a leadership.

Mediating Effect of Organisational Culture on the Relationship between Innovative Leadership and Performance of Pentecostal Churches in Kenya

Mediating Effect of Organisational Culture on the Relationship between Innovative Leadership and Performance of Pentecostal Churches in Kenya

Does Green Finance Development Enhance the Sustainability Performance of China’s Energy Companies?

The achievement of China’s “dual-carbon” standard has been devoted to the green transformation and the sustainable growth of energy firms, both of which can be financed by the growth of green financing. This study aims to investigate how the development level of green finance influences the sustainable development performance of listed energy companies in China. It seeks to delve into the underlying mechanisms connecting green finance with financing constraints and, subsequently, with sustainability performance, as well as exploring the relationship between green finance and green total factor productivity in relation to sustainability performance. Additionally, this study will provide strategies and recommendations to enhance the sustainable development capabilities of energy enterprises. This study empirically evaluates the four aspects of sustainable development performance: economic, social, environmental, and innovative performance—as well as its mechanism of action using the fixed-effects pattern with two ways and the mediated-effects pattern using unbalanced panel data from Chinese-listed energy firms spanning from 2011 to 2020. The study discovered that (1) energy firms’ performance in sustainable development is greatly enhanced by the progression of green finance; (2) the advancement of green finance effectively boosts the sustainable development performance of energy companies by reducing financing constraints and enhancing green total factor productivity; (3) a more distinct relationship is evident between the extent of green financing development and the performance of sustainable development within state-owned enterprises. While green finance development has a stronger role in innovative performance for larger energy firms, it has a noticeable proactive impact on the economic, social, and environmental performance of smaller energy enterprises. Based on the study’s findings, this paper presents recommendations for the enhancement of green financing policies and the sustainable enhancement of energy enterprises in China.

Innovation portfolio management for the public non-profit research and development sector: What can we learn from the private sector?

ABSTRACT Innovation Portfolio Management refers to the systems, processes and mechanisms to intentionally manage innovation investments and decisions within an organization against its mission or strategy. This approach to managing and optimizing innovation and scaling investments is rarely used by public non-profit R&D organizations. This study draws lessons from innovation portfolio management in private sector organizations. Private sector invests in innovation portfolio management to: (i) enhance transparent and evidence-based decision-making, (ii) strengthen organizational agility and mission-orientedness, (iii) facilitate monitoring, risk management and prioritization and (iv) improve overall organizational performance and learning. These innovation portfolio management benefits are equally relevant for the public non-profit R&D sector, where innovation performance and outcomes are for societal impact. Public non-profit R&D can and should manage their innovation portfolios more intentionally, and can learn from private sector successes and challenges. Embracing the opportunities, whilst managing the challenges and risks requires investment in methods, mechanisms and mindsets for effective innovation portfolio management.

Innovation meets modest fashion-based localism: A systematic literature review

Research on innovation, localism, and modest fashion has garnered significant scholarly attention in recent years. However, existing studies have not produced conclusive results regarding the link between innovation in modest fashion and localism. This systematic literature review aims to identify research trends, theories, and innovations in modest fashion and determine factors related to innovation in modest fashion on the basis of localism. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method was used to analyze 24 articles on innovation, localism, and modest fashion from the Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases. The results indicate a growing trend in the themes of innovation, localism, and modest fashion over the last decade. Additionally, six main factors have emerged to answer the research question regarding the determinants of innovation: design-driven, market-driven, technology-driven, localism-driven, culture-driven, and sustainability-driven. These factors emphasize the significance of considering localism and sustainability in shaping future innovations in the modest fashion industry. The study concludes that the combination of these driving factors can greatly influence the development of innovative strategies that align with consumer preferences and global market trends. Moreover, the findings of this review contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the relationship between innovation and localism, offering practical insights for business leaders and policymakers. By understanding how localism can drive innovation in the modest fashion industry, businesses can better position themselves to create sustainable and competitive advantages. Future research should focus on further exploring these factors to provide more in-depth insights into the role of localism in promoting innovation and business performance in the modest fashion sector.

The relationships between quality management system practices and innovation performance in Malaysia hotel industry

The relationships between quality management system practices and innovation performance in Malaysia hotel industry

Enhancing corporate carbon performance through green innovation and digital transformation: Evidence from China

This paper discusses the theoretical issues related to the mechanisms through which low-carbon technological innovation and digital transformation affect corporate carbon performance in the context of green and low-carbon transformation. Taking China as a case, this research selects listed manufacturing companies from 2013 to 2020 as the sample to explore the impact of green innovation on corporate carbon performance. The study finds that corporate green innovation effectively promotes the improvement of corporate carbon performance, and digital transformation positively moderates the relationship between green innovation and corporate carbon performance. Further analysis reveals that further enhances corporate carbon performance by improving environmental information disclosure and easing financing constraints.

THE EFFECT OF ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT ON FIRM PERFORMANCE: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT

This study explores the dynamics of the relationship between Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and firm performance, including the mediating role of innovation management. While previous research has separately examined various links between ERM and firm performance and between innovation and firm performance, a research gap remains in studying the dynamics of the ERM-firm strategy-performance relationship, also considering the mediating role of innovation management. We used structural equation modelling (SEM) to measure the impact of ERM on firm performance directly and indirectly through its influence on the firm’s innovation management, represented by R&D investment. We gathered data from 2015 to 2019 from a sample of 2,666 companies in Europe, East Asia, and North America. The results reveal that ERM exerts both direct and indirect influences on firm performance, the latter occurring through its effect on the firm’s innovation management. These findings contribute to the literature on the resource-based view of the firm, underscoring the potential of the strategic alignment between innovation management and ERM, and reinforcing ERM’s importance on firm performance.

Exploring the relationship between small and medium-sized enterprises innovation and organizational performance: a prospective study on the industrial sector in Ecuador

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between the innovation capacity and performance of manufacturing firms in the Ecuadorian pharmaceutical and chemical sectors using strategic foresight analysis. Design/methodology/approach From an extensive literature review, the fundamental variables related to manufacturing firms’ innovation for better performance were identified. Six hypotheses and actions were proposed related to financing, economic resources, capacities and research and development. Several scenarios were tested through foresight methodology to determine the more appropriate to be implemented by manufacturing firms over the next five years. Findings Scenario 01, where all the hypotheses resulted positive, has a 15.3% probability of occurrence. The results offer a relevant understanding of the behavior of the variables proposed as strategic actions for the sector. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, foresight methodology is applied for the first time to analyze the manufacturing sector in Ecuador. The authors propose a plan of action from the strategic scenario identified in this study, supporting the development of the industrial sectors under study.

Government R&D Subsidies, Environmental regulation and corporate green innovation performance

Through empirical analysis, this study proves that government R&D subsidies play a positive role in promoting enterprises' green innovation activities, and the strengthening of environmental regulation further amplifies this impact. Meanwhile, financing constraints and financing costs, acting as mediating variables, reveal the pathway by which government subsidies indirectly promote green innovation by improving the corporate financing environment. The research provides a basis for the government to formulate fiscal support policies to promote corporate green innovation.

The role of ESG reporting, artificial intelligence, stakeholders and innovation performance in fostering sustainability culture and climate resilience

Purpose This study aims to investigate the causal relationships among environmental, social and governance reporting (ESGR), stakeholder sustainability awareness, use of artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability culture, innovation performance and climate resilience of organizations across diverse sectors in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted among 327 respondents, including senior accounting professionals, operations managers and functional heads to gather company-level data in various industries in Sri Lanka. A disjoint two-stage approach validated the measurement model, and the partial least squares structural equation model (SEM) was used to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The analysis evidences the mediating role of stakeholders' sustainability awareness on the relationship between ESGR and sustainability culture. Furthermore, it emphasizes the role of sustainability culture in driving climate resilience. Innovation performance acts as a moderator, strengthening the relationship between the use of AI and sustainability culture. Practical implications The study suggests that organizations should strategically use ESGR, integrate AI and prioritize stakeholder engagement to strengthen their commitment to sustainability. These provide insight for decision-making in organizations seeking to align with sustainable business practices. Originality/value It explores the use of AI to enhance ESGR and sustainability culture, providing a broader understanding of how organizations manage AI and stakeholders in sustainability issues.

Potential application of generative artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithm in oil and gas sector: Benefits and future prospects

With the rapid advancement of technology and societies, the global energy sector now acknowledges that by integrating contemporary digital technologies into their operations and capabilities, can improve their competitive advantage and innovation performance and processes. Moreover, energy operators are also facing a significant undertaking: how to best use and secure large amounts of data that promote sustainable productivity performance and minimise potential threats in the oil and gas value chain and project operations. In view of the foregoing, various facets like Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) and Machine Learning Algorithms (MLA) are increasingly gaining popularity within oil and gas sector operations. Thus, we explored how GAI and ML algorithms can enhance oil and gas value chain productivity performance. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to identify significant GAI and MLA variables influencing performance in the oil and gas value chain, while Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test regression equations related to their application. The study found that risk portfolios and profiles can be appraised throughout the value chain by effectively utilising GAI and ML algorithms in upstream, midstream and downstream undertakings. While these findings are noteworthy and have significant implications for current practice, the paper advocates that an array of digital technologies beyond GAI and ML can still be examined during future studies to demonstrate a holistic perspective on how digital transformation can be achieved across the energy sector value and project operations.

The effects of the functional and geographical breadth of collaborations on radical innovation performance: the moderating role of firm size

PurposeDue to the constantly increasing competitiveness along with the complexity of knowledge, firms perceive collaboration as a key strategy that preserves firms' radical innovation performance. In this context, this paper aims to examine how firms’ partners’ diversity in open innovation activities influences the development of radical innovations, critical for social development. In particular, this study analyzes how the functional and geographical breadth of the firm’s collaboration portfolio affects its radical innovation performance. Furthermore, it also explores the role of firm size as a moderator in the relationships proposed.Design/methodology/approachThis research employs panel data analysis, using a sample of 4,677 Spanish firms, with data sourced from the PITEC database.FindingsThe results of this study show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the functional and the geographical breadth of collaborations and the firms’ radical innovation performance. Moreover, this study finds partial support for the moderating role of firm size, in the sense that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large firms vary in their optimal number of diversity of partners.Originality/valueThis research provides a better understanding on how partners’ functional and geographical diversity, along with organizational characteristics such as firm size, affect how firms benefit from collaboration for innovation. This study shows that both SMEs and large firms experience diminishing returns when their collaboration networks become overly diverse in pursuit of radical innovation, due to increased costs. However, in SMEs, the turning point occurs at a later stage, consistent with the idea that small firms need broader functional networks to access complementary and novel resources they usually lack.

Validating the Causal Relationship between Quantum Leadership and Employee Innovation Performance from the Perspective of Organizational Sustainability

In the quantum era, the rapid development of enterprises cannot be separated from the efforts of employees, and the improvement of employee performance is also closely related to the behavior and attitude of organizational leaders. Quantum leadership, as a new leadership paradigm, differs from traditional Newtonian classical mechanics in that it emphasizes wholeness and interconnectedness, considers new ideas as the key to success, and values complex changes in the organizational environment, thus helping the organization provide sustainable development in the future. In addition, quantum leadership is able to manage in chaotic and potentially uncertain environments, encouraging employees to explore new ideas for solving problems, stimulating enthusiasm and motivation for innovation, and thus improving the level of employee performance. In particular, as the importance of innovation performance has been emphasized, it has been considered as a key variable in driving and promoting sustainable organizational development. Moreover, this study is different from previous studies that validate traditional leadership. We focus on an emerging type of leadership that distinguishes itself from traditional leadership—quantum leadership—which is a leadership model that is currently receiving a lot of attention. In the uncertain future environment, quantum leadership is gradually becoming a key factor for business growth and plays an important role in the survival and development of organizations in the future environment. Based on this research background, this study argues that quantum leadership is closely related to employee innovation performance. This study examines whether quantum leadership improves employee innovation performance and the sequential multiple mediating effects of organizational intelligence and knowledge sharing. Most of the previous studies focused only on the mediating or moderating role of the model. This study expands this area of research by incorporating the moderating role of innovative culture and validating its effects. This finding explores the development of quantum leadership and provides a theoretical foundation for related research. In addition, this study collected data from 345 employees of Chinese SMEs in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. These results suggest that quantum leadership positively affects innovation performance. Organizational intelligence and knowledge sharing have multiple serial mediating effects on quantum leadership and innovation performance. Moreover, the interaction between innovative culture and knowledge sharing improves employees’ innovation performance. Therefore, this study clarifies the causal relationship between quantum leadership and innovation performance through theoretical and validated research models. It lays the foundation for the sustainable development of organizations in the future.