ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between green product innovation (GPI) and firm financial performance, and how top management (TMT) diversity, as a multidimensional construct, moderates this relationship. Drawing on the dynamic capabilities and upper echelons theories, it proposes a conceptual framework and empirically tests it using a mixed-effects regression model and a comprehensive panel dataset comprising 16,152 new product introductions from 46 publicly traded U.S. firms in the food and beverage industry. Findings extend existing knowledge on the relationship between GPI and firm financial performance by identifying TMT diversity as a new boundary condition. They further contribute to upper echelons theory by conceptually and empirically distinguishing how observable and non-observable dimensions of TMT diversity shape strategic effectiveness of GPI. This research also provides nuanced insights by highlighting the conditions under which GPIs yield favorable financial outcomes, guiding firms in configuring their TMTs to enhance innovation-driven competitive advantage and sustainability initiatives.

Purpose This study investigates how accounting information systems (AIS) mediate the relationship between green product innovation (GPI) and financial performance (FP) in the context of Chinese non-financial firms. The aim is to understand whether internal digital systems enhance the economic returns of sustainability-focused innovation strategies. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on stakeholder theory and the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model, the study employs partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyse survey and secondary data from 321 listed Chinese firms. FP is measured using the following key metrics: return on assets (ROA), return on sales (ROS) and asset turnover (AT). Findings The results show that GPI alone does not significantly improve FPs. However, when supported by effective AIS capabilities, GPI is positively associated with ROA, ROS and AT. AIS enhances environmental cost tracking, decision-making quality and regulatory compliance, thereby acting as a partial mediator in the GPI–FP relationship. Originality/value While prior studies have examined the role of digital systems in sustainability, this study focuses specifically on AIS as an enabling mechanism that translates green innovation into measurable FP. The findings contribute a systems-level perspective on how firms can leverage internal digital infrastructure to capture the value of sustainability initiatives, particularly in emerging market contexts.

This study investigates how regulatory burden influences product innovation performance in emerging markets. Grounded in institutional theory, we propose that regulatory burden undermines firms’ perceived ability to commercialize new technologies, termed technology commercialization potential, which mediates the negative impact on innovation outcomes. We further examine how this relationship is shaped by two contextual factors: intangible resource advantage and environmental hostility. Using a two-wave, multi-informant survey data from 336 Vietnamese SMEs, the results confirm the mediating role of commercialization potential. Moreover, while intangible resource advantage strengthens the commercialization–innovation link, environmental hostility unexpectedly weakens it, indicating that external pressures can overwhelm firms’ commercialization efforts. These findings contribute to regulatory science and innovation research by highlighting commercialization potential as a critical mechanism through which institutions affect innovation. The study offers insights for managers seeking to overcome institutional barriers and for policymakers aiming to create more innovation-friendly regulatory environments. • Regulatory burden significantly reduces firms’ ability to commercialize technology • Technology commercialization potential is a central mediating mechanism linking institutional constraints to innovation outcomes • Intangible resource advantage enhances the commercialization–innovation link • Environmental hostility weakens the commercialization–innovation link

A market-focused RBV on green product innovation: Detailing the relationships between market responsiveness, green product innovation and new product performance

This study aims to analyze the effect of green technology adoption on business performance through product innovation in batik micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Lumajang Regency. A quantitative explanatory approach was employed. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey of 50 batik MSMEs selected using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). that green technology adoption positively affects business performance and product innovation. Product innovation also positively influences business performance and partially mediates the relationship. These findings show that environmentally friendly technology improves operational efficiency and stimulates value-added product innovation. The novelty lies in examining product innovation as a mediating variable in batik MSMEs located in a non-industrial-center area. The originality is reflected in integrating green technology, product innovation, and business performance into a single mediation model using PLS-SEM. This study concludes that green technology adoption, supported by product innovation, significantly enhances batik MSMEs’ business performance.

ABSTRACT Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in innovation often face resource constraints that limit their ability to perform effectively. This study investigates the strategies SMEs in low-resource environments employ to overcome these constraints in their pursuit of product innovation. It further examines how these strategies influence firm performance, using novelty and internationalization as mediators. We categorize the product innovation strategies into four distinct groups: internal investment in R&D (make), acquiring innovations from other enterprises (buy), collaboration (ally), and imitating existing products (imitate). Drawing on the resource and knowledge-based views, we assess how the firms’ internal and external innovation activities influence their outcomes. Utilizing the National Innovation Survey (NIS) dataset for Uganda, comprising 589 manufacturing SMEs, we applied a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach to test the hypothesis. The results reveal no direct effect of innovation strategy on performance. However, the make and buy strategies indicate direct positive effects on performance. Novelty mediates the relationship between product innovation strategy and performance, while internationalization shows no effect. The ally and imitate strategies enhance performance indirectly via novelty. We conclude that product novelty is the dominant pathway through which product innovation strategies yield performance benefits, without which strategies exert little or no effect. By disaggregating the innovation strategies, we show that their value-creation pathways are heterogeneous. The results suggest the need for supportive policies to enhance firm capacities for generating novel products.

Information and communication technology (ICT) outsourcing to suppliers has the potential to enhance buyers’ product innovation and overall performance. However, the impact of technology outsourcing to lower-tier suppliers on buyers’ financial performance in multi-tier supply chain networks remains unclear. Unlike prior dyadic studies that focus on a buyer-tier1 supplier perspective, our study extends the analytical scope to encompass buyer, tier-1, and tier-2 ICT supplier triads using multi-tier supply network data from Capital IQ. Building on existing literature indicating that a buyer’s betweenness centrality negatively affects its financial performance, we further find that tier-1 suppliers’ betweenness centrality also exhibits a negative relationship with buyers’ financial performance. In addition, we provide empirical evidence that a buyer’s timely supplier payment amplifies the positive effect of buyer degree centrality on its financial performance, while alleviating the positive effect of tier-1 suppliers’ degree centrality on buyers’ financial performance. Interestingly, timely supplier payment negatively moderates the association between a buyer’s closeness centrality and its financial performance, but positively moderates the corresponding association between tier-1 supplier closeness centrality and buyer financial performance. Our empirical analysis advances theoretical understanding of lower-tier suppliers and sheds light on the bridging role of tier-1 suppliers in the literature of multi-tier supply chain relationships. These findings highlight the benefits of technology-enabled multi-tier supply network structures and their interactions with buyer-tier1 supplier relationships. This study also provides practical insights for firms to improve financial outcomes through strategic ICT outsourcing to multi-layer suppliers.

This study examines the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and product innovation performance, focusing on the dimensions of responsible leadership, including ethical, transformational, and sustainability-oriented leadership as contingent factors. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with data from 370 employees across 49 insurance companies in Ghana, the findings reveal that economic CSR significantly impacts product innovation performance (β = 0.129, p = 0.038) of firms. While ethical CSR, legal CSR, and philanthropic CSR showed no direct effect relationships, there was evidence of indirect influences through responsible leadership. Moderation analysis indicates that ethical leadership strengthens the effect of economic CSR (β = 0.430, p = 0.001) as well as the negative effect of philanthropic CSR (β = -0.272, p = 0.006) on product innovation performance. Sustainability-oriented leadership also enhanced the relationships between philanthropic CSR (β = 0.312, p < 0.001), economic CSR (β = -0.355, p < 0.001), and product innovation performance. Additionally, transformational leadership was found to have a positive moderating effect on ethical CSR (β = 0.384, p = 0.015) and philanthropic CSR (β = 0.372, p < 0.001), and a negative moderating effect on legal CSR (β = -0.539, p = 0.002). Grounded in stakeholder and upper echelons theories, this study shows that insurers should integrate economic CSR with ethical and sustainability-oriented leadership to maximize product innovation. Firms in the finance sector, particularly insurers, should be intentional about their CSR strategies and incorporate the appropriate leadership techniques to achieve product innovation performance.

This study aims to examine the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), green innovation (including product and process innovation), organizational support (OS), and corporate performance (CP) in the context of coffee enterprises in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Grounded in stakeholder, institutional, and social exchange theories, the research model is tested using the PLS-SEM method based on data collected from 223 managers of coffee enterprises. The findings reveal that CSR does not directly affect performance but indirectly influences it through green product innovation. Both green product and process innovation positively impact performance, with product innovation playing a more prominent mediating role. Moreover, organizational support positively moderates the relationship between green product innovation and corporate performance, but does not moderate the effect of green process innovation. These findings highlight the critical role of green innovation and supportive internal environments in realizing the value of CSR in agricultural enterprises. The study clarifies how CSR influences corporate performance via innovation and offers practical recommendations for sustainable development strategies in Vietnam’s coffee industry.

ABSTRACT This study aims to analyze the influence of financial management, social media usage, and product innovation on the performance of MSMEs in Kendaripreneur. Micro businesses in Kendari face various challenges, including limited access to capital, low digital technology proficiency, and limited innovation capabilities. This study uses a quantitative method with a causal design, with the research subjects consisting of micro-business actors who are members of the Kendaripreneur community, using purposive sampling. The number of samples used in this study was 300 business actors, selected based on specific criteria to ensure the relevance of the data obtained. Data collection was conducted through questionnaires distributed to respondents, using a Likert scale to measure attitudes and perceptions of the variables under study. Data analysis was performed using descriptive analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) techniques to test hypotheses and determine the relationship between variables. The results showed that financial management had the greatest influence on MSME performance, followed by the use of social media and product innovation. Good financial management helped in making the right decisions, while social media was effective in expanding the market. Product innovation also contributed positively, although its influence was smaller. These three factors were proven to be mutually supportive in improving MSME performance after joining Kendaripreneur. Keywords: Financial Management, Social Media, Product Innovation, and Micro Business Performance

This research aims to analyze the strategic cooperation between PT. Pindad, an Indonesian defense company, and MBDA (Matra Bae Dynamics Alenia), a leading missile systems company from France, in the development and production of the Mistral Atlas platform. This cooperation represents a crucial step in enhancing Indonesia's national defense capacity, particularly in addressing increasingly complex aerial threats. The research examines the collaboration process, technical challenges encountered, and the impact of this partnership on product innovation, competitive advantage, and company performance. The results of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis indicate that the strategic alliance between PT. Pindad and MBDA has a significant positive impact on enhancing product innovation, as manifested in product value. This alliance not only improves PT. Pindad's employees' skills through technology transfer but also contributes to greater product differentiation, which directly strengthens the company's competitive advantage. Product differentiation, in turn, has a significant impact on PT. Pindad's financial performance, thereby boosting the company's competitiveness in the global defense industry market. This research identifies key factors influencing the success of this strategic cooperation, including alliance quality, goal alignment, and employee skills. Based on these findings, the research provides recommendations for further development in the defense industry, particularly in enhancing product innovation and strengthening competitiveness through effective strategic collaboration. Thus, this research is expected to contribute significantly to understanding strategic cooperation in the defense industry and to support efforts to increase Indonesia's defense self-reliance.

Restaurants currently receive numerous government incentives for opening their businesses, as they can absorb labor and contribute to generating substantial taxes. The success of a restaurant business is achieved through product innovation and service processes provided to customers. The study aims to investigate the relationship between chef competence and restaurant performance, focusing on knowledge communication, restaurant menus, and process innovation. The results of data collection in the provinces of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java, and East Java amounted to 115 restaurant businesses. Researchers collected data by direct distribution and using Google Forms. Data processing was conducted using SmartPLS 4 to address all research hypotheses. The results showed that chef competency has a significant impact on process innovation, product innovation, and communication of knowledge. Restaurants have implemented process innovations that have a significant impact on increasing product innovation by 0.357, knowledge communication by 0.316, and restaurant performance by 0.218. Restaurant innovation of product occurs, which cannot have a significant impact on communication of knowledge, but has a significant impact on restaurant performance by 0.322. The chef's ability to effectively communicate knowledge can have a significant impact on restaurant performance. The research results provide practical contributions for restaurant managers to maintain an environment that facilitates knowledge sharing between senior and junior chefs, thereby promoting menu and process innovation that meets restaurant standards.

Product Innovation and Sales Performance of Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) In Cameroon

This study investigates the relationship between organizational innovation, marketing innovation, and product innovation with company performance in the food industry in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The population of this study consists of small food souvenir businesses operating in the region. Data were collected from 150 respondents using non-probability sampling techniques, precisely the purposive sampling method, and analyzed using the structural equation modelling method and SmartPLS 3.0 software. The study's results revealed that organizational innovation and product innovation did not positively and significantly impact company performance. However, marketing innovation positively and significantly impacted product innovation and company performance. However, marketing innovation did not moderate the relationship between product innovation and company performance in the food industry. The results imply that it is important for business actors to strengthen organizational and human resource development and product development through high-quality research and development that is more impactful on performance.

Cooperation between companies, such as manufacturers and suppliers, can stabilize raw material procurement, ensuring the production process meets customer needs. Companies need to adopt quality management to innovate processes and products and achieve good performance. This study aims to examine the influence of supplier-buyer collaboration on firm performance through product innovation, process innovation, and Quality Management Adoption. Distribution of questionnaires to 103 manufacturing companies in East Java using purposive sampling techniques. The results of data processing using PLS version 4 software found that supplier-buyer collaboration has a direct influence on quality management adoption and innovation processes, but not on product innovation. The quality management adoption that is formed has a direct impact on the innovation process, product innovation, and firm performance. Companies that innovate processes can also innovate products, thereby further improving company performance. Periodic product innovation can enhance a firm's performance. The practical contribution of this research provides top management with insight to commit to building sustainable collaboration with suppliers to support innovation processes and quality management systems. It is recommended that companies adopt the ISO system to implement a standard quality system as needed. Terrorist contributions can strengthen the integration of quality management and supply chain management within the framework of a resource-based view.

The publisher of Management Decision is issuing an expression of concern for the following article by Wu, Y., Xie, X., Lassala, C. and Ribeiro-Navarrete, S. (2023), “Bribery, female-led start-ups and product innovation performance in transition economies: the moderating roles of institutional support and self-control”, Management Decision, Vol. 62 No. 9 pp. 2666-2689, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-12-2022-1719, which was submitted to the guest-edited special issue “Navigating the role of circular economy in entrepreneurship: Opportunities and challenges”. An investigation by the publisher found a number of articles with multiple concerns, including but not limited to compromised editorial handling and reviewing, undisclosed conflicts of interest and lack of suitability for the scope of the journal. As a result of these concerns and as trust in the content is central to the integrity of the publication process, the Editor-in-Chief and publisher have taken the decision to publish an expression of concern for all articles within this special issue. The journal has not been able to confirm whether the authors were aware of these concerns. The authors of this article would like to note that they do not agree with the content of this notice. An investigation is ongoing and is currently unresolved. Further information will be provided by Management Decision as it becomes available.

This study evaluates how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) dimensions affect product innovation performance in Ghanaian insurance companies. The study clarifies which dimensions of CSR (i.e. Economic, Legal, Ethical, and Philanthropic Responsibilities) are most influential in driving innovation performance and the effect of their combined interactions. Survey data of 389 employees from 49 insurance companies in Ghana were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). SEM was conducted after confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the reliability and validity of the constructs. Bias-corrected bootstrapping was used to assess the direct and moderated path relationships. The results showed that Economic CSR (β = 0.341, p < 0.05), Legal CSR (β = 0.143, p < 0.05), and Ethical CSR (β = 0.219, p < 0.05) were positive determinants of insurance product innovation performance. Economic CSR × Philanthropic CSR → Product Innovation (β = 0.113, p < 0.05) and Legal CSR × Ethical CSR → Product Innovation (β = 0.177, p < 0.05) were significant moderating relationships. The other four-way interactions were non-significant. The result shows that, although Economic CSR, Legal CSR, and Ethical CSR individually affect product innovation, their interactions produce positive outcomes for insurance companies. The combined synergies arising from the interactions create environments that enhance the positive outcomes of product innovation over single impacts. This implies that firms should craft their CSR strategies to exploit cross-dimensional complementarities. Focusing on integrated CSR dimensional strategies can unlock greater innovative capacity in the insurance industry.

This study investigates the influence of market orientation and product innovation on marketing performance, with competitiveness as a mediating variable, among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the food and beverage (FnB) sector in Jakarta. The research was motivated by the intense competition and rapidly changing consumer preferences that require SMEs to strengthen their marketing strategies through innovation and market responsiveness. The study aims to determine how market orientation and product innovation affect marketing performance directly and indirectly through competitiveness. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from 162 SME owners and managers through questionnaires. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that both market orientation and product innovation have positive and significant effects on marketing performance. Product innovation also shows a significant positive influence on competitiveness, while market orientation has a positive but not significant effect on competitiveness. Furthermore, competitiveness significantly mediates the relationship between product innovation and marketing performance. These findings highlight the importance of continuous innovation and competitive strategies for SMEs to enhance marketing effectiveness and sustain growth in the dynamic FnB industry. The study contributes to understanding strategic marketing development in SMEs and provides implications for improving competitiveness and market adaptation.

This study investigates the relationships among financial literacy, product innovation, risk management, and financial performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in East Kalimantan, a region in Indonesia characterized by its resource abundance. While prior studies underscore the importance of financial literacy and innovation for SME success, there is limited research focusing on non-urban, commodity-reliant settings. Using a quantitative methodology, this study employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling to analyze data gathered from 200 SME owners in non-extractive industries through a structured survey. This study explores whether financial literacy and product innovation directly affect financial performance and whether risk management mediates these dynamics. The findings reveal that financial literacy has a significant positive effect on financial performance, whereas product innovation strengthens risk management but does not directly influence financial outcomes. Additionally, risk management does not mediate these relationships, indicating potential contextual constraints in resource-limited environments. These insights advance the understanding of SME operations in non-urban, resource-dependent regions and highlight the need for customized financial education and innovation. This study provides actionable recommendations for policymakers to enhance SME resilience through targeted strategies, addressing a key gap in the literature on economies tied to natural resources.

This study investigates how product uniqueness value advantage mediates the relationship between product innovation and marketing performance. Data were gathered from 342 food-producing SMEs in Central Java, Indonesia. The owners and managers of food product SMEs in Central Java are the respondents of this study's survey. Data collection was conducted over a three-month period using structured questionnaires distributed directly and supplemented by interviews. The research model includes five assumptions that were investigated using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Product innovation, product uniqueness value advantage, long-term competitive advantage, and marketing performance were the variables studied. The findings suggest that all hypotheses have a favorable and significant effect. Among these, product uniqueness value advantage has the greatest influence on marketing performance. Several recommendations are suggested to utilize this advantage and thus boost marketing performance: SMEs should: actively and quickly create new product variations for the market; be creative in creating food products that showcase unique qualities that suit consumer tastes; (3) strive to be leaders in launching new product concepts; and (4) be flexible and responsive to changing market trends, especially when it comes to adjusting to the food industry's explosive growth. The findings of this study have several limitations that must be addressed in future research. The impact of sustainable competitive advantage on marketing success is minimal compared to the influence of other variables. To better understand its impact on marketing performance, future research could examine increasing the number of indicators for the sustainable competitive advantage variable to provide a more comprehensive measure of this concept.Â