The interplay of external ties and internal knowledge base

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 778-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangfeng Ye ◽  
Yunqiao Wu ◽  
Bin Hao ◽  
Zusheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Radical Innovation ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Connections ◽  
Knowledge Depth ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Internal Knowledge

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between two types of informal ties and radical innovation in the context of China’s university spin-offs and the moderating roles of knowledge breadth and depth in such relationships. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of literature on informal ties, internal knowledge base and radical innovation provides the theoretical foundation of the research framework and hypotheses. Using a sample of 158 China’s university spin-offs, the authors conduct a regression analysis on the theoretical framework and hypotheses. Findings The results show that business and university ties are positively related to radical innovation. Moreover, the effects of business and university ties on radical innovation are contingent on knowledge breadth and depth in opposite ways. In particular, the positive effect of business ties on radical innovation depends significantly on internal knowledge depth rather than on knowledge breadth, and the positive effect of university ties on radical innovation will be affected by internal knowledge breadth rather than knowledge depth. Practical implications Managers of university spin-offs must examine informal ties they already have and identify their nature, content and embedded advantages and promptly adjust their strategy of informal ties to adapt to their firms’ internal knowledge base. Originality/value This study highlights the positive role of managers’ personal connections with different external parties in facilitating radical innovation and advances the understanding of informal ties by proposing that the effects of informal ties on radical innovation are contingent on a firm’s internal knowledge base in the context of China’s university spin-offs.

Improving performance through leaders' forgiveness: the mediating role of radical innovation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Domínguez-Escrig ◽  
Francisco Fermín Mallén Broch ◽  
Ricardo Chiva Gómez ◽  
Rafael Lapiedra Alcamí
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Explanatory Variable ◽  
Radical Innovation ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Firm Turnover ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between leaders' forgiveness and organizational performance using radical innovation as an explanatory variable.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in a sample frame of 11,594 Spanish companies. A total of 600 valid questionnaires were obtained. The structural equations were used to validate the proposed hypotheses.FindingsResults confirmed the hypotheses proposed in the model: the authors provided, through structural equations, empirical evidence of the relationship between leaders' forgiveness and organizational performance, mediated by radical innovation. Leaders' forgiveness promotes radical innovation and, in turn, performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample of companies is heterogeneous in terms of firm turnover, size and age. The study is focused on radical innovation.Practical implicationsThe present study may help to develop more humane policies to manage human resources, by taking into account employees' feelings and needs.Originality/valueThe business field is closer to competitive values and has traditionally underestimated the importance of leaders' forgiveness. This is one of the few studies that empirically analyze the consequences of leaders' forgiveness within organizations.

How does coopetition affect radical innovation? The roles of internal knowledge structure and external knowledge integration

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanhuan Chen ◽  
Yanhong Yao ◽  
Ao Zan ◽  
Elias G. Carayannis
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Knowledge Structure ◽  
Radical Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Architectural Knowledge ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose Building on the resource- and knowledge-based views, this paper aims to explore how coopetition affects radical innovation and the roles of knowledge structure and external knowledge integration in the relationship between coopetition and radical innovation. Design/methodology/approach This study proposes a research model to examine the mediating role of external knowledge integration on the coopetition-radical innovation link, where the mediation is moderated by the firm’s knowledge structure (including component knowledge and architectural knowledge). The authors use regression and bootstrapping to test the proposed model with survey data from 241 Chinese technology firms. Findings This study finds that coopetition positively affects radical innovation and the effect is fully mediated by external knowledge integration. Additionally, component knowledge negatively moderates the coopetition-external knowledge integration link and architectural knowledge positively moderates this relationship. Further, the mediating effect of external knowledge integration is also moderated by component knowledge and architectural knowledge. Practical implications Firms should engage in coopetition to promote radical innovation. Further, it is necessary for firms to appropriately manage coopetition according to their internal knowledge structure. Originality/value This study explains why scholars have different ideas about the relationship between coopetition and radical innovation by exploring the mediating role of external knowledge integration and the moderating effect of knowledge structure. Firms possess increased possibilities for knowledge leakage and partner opportunism with high levels of component knowledge, which will reduce the positive effect coopetition on external knowledge integration; thus, they are less likely to realize radical innovation. Instead, firms possess increased opportunities for resource sharing with high levels of architectural knowledge, thus improving the positive effect coopetition on external knowledge integration and they are more likely to achieve radical innovation.

Reconciling temporal conflicts in innovation ambidexterity: the role of TMT temporal leadership

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1899-1920
Author(s):  
Jiawen Chen ◽  
Linlin Liu
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Exploration And Exploitation ◽  
Temporal Perspective ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Temporal Aspects ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to extend the temporal perspective on ambidexterity by investigating how and under what conditions top management team (TMT) temporal leadership improves innovation ambidexterity. Design/methodology/approach Using a questionnaire survey, data were collected from 165 small- and medium-sized enterprises in China. Ordinary least squares regression models were applied to test the hypotheses. Findings The findings show that TMT temporal leadership has a positive effect on innovation ambidexterity and temporal conflict mediates this relationship. Market dynamism and institutional support moderate the indirect effect of TMT temporal leadership on innovation ambidexterity. Practical implications Managers wishing to promote exploration and exploitation simultaneously should pay attention to the temporal aspects of their innovation strategy and improve their temporal leadership activities. Originality/value This study highlights the temporal conflicts in ambidexterity and clarifies the enabling role of TMT temporal leadership. It contributes new insights to the research on organizational ambidexterity and strategic leadership.

Study from Spain shows how clan and adhocracy cultures help to foster the internal CSR practices which improve worker happiness

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Companies ◽  
Market Culture ◽  
Company Culture ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Employee Happiness

Purpose The authors felt there was a lack of prior evidence about the antecedents of internal CSR and its relationship with employees’ happiness. The study considered the role of organizational culture as a determinant of internal CSR actions. Design/methodology/approach The authors questioned 921 employees of companies from various sectors in Spain. The respondents mainly worked for service and industrial companies with fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover above 250,000 euros. They were mostly men, mainly well-educated and the average age was 38.5. They were surveyed using a questionnaire with 59 questions assessing internal CSR processes (20 items), organizational culture (24 items) and employee happiness (15 items). Findings The results showed that clan and adhocracy cultures are positively and significantly associated with internal CSR practices. In the case of hierarchy culture, it is positively related to adaptability to change and occupational health and safety. But the results did not support the hypotheses related to market culture as only its relationship with adaptability to change was positive. The data also indicated the significant and positive effect of internal CSR on employee happiness. Originality/value The authors believe their study has implications for practitioners and policymakers. They argue that organizations should try to develop cultures that help to promote internal CSR, which means adhocracy and clan. Meanwhile, there are also practical implications for researchers. First, the model integrates happiness, which is rare in CSR studies. Second, the study addresses a gap in the research about how company culture acts as an antecedent to internal CSR. Third, the study generates knowledge about internal CSR from the perspective of employees.

Geographic search, potential absorptive capacity and radical innovation performance: the moderating role of collaborative network

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Lei Zhu ◽  
Chongchong Lyu
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Radical Innovation ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Collaborative Network ◽  
Firm Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Geographic Boundaries ◽  
Positive Effect

PurposeA firm's geographic boundaries represent an important demarcation line when searching for new knowledge. Prior research on geographic search has generated conflicting results concerning its influence on firm innovation outcomes. The purpose of this study is to fill the gap by examining how and under which conditions geographic search affects firm radical innovation performance.Design/methodology/approachThis study hypothesizes a positive association between a firm's geographic search and radical innovation performance, which is mediated by potential absorptive capacity (PAC). It further proposes that the influence of geographic search on PAC will be moderated by a firm's collaborative network. Drawing on a random sample of 286 Chinese manufacturing firms, the theoretical model is tested.FindingsThe study's results show a positive relationship between geographic search and radical innovation performance, which is partially mediated by PAC. Moreover, attributes of collaborative networks (i.e. diverse location of and strong relational ties with partners) are observed to enhance the positive effect of geographic search on PAC.Originality/valueThis paper advances the understanding of how and when firms can better capture the benefits of geographic search in the development of radical innovation.

scholarly journals Ambiguity and its coping mechanisms in supply chains lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 1201-1223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saileshsingh Gunessee ◽  
Nachiappan Subramanian
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Organisational Level

PurposeThe first purpose of this paper is to situate and conceptualise ambiguity in the operations management (OM) literature, as connected to supply chain decision-making (SCDM). The second purpose is to study the role of ambiguity-coping mechanisms in that context.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses the behavioural decision theory (BDT) to better embed ambiguity in a generic SCDM framework. The framework explicates both behavioural and non-behavioural antecedents of ambiguity and enables us to also ground the “coping” mechanisms as individual and organisational level strategies. Properties of the framework are illustrated through two “ambiguous” events – the 2011 Thai flood and Covid-19 pandemic.FindingsThree key findings are documented. First, ambiguity is shown to distinctively affect supply chain decisions and having correspondence with specific coping mechanisms. Second, the conceptual framework shows how individual coping mechanisms can undermine rational-based organisational coping mechanisms, leading to “sub-optimal” (poor) supply chain decisions. Third, this study highlights the positive role of visibility but surprisingly organisational “experiential” learning is imperfect, due to the focus on “similar” past experience and what is known.Originality/valueThe paper is novel in two ways. First, it introduces ambiguity – an often neglected concept in operations management – into the supply chain lexicon, by developing a typology of ambiguity. Second, ambiguity-coping mechanisms are also introduced as both individual and organisational strategies. This enables the study to draw distinctive theoretical and practical implications.

Environmental disclosure and firm efficiency: a study of Pakistani firms

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imad Rahim
Keyword(s):  
Annual Reports ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Firm Efficiency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of environmental disclosure on firm efficiency of the listed firms in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses secondary sources such as sustainability reports, annual reports and company websites to collect the data. A sample of 46 large firms is selected based on market capitalization and listing on the KSE-100 index.FindingsThe results suggest that environmental disclosure plays a significant positive role in determining the efficiency of the listed firms. The robustness test also confirms these results.Research limitations/implicationsThe study suggests that regulators should take appropriate steps for better and increase the firm's environmental disclosure. The number of sample firms restricts the generalization of results from this study. However, the results are consistent and can be validated using a large sample.Practical implicationsThe study includes implications to develop strict guidelines on environmental disclosure in response to its positive effect on the efficiency of the firm.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the growing environmental and efficiency literature by providing empirical evidence from a developing country where there are no strict guidelines on environmental regulations. This study is one of the first to capture environmental disclosure and measure efficiency by employing the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method in developing markets.

The role of training in building awareness about formalin abuse: evidence from Bangladesh

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Golam Mohammad Shamusul Kabir ◽  
Kazi Tanvir Mahmud ◽  
Aniqa Hassan ◽  
David Hilton ◽  
Sheikh Monirul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Educational Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to assess the impact of the training program on fish traders in building awareness about formalin abuse in food items. Design/methodology/approach Primary data was collected from the fish traders in Bangladesh by using simple random sampling technique. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the opinions of the fish traders about training in building awareness of formalin abuse. Findings This study showed that the training of the fish traders played a positive role in improving their awareness level of formalin abuse. Practical implications Enhancement of both training and educational support could be an effective strategy in preventing formalin abuse in food. Originality/value This study helps in assessing the opinions of the fish traders about the effectiveness of the training programs in building awareness of formalin abuse.

Failure learning and entrepreneurial resilience: the moderating role of firms’ knowledge breadth and knowledge depth

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Yao ◽  
Xiaolin Li ◽  
Bang Liang
Keyword(s):  
Survey Study ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Entrepreneurial Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Knowledge Management Theory ◽  
Firm Capability ◽  
Knowledge Depth ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose Drawing on the knowledge-based view, the purpose of this study is to investigate the differential effects of failure normalization (FN) and failure analysis (FA) on entrepreneurial resilience (ER) and examines how firms’ knowledge breadth (KB) and knowledge depth (KD) moderate these effects in distinctive ways. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including a two-wave survey study among 226 entrepreneurial high-tech firms in China and a qualitative study. Findings The findings reveal that FA has a stronger positive effect on ER than FN. KB enhances the effect of FA on ER, whereas KD enhances the effect of FN on ER but buffers the effect of FA on ER. Practical implications The study advocates that entrepreneurs need to be aware of the importance of ER and strengthen the reflection on failure. Additionally, the study suggests that entrepreneurs should match FN and FA with firms’ knowledge characteristics. With this match, KB and KD can exert greater impacts on the effect of failure learning on ER. Originality/value Knowledge can influence the effect of learning on firm capability. However, such an effect in entrepreneurial firms linking to ER remains to be explored. This study contributes to ER from the failure learning perspective and extends knowledge management theory in the entrepreneurship context.

A “Learning from Action” workshop in Japan

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-83
Author(s):  
Robert Douglas Hinshelwood ◽  
Luca Mingarelli ◽  
Simona Masnata
Keyword(s):  
Far East ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Activities ◽  
Defensive Role ◽  
Feedback Data ◽  
Experiential Workshop ◽  
First Time ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Many people in severe mentally disturbed states do not use language or other symbolic media well or coherently. Therefore, the non-verbal medium needs to be understood by workers with such people. The “Learning from Action” experiential workshop was developed in order to provide an opportunity to learn about hidden messages in the relationships and roles occurring in activities. In August 2017, a workshop was run for the first time in Japan. The purpose of this paper is to report the experience and dynamics observed by the three consultants, who are here the authors of this paper. Design/methodology/approach After the workshop all the staff and members, including interpreters, were invited to give feedback. Findings Analysis of the feedback data showed certain important dynamics, concerning especially dependence, cultural defences and the defensive role of activity in a multicultural context. Research limitations/implications This is an initial experience to be followed up by later feedback and further workshops. Practical implications Workers awareness of non-verbal communication within the roles of work activities is a training possibility. It faces various resistances including the mental health assumptions of meaninglessness of any communication outside the verbal. Originality/value This is a method of training not widely used even in European countries, and is the first in a country in the far east.

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