Emerald | European Journal of Innovation Management

Multiple standards and critical masses, and the formation of new industries: The case of the Japanese mobile internet

Jeffrey L. Funk — 2012-01-20 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze standard setting and how a critical mass of users emerged in an industry in which multiple interface standards co-exist and a critical mass of users was created multiple times. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on research conducted for almost ten years using the case study approach. Data were gathered through more than 100 interviews with Japanese firms and through analyses of published sources. Findings – The paper finds that growth in mobile internet services required agreements on multiple interface standards where some of these interface standards exhibited interdependencies and thus required integral design, while others have been built on top of these “basic” interface standards. Agreements on the former interface standards enable basic data connections between phones, services, and content and this required integral design. The latter interface standards connect the mobile phone with content and applications from other industries (e.g. music, video, publishing, broadcasting, and payment) and each critical mass of phones, services, and content for them partly builds from previously created critical masses. Research limitations/implications – The research focused on a single industry in a single country. Practical implications – This paper helps scholars and practitioners better understand how interface standards and critical masses for them emerge. Originality/value – This is the first paper to analyze multiple interface standards in a single industry and the emergence of a critical mass of users or complementary products for these standards.

The adoption of open innovation within the telecommunication industry

Barbara Bigliardi, Alberto Ivo Dormio, Francesco Galati — 2012-01-20 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – The paper, covering the actual argument of open innovation, aims to answer two main research questions, namely: “Which open innovation approach is adopted by the companies belonging to the ICTs industry?” and “Which types of collaborations are carried out by the companies and which are the dynamics that characterize it?”. Design/methodology/approach – In order to answer the research questions a multiple case study methodology is adopted. The research framework was structured in three main phases: first, a literature review on the matter of open innovation in general and within the ICTs industry in particular, as well as of the specific features of the industry investigated, was carried out. Second, a list of questions containing the main issues that arose from the previous step has been designed for the case study protocol, to be used in the following structured interviews. Finally, structured direct interviews were conducted on three important Italian companies active in the telecommunications area. Findings – Results highlighted different ways to manage the open innovation processes, based on teamwork or task forces, and the different roles, more or less proactive, that an information communication technology (ICT) company may undertake within this process. Moreover, they show that ICT companies acquire external knowledge and skills mainly from universities and research centers, as well as from value chain's actors (suppliers in primis). Originality/value – Still little attention has been paid to the understanding of the open innovation approach of Italian firms belonging to the ICT industry, thus the authors believe that this paper may represent a valuable basis for future research on the open innovation issues in the field of ICT.

A cross-level analysis of organizational creativity climate and perceived innovation: The mediating effect of work motivation

Carol Yeh-Yun Lin, Feng-Chuan Liu — 2012-01-20 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – The concept that creativity climate facilitates innovation outcome is well-received, yet it has not been widely tested in non-Western countries. To fill the gap between concept and practical value, this study adopted the eight-dimensional model of organizational creativity climate proposed by Amabile and associates with the aim of investigating the cross-level relationship between creativity climate and employee-perceived innovation in an Asian work place, i.e. Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach – Using survey data of 398 employees from different companies of Taiwan, the effect of organizational creativity climate on innovation was explored. Furthermore, the mediating effect of employees' work motivation was also examined. Findings – By employing hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), statistical analysis indicates that 27 percent variance of perceived innovation could potentially be explained by creativity climate. Five out of the eight dimensions, namely, organizational encouragement, supervisory encouragement, work group support, sufficient resource and challenging work, relate significantly to perceived innovation with the mediation of work motivation. Research limitations/implications – As most companies are reluctant to reveal their objective innovation data, the authors had to rely on self-reported data that are inevitably subjective in nature. Moreover, the fact that only 13 organizations were sampled may weaken the generalizability of the findings to more diverse business contexts. Originality/value – The findings of this study contribute to advancing organizational climate research and innovation management in a non-Western country. In addition, by surveying this topic in an innovation-active context, i.e. Taiwan, this study uncovers rich information on organizational creativity issues for interested parties and for future research.

Learning processes, their impact on innovation performance and the moderating role of radicalness

2012-01-20 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to extend the proposal of Holmqvist with regard to organisational processes of learning and their impact on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a survey of 187 firms, the paper shows that certain organisational processes of learning are related to innovation performance. Further, it investigates the moderating role of product radicalness on such relationships. Findings – Based on a survey of 187 firms, the paper shows that certain organisational processes of learning are related to innovation performance. Further, it investigates the moderating role of product radicalness on such relationships and proves that the other two types of organisational learning processes are not related to innovation performance. Originality/value – The innovation performance of collaboration between firms has not received a great deal of attention in the literature. This research paper offers some guidelines on how to obtain great advantages from this collaboration.

The influence of market orientation on new product success

Stanley Kam Sing Wong, Canon Tong — 2012-01-20 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – This research seeks to investigate key determinants of new product success (NPS) from the perspective of new product development (NPD) team leaders in the electronics industry in China. A model is proposed investigating the interplay among elements of market orientation and the moderating effects of customer and competitor orientations on the relationship between R&D-Marketing cooperation and NPS. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 217 respondents to an online questionnaire that had been sent to 3,000 potential participants randomly selected from electronics firms across China. Regression analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings – Results from the research support the hypotheses that NPS is driven by R&D-Marketing cooperation, customer and competitor orientations. Also, the association between R&D-Marketing cooperation and NPS is moderated by customer and competitor orientations. Practical implications – This research confirms the positive role that R&D-Marketing cooperation plays in NPS and the moderating effects of customer and competitor orientations on the association between R&D-Marketing cooperation and NPS. The findings are of relevance to management practitioners as developing successful new products has become an ever more pressing issue in the wake of rising labour cost and increasing market competition. Originality/value – Previous NPD literature has focused primarily on NPD activities in Western and developed countries. This research fills the research gap by identifying the empirical links between R&D-Marketing cooperation and NPS. It is the first to examine the moderating effects of customer and competitor orientations in the relationship between R&D-Marketing cooperation and NPS of electronics firms in China.

What are the factors that affect innovation in growing SMEs?

Tomi Heimonen — 2012-01-20 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on a study aimed at identifying factors that affect the innovativeness of growing small and medium-sized firms (SMEs). It aims to use intellectual property rights (IPRs) as a proxy for innovations. The IPRs to be used include patents, trademarks, utility models and registered designs. Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical model was developed and tested on longitudinal sample data representing 348 continuously growing SMEs located in two diverse regions in Finland. The firms in the sample represented various industries. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings – About 8 per cent of the firms in the sample could be defined as innovative growth SMEs. Most of these firms operate in the service and manufacturing sectors. They are small businesses that employ ten to 49 people and are between five and 19 years old. Innovative firms in this class were found to be less likely successful in the short-term than their non-innovative counterparts. The results obtained seem to be consistent with the expected preconception that growing IPR-intensive firms may be subject to greater financial pressures than those that do not produce IPRs. Public research and development (R&D) funding seems to increase the likelihood of innovation. Practical implications – From a policy perspective, the allocation of resources to R&D has been an appropriate strategy for increasing the amount of IPRs generated by growing SMEs. Originality/value – This paper reports one of a very small number of studies that have sought to identify and analyse factors that affect innovation in growing SMEs.