Search results

The study aims to explore the critical approaches adopted by innovative organizations and to build an environment of trust between the multiple stakeholders collaborating for new product development (NPD).

A qualitative research approach is adopted in this study. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from the wood product industry in Quebec, Canada. These organizations have successfully adopted the latest technological developments and have developed a strong collaboration with their stakeholders.

The study identified eleven strategies for the innovative organizations that included early involvement of the stakeholders in the design process, developing long-term relationships and fostering a transparent environment using Industry 4.0 technologies. A novel framework for using this strategy is presented with three stages of application, namely, planning, enactment and review.

Inter-organizational collaborations in NPD are more successful when imbued with trust. The NPD strategies must allow innovative organizations to achieve a balanced ecosystem in which value created through the adaption of new technology can be thoroughly captured through commercialization on time with no field failure.

The study adds to the body of knowledge in stakeholder theory and NPD research and practice.

The purpose of this paper is to understand the characteristics of intellectual capital (IC) in Mexican small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Due to the shift from traditional factors of production to knowledge-based economy, an understanding of the role of IC has become crucial for SMEs to develop a competitive advantage.

This study takes an in depth look at the three components of IC: human, organizational, and external capital. In order to do so, a quantitative study on 445 SMEs was conducted based on data collected through an online survey. A structural equation model is proposed that is a fit with the reality of Mexican SMEs. Regional differences are highlighted by means of multigroup analysis.

The results suggest that the features of human and organizational capital are consistent with previous studies on SMEs in emerging economies. However, external capital shows some distinctive characteristics unique to Mexican context.

Implications for managers and policymakers are discussed, whereby an adaptation of programs and policies are required to fit the Mexican context at the national and regional levels.

To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first study that observes the components of IC in Mexican SMEs.