Giselle C. Rampersad, Ann-Louise Hordacre and John Spoehr
The purpose of this study is to investigate how supply chains can become more resilient through innovation initiatives. It examines the expansion and deepening of relationships…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate how supply chains can become more resilient through innovation initiatives. It examines the expansion and deepening of relationships between buyers and suppliers and the facilitatory role of the government in this process.
Design/methodology/approach
This study compares supply chains in the advanced manufacturing and food industries. It is based on qualitative research involving case studies and in-depth interviews with buyers, suppliers and facilitators from government.
Findings
The study reveals that innovation is critical in building more resilient supply chains. It uncovers the importance of power distribution, coordination, communication, trust and commitment for innovation within these relationships.
Practical implications
It provides implications about how best to develop effective buyer–supplier relationships through innovation and diversification, for marketing and purchasing managers, CEOs of manufacturing companies and suppliers and government players with responsibility for industry development and innovation.
Originality/value
It advances the industrial buyer–supplier literature by extending the predominantly business-to-business supply chain perspective to include the role of government in supply chains and their innovation.
Details
Keywords
Temitayo Seyi Abiodun, Giselle Rampersad and Russell Brinkworth
The internationalization of business has grown the production value chains and created performance challenges for industrial production. Industry 4.0, the digital transformation…
Abstract
Purpose
The internationalization of business has grown the production value chains and created performance challenges for industrial production. Industry 4.0, the digital transformation of industrial processes, promises to deliver performance improvements through smart functionalities. This study investigates how digital transformation translates to performance gain by adopting a systems perspective to drive smartness.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses qualitative research to collect data on the lived experiences of digital transformation practitioners for theory development. It uses semi-structured interviews with industry experts and applies the Gioia methodology for analysis.
Findings
The study determined that enterprise smartness is an organizational capability developed by digital transformation, it is a function of integration and the enabler of organizational performance gains in the Industry 4.0 context. The study determined that performance gains are experienced in productivity, sustainability, safety and customer experience, which represents performance metrics for Industry 4.0.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes a model that inserts smartness in the linkage between digital transformation and organizational outcomes to the digital transformation and production management literature.
Practical implications
The study indicates that digital transformation programs should focus on developing smartness rather than technology implementations, which must be considered an enabling activity.
Originality/value
Existing studies recognized the positive impact of technology on performance in industrial production. The study addresses a missing link in the Industry 4.0 value creation process. It adopts a systems perspective to establish the role of smartness in translating technology use to performance outcomes. Smart capabilities have been the critical missing link in the literature on harnessing digital transformation in organizations. The study advances theory development by contributing an Industry 4.0 value model that establishes a link between digital technologies, smartness and organizational performance.
Details
Keywords
Giselle Rampersad, Indrit Troshani and Carolin Plewa
Given the increased importance of inter‐organizational networks in fostering innovation, the purpose of this paper is to isolate drivers of the adoption of inter‐organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the increased importance of inter‐organizational networks in fostering innovation, the purpose of this paper is to isolate drivers of the adoption of inter‐organizational systems (IOS) that support innovation processes.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on qualitative research incorporating a focus group and in‐depth interviews, a network framework is provided for understanding key drivers concerning IOS adoption.
Findings
The research uncovers factors for facilitating coordination and communication efficiencies and outlines the roles that trust and commitment can play in managing innovation within networks through IOS use.
Research limitations/implications
To enhance our understanding of innovations that are entrenched in networks of heterogeneous actors, this research contributes by employing an interdisciplinary approach as it applies network and relationships marketing literatures to the IOS adoption in innovation settings.
Originality/value
The paper advances theory development on innovation management and technology adoption by offering a network framework, a shift from extant literature's predominant focus on individual and organizational levels.
Details
Keywords
Carolin Plewa, Indrit Troshani, Anthony Francis and Giselle Rampersad
Despite the growing prominence of innovation, limited studies examine the adoption of applications that support innovation processes. The purpose of this study is to investigate…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the growing prominence of innovation, limited studies examine the adoption of applications that support innovation processes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the adoption of innovation management applications (IMAs).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on qualitative and quantitative evidence sourced from innovation development and commercialization functions including R&D, marketing, and administration at a university and technology transfer office.
Findings
The paper contributes to literature by isolating determinants that affect the adoption of IMAs and their link to innovation process performance, confirming the importance of perceived usefulness and compatibility of IMAs to user's work styles.
Originality/value
There is paucity of research concerning the adoption of IMAs which present unique challenges due to their idiosyncrasies. This study contributes by proposing an adoption model and validating it. It also links IMA adoption to innovation process performance, thereby filling a gap in extant technology adoption research.
Details
Keywords
Giselle Rampersad, Pascale Quester and Indrit Troshani
In recent decades, R&D networks have proliferated amongst members of universities, businesses, research organisations and government. Despite increases in the complexity and…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent decades, R&D networks have proliferated amongst members of universities, businesses, research organisations and government. Despite increases in the complexity and prominence of these networks, empirical studies investigating their performance are still sparse. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by investigating the impact of trust and commitment on network harmony and coordination.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies confirmatory factor analysis, using structural equation modelling, to ascertain the impact of trust and commitment on harmony and coordination within networks. It is based on responses of 124 participants from an Australian biotechnology and nanotechnology network.
Findings
The study reveals that trust has significant impacts on both network coordination and harmony.
Practical implications
The paper provides managerial implications for organisations involved in innovation networks which can be used to inform the design and coordination of inter‐organisational innovation initiatives across sectors.
Originality /value
The paper is original as it provides a network perspective, as responses include a variety of perspectives from universities, businesses, research organisations and government. Consequently, it serves as a first step towards validating constructs from a network perspective that were previously validated only from organisational or dyadic perspectives.
Details
Keywords
Giselle Rampersad and Indrit Troshani
Given the increasingly significant investments in high‐speed broadband (HSB) internationally and the heightened rhetoric surrounding its benefits, the purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the increasingly significant investments in high‐speed broadband (HSB) internationally and the heightened rhetoric surrounding its benefits, the purpose of this paper is to assess the social impact of HSB.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a case study concerning HSB delivered in the ambit of Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN), the study contributes a conceptual framework to evaluate the social impact of HSB initiatives.
Findings
The authors found that key sectors, including education, health and community development, should be critically assessed across pertinent dimensions in evaluating the social impact of HSB.
Practical implications
The framework provided in this study is significant as it can be used strategically by managers and policy makers in both leveraging HSB opportunities in key sectors and monitoring the performance of such initiatives.
Originality/value
The research extends the technology adoption literature by contributing a framework that moves beyond the individual and organizational levels of technology adoption towards the wider sectoral level; and second, attempts to examine post‐adoption impact of technology.