Huiping Zhou, Karen Yuan Wang, Yanhong Yao and Kai-Ping Huang
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between open innovation (OI) and innovative performance, and to explore the moderating effect of knowledge structure…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between open innovation (OI) and innovative performance, and to explore the moderating effect of knowledge structure, including component knowledge and architectural knowledge, on this particular relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed model was tested with regression analysis of data collected through a questionnaire survey of 231 employees of Chinese manufacturing firms.
Findings
The findings indicate that inbound OI is positively related to innovative performance and that outbound OI has an inverted U-shaped effect on innovative performance. By presenting empirical evidence of the moderating effects of component and architectural knowledge, our analysis of results demonstrates that the strong alignment between knowledge structure and OI results in superior innovative performance.
Originality/value
This study addresses the controversial issues brought up by previous studies with findings of an inverted U-shaped effect of outbound OI on innovative performance. By exploring the moderating effect of knowledge structure, the authors provide insights into how internal contextual factors in relation to organizational knowledge can affect the efficacy of the inbound and outbound OI on innovative performance.
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Huanhuan Chen, Yanhong Yao, Ao Zan and Elias G. Carayannis
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…
Abstract
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.
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Huiping Zhou, Yanhong Yao and Huanhuan Chen
This paper aims to explore the direct effects of open innovation (OI) on firms’ innovative performance, and to examine the moderating effects of knowledge attributes, including…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the direct effects of open innovation (OI) on firms’ innovative performance, and to examine the moderating effects of knowledge attributes, including knowledge distance, knowledge embeddedness and partner opportunism on this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data of 247 samples from China were used to test the proposed model through hierarchical regression analysis.
Findings
The findings indicate that the dimensions of OI are positively related to innovative performance. The results also reveal that knowledge distance positively moderates the relationship between inbound OI and innovative performance, whereas knowledge embeddedness negatively affects that relationship. Knowledge embeddedness negatively affects the relationship between inbound OI and innovative performance, whereas knowledge distance positively moderates that relationship. Thus, a new finding is proposed that knowledge attributes could align effectively with specific OI type to achieve superior innovation outcomes. In addition, the empirical results suggest that partner opportunism plays a negative moderating role on the relationship between outbound OI and innovative performance.
Originality/value
The proposed view that a firm’s innovation outputs will be superior when its knowledge attributes effectively align with OI enriches studies of the OI context and expands the literature of both the resource-based view and the knowledge-based view. Furthermore, this study provides insights into how OI benefits can be influenced by external contexts from the perspective of partners’ opportunistic behaviour.
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Yu Gong, Yanhong Yao and Ao Zan
This study aims to investigate the complex relationship between digitalization capability (DC) and radical innovation performance (RIP). In particular, this study sheds new light…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the complex relationship between digitalization capability (DC) and radical innovation performance (RIP). In particular, this study sheds new light on the results of previous studies on the effects of DC on firm innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors obtained questionnaire data from 271 IT managers of randomly selected high-tech Chinese firms. The data was used to empirically test the proposed hypotheses using hierarchical regression analysis.
Findings
The findings of this study reveal that DC has an inverted U-shaped effect on RIP. Knowledge accumulation (KA) has a partial mediating effect on the DC–RIP link. Knowledge integration capability (KIC) was found to moderate the DC–RIP relationship: the higher a firm’s KIC, the flatter the DC–RIP curve. Moreover, there is empirical evidence of the shape-flip phenomenon of the DC–RIP curve: when KIC > 1.82, the DC–RIP relationship is no longer an inverted U-shaped but presents as a U-shaped curve.
Research limitations/implications
This study explores the DC–RIP relationship from the perspective of knowledge management, deepens the research scope of digitalization and lays the foundation for subsequent research.
Originality/value
This study provides potential explanations for contradictory views of the effect of DC on innovation in the existing literature by revealing the nonlinear relationship of DC and RIP and the important roles of KA and KIC in that relationship. The new insights into the role of KIC as a threshold for the DC–RIP link provide a direction for firms to control the pace of digital transformation.
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The purpose of this paper is to build a symbiotic evolution model to analyze the symbiotic modes and dynamic equilibrium of mobile internet platform innovation ecosystem (MIPIE…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to build a symbiotic evolution model to analyze the symbiotic modes and dynamic equilibrium of mobile internet platform innovation ecosystem (MIPIE) in order to explore its evolutionary path.
Design/methodology/approach
From a symbiosis theory perspective, the authors studied the dynamic evolution stages and symbiotic mode of MIPIE. By adopting logistic model, the symbiotic evolution model of MIPIE is established. After calculating the steady conditions and equilibrium point of this model, numerical simulation was done with MATLAB software to illustrate the impact of symbiotic parameters on evolution path in this ecosystem.
Findings
The symbiotic evolution mode of MIPIE experienced parasitism, commensalism to asymmetric mutualism, and symmetry mutualism or independence. In given conditions, the dynamic evolution of MIPIE eventually tends to a steady equilibrium point. The evolutionary consequence of innovative subjects is not only determined by the natural growth rate, but symbiotic modes can also affect the evolutionary path. Different symbiotic modes result in different evolutionary paths.
Practical implications
Improved understanding of symbiosis in MIPIE could help policy makers to promote value co-creation and dynamic interests balance while facilitating the cooperation of others for successful platform ecosystem management.
Originality/value
The logistic model introduced here bridge theory and practice while establishing a stronger link between symbiosis theory and platform ecosystem management.
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Ling Yuan, Leilei Zhang and Yanhong Tu
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how leader humility affects the engagement of employees in creative processes, using perceived organizational support (POS) as a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how leader humility affects the engagement of employees in creative processes, using perceived organizational support (POS) as a mediator and leader competence as a moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a two-wave sampling of 113 dyads of leaders and subordinates in China.
Findings
A curvilinear relationship was found between leader humility and employee engagement in creative processes. Further, POS partially mediates this relationship, and leader competence positively moderates the relationship between leader humility and POS.
Practical implications
First, organizations should select and train leaders who show humility as a character trait and foster a supportive organizational climate. Second, managers should study the benefits of moderate and harms of superfluous humility, especially in the Chinese cultural context. Third, competent leaders are more effective as humble leaders.
Originality/value
Few studies have concentrated on leader humility in the eastern cultural context. The results challenge traditional views of the impact of leader humility and shed light on its mechanism and the conditions under which it promotes employee engagement in creation. This study also clarifies the nonlinear influence of leader humility, building a fine-grained theoretical framework integrating the motivation-opportunities-abilities model and Chinese Zhong-Yong theory.
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Yida Liu, Jie Zhao, Xiaoyu Yang, Yanhong Gu and Zihao Yang
The purpose of this paper is to improve the corrosion resistance of the 6061-Al alloy as the battery pack material for electric vehicles, and the nano-SiC/MAO composite coating…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to improve the corrosion resistance of the 6061-Al alloy as the battery pack material for electric vehicles, and the nano-SiC/MAO composite coating was prepared.
Design/methodology/approach
The corrosion resistance of coatings was evaluated by the global electrochemical test, and the local electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (LEIS) was used to study the local corrosion mechanism. The laser confocal microscope, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were used to characterise coatings.
Findings
Results showed that the impedance of nano-SiC/MAO coating was 1–2 times higher than MAO coating, and the main corrosion product was Al(OH)3. LEIS results showed that the impedance of the nano-SiC/MAO coating was two times higher than the MAO coating. The defective SiC/Micro-arc oxidation coating still had high corrosion resistance compared to the MAO coating.
Originality/value
The physical model of the local corrosion mechanism for SiC/MAO composite coating in “cavity-fracture collapse” mode was proposed.
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Buqing Ma, Xiaoyan Xu, Yanhong Sun and Yiwen Bian
Consumers are increasingly using search-based advertising in e-Business platforms to seek their desirable products. Platforms will choose a centralized advertising mechanism (CAM…
Abstract
Purpose
Consumers are increasingly using search-based advertising in e-Business platforms to seek their desirable products. Platforms will choose a centralized advertising mechanism (CAM) or decentralized advertising mechanism (DAM) to offer a search advertising service to lower consumer search cost, as represented by using search time length. It is important for the platform to decide how to choose advertising mechanisms, and how to determine the optimal advertising price and search time length. To address these issues, this study aims to develop a theoretical approach under each mechanism to examine the platform’s optimal search-based advertising strategy by considering search cost.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, two models are developed to examine the optimal search-based advertising strategy by considering consumer search cost (i.e. search time length). By comparing the platform’s profits under two models, the optimal advertising strategy, search time length and price are explored.
Findings
It is found that when the seller’s reserve benefit is sufficiently large, the platform benefits from choosing the DAM; otherwise, the CAM is a better choice. The advertising service is usually offered with a shorter search time length accompanied by a higher charge, and a longer search time length accompanied by a lower charge. Specifically, when the seller’s reserve benefit is substantially high, a DAM that benefits both the platform and seller is a better choice. This can explain why many platforms offer advertising services with a DAM.
Originality/value
This paper is the first theoretical study on addressing the search-based advertising strategy, especially the choice of advertising mechanisms, in the online advertising context. It is also the first piece of analytical research that considers the effect of consumer search cost on product demand, and then examines the optimal advertising price and search cost (i.e. search time length) for online platforms.
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From a supply chain perspective, logistics firms collaborate with other supply chain members to extend their business scope. Investment in circular economy projects in the supply…
Abstract
Purpose
From a supply chain perspective, logistics firms collaborate with other supply chain members to extend their business scope. Investment in circular economy projects in the supply chain can not only broaden the scope of business but also increase the value of the entire supply chain. Third-party logistics companies are gradually participating in the construction and operation of many circular economy projects. How to coordinate multiple circular economy supply chain projects is at the core of its operation.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper first analyzes some typical supply chain projects in China and summarizes the main features of these projects. Secondly, considering the benefits of the project and the stakes of each project, a multi-stage stochastic programming model is established. Finally, Cplex, nested decomposition, LocalSolver and other methods are adopted to simulate and analyze the model.
Findings
The final experimental results find that the importance of coordinating multiple circular economy supply chain projects to increase the value of the entire supply chain. The multi-stage stochastic programming model presented in this research can provide a useful tool for logistics enterprises and third-party logistics companies to optimize their investment decisions and maximize their profits in the context of a circular economy.
Research limitations/implications
There are still some limitations to this study; for example, it is limited to the analysis of circular economy supply chain projects in China. The study focused on third-party logistics companies, and other enterprises in the circular economy supply chain were not considered. The research also assumed that the benefits of each circular economy project and the stakes of each project were known, which may not always be the case in real-world scenarios.
Originality/value
This manuscript found that investing in other circular economy projects in the supply chain can broaden the scope of business and increase the value of the entire supply chain. Third-party logistics companies are gradually participating in the construction and operation of many circular economy projects, such as recycling and repurposing initiatives. It highlights the importance of coordinating multiple circular economy supply chain projects to increase the value of the entire supply chain. The multi-stage stochastic programming model presented in this research can provide a useful tool for logistics enterprises and third-party logistics companies to optimize their investment decisions and maximize their profits in the context of a circular economy.
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Wei Yanhong, Xinjin Liu, Xuzhong Su and Zhao Zhimin
In order to develop high shape retention yarn and investigate the effects of spinning process and core yarn contents on the shape retention of yarn, in this paper, three kinds of…
Abstract
Purpose
In order to develop high shape retention yarn and investigate the effects of spinning process and core yarn contents on the shape retention of yarn, in this paper, three kinds of yarns, JC/T400 18.5tex (55.6dtex) core-spun yarn, JC/T400 18.5tex (44.4dtex) core-spun yarn and JC18.5tex pure cotton yarn were spun by using the complete condensing Siro-spinning technology. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the core-spun yarns were spun by using the complete condensing spinning and Siro-spinning technology. Two key spinning processes, yarn twist factor and core yarn pre-draft ratio, were optimized by using the orthogonal test method first. Then, via the variable control method, the position of the core yarn, the position of the bell mouth and the center distance between two bell mouths were optimized, respectively, and corresponding optimal spinning process of the three yarns was determined. Finally, the yarns were spun under the optimal process, and the performance of the spun yarns was tested and compared.
Findings
Results show that the yarn twist factor affects yarn strength and hairiness, the position of bell mouth affects the evenness and hairiness of the yarn mainly, and the position of the core yarn affects the coverage and hairiness of the yarn. For the Z-twist spinning, the core yarn enters the front roller from the left side of two strands center, which is beneficial to improve the covering effect of core yarn, and reduce the pilling phenomenon of the yarn. The contents of core yarn affect indicators of the yarn shape retention, such as yarn strength, elastic recovery and abrasion resistance.
Originality/value
The shape retention of yarns affects the shape retention of fabrics, and the production of yarn with high shape retention is a key step in achieving shape retention of fabrics. At present, there are little studies on the shape retention of yarns, most researchers shave focused on shape retention of fabrics. Using the complete condensing Siro-spinning method to spin the core-spun yarn can improve the quality of the yarn. Compared with traditional ring-spinning yarns, the addition of the core yarn can improve the shape retention of the yarn.