Showing papers in "Creativity and Innovation Management in 2019"

Psychological capital and self-reported employee creativity : The moderating role of supervisor support and job characteristics

Abstract: Although the positive effect of psychological capital (PsyCap) on employee performance is well documented, the conditions under which PsyCap exerts the most influence on creativity warrant further research. Complementing and extending prior studies, we theorize and examine how two critical contextual factors (supervisor support for creativity [SSC] and job characteristics) effectively activate PsyCap associated with self-reported employee creativity. Drawing on an interactional perspective, we use trait activation theory to examine the moderating effects of SSC and job characteristics on the relationship between PsyCap and self-reported employee creativity. Through rigorous hypotheses testing (N = 356 individuals from multiple industries in Chinese firms), our results demonstrate that both SSC and job characteristics positively moderate the PsyCap–creativity relationship. Additional analyses reveal that PsyCap is most effective at enhancing creativity when both SSC and job characteristics are high. Implications of these findings for theory, future research and practice are discussed.

Disruptive innovation from a process view: A systematic literature review

Abstract: There are many challenges in identifying and managing a disruptive innovation stemming from the limited knowledge on how it unfolds over time. Researchers have identified early signals and ex ante conditions that indicate its occurrence. However, an analysis from a process view acknowledging the underlying dynamics is yet to be done. By taking a process view within a systematic literature review, we analyse the scattered findings on the process of disruptive innovation to identify events and actions leading to a disruptive effect over time. We challenge the understanding of disruptive innovation as an outcome and the linearity of the process by proposing that disruptive innovation can be understood as occurring through emergent dynamics. These dynamics are constituted by: (a) the timing of entry and underlying processes that influences (b) the synchronization of events and actions and is shaped by (c) the adaptability of strategic actions. Thus, we complexify the concept of disruptive innovation to support the understanding of its unfolding and advance its manageability.

Doing complexity leadership theory: How agile coaches at Spotify practise enabling leadership

Abstract: Complexity leadership theory (CLT) is about balancing formal and informal organisation to leverage dynamics of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) and produce learning, creativity, and adaptation in org ...

The interaction effects of proactive personality and empowering leadership and close monitoring behaviour on creativity

Abstract: In today's hurried information‐oriented business environment, it is crucial to examine under what conditions individuals may perform for creativity. Taking an interactional perspective, this study investigates how the interactions of proactive personality and empowering leadership or close monitoring behaviour may influence employee creativity in opposite directions. Data from 163 samples indicate that proactive personality promotes creativity, while close monitoring behaviour lowers creativity. Furthermore, the study shows that proactive employees are likely to engage in creativity when their leaders demonstrate high levels of empowering leadership. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Does job insecurity hinder innovative work behaviour? A threat rigidity perspective

Abstract: Current work life is characterized by globalization, technological changes and the aftermath of the economic recession, thereby increasing the need for organizations to be innovative to maintain their competitive position. At the same time, this turbulent organizational landscape gave rise to perceptions of job insecurity (JI), that is, the subjectively perceived likelihood of involuntary job loss. The present study investigates whether job insecurity relates to innovative work behaviour (IWB) and introduces threat rigidity theory as an explanatory framework for this relationship. Based on this theory, we propose a serial mediation model, in which job insecurity relates to an increase in irritation, which subsequently relates to a decrease in concentration, resulting in a decrease in both dimensions of IWB, namely idea generation and idea implementation. By means of survey data from 394 Dutch‐speaking Belgian employees, we used structural equation modelling to compute our mediation analyses (bootstrapping method). Our findings are in line with threat rigidity theory, as the results demonstrate that the threat of job loss impairs employees' innovativeness through increased irritation and decreased concentration. This study contributes to job insecurity as well as IWB research, by introducing a process model that sheds light on job insecurity outcomes and antecedents of IWB.

Idea generation and open innovation in SMEs: When does market‐based collaboration pay off most?

Abstract: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) largely depend on proficient idea generation activities to improve their front-end innovation performance, yet the liabilities of newness and smallness of ...

Resilient employees are creative employees, when the workplace forces them to be

Abstract: With a basis in conservation of resources theory, this article considers the connection between employees' resilience and disruptive creative behaviour—conceptualized herein as the extent to which they generate radically new ideas for organizational improvement—as well as how this connection might be invigorated by resource‐draining work conditions that stem from excessive workloads and unfavourable decision‐making processes. Data collected through a survey administered to employees in an organization that operates in the distribution sector reveal that employees' resilience levels spur their disruptive creative behaviour, and this process is more prominent among employees who believe they have insufficient time to complete their work tasks (i.e., suffer from high work overload) and operate in organizational climates marked by high rigidity or dysfunctional politics. The findings accordingly inform organizational practitioners that the allocation of employees' personal resource bases to disruptive creative behaviours might be particularly useful among employees who face substantial adversity in their organizational functioning.

Design and management of innovation laboratories: Toward a performance assessment tool

Abstract: There is a strong emergence of new spaces to foster innovation all over the world (Fablabs, Living Labs and Design Factories, among others). Past experiences have shown these types of projects involving “innovation laboratories” are at risk of not succeeding in their goals. Although several studies have tackled the problem of design, development and sustainability of innovation laboratories, there is still a gap in understanding how the capabilities and performance of these environments are affected by the strategic intentions at the early stages of design and functioning. Throughout this work, eight frameworks from the literature that analyze innovation laboratories are identified and compared. Then, based on both literature and the authors' experience, an updated framework is proposed as the basis for a guidance tool for researchers and practitioners aiming to assess or to adapt an existing project. As part of the operationalization process of the framework, a maturity grid‐based assessment tool is proposed to evaluate the maturity degree of an innovation laboratory. Afterwards, to evaluate the viability and to integrate the perception of innovation laboratory managers, an exploratory study with answers from fifteen laboratories from five different countries is performed. Insights and implications for emerging and already existent projects of innovation laboratories are then discussed.

When agility meets open innovation: two approaches to manage inbound projects

Abstract: Open Innovation is a leading paradigm in the current landscape, and scholars have been highly focused on defining the characteristics and capabilities that firms need to implement it successfully. This research aims to understand how organizations may implement inbound OI projects. Relying on a multiple case study approach and based on primary and secondary sources, this research highlights two main approaches: team‐centred and individual‐centred. The two approaches are discussed according to previous studies, highlighting how the first one is particularly coherent with previous research on Open Innovation, while the second one offers great insights from an Agile Project Management perspective. In particular, this research suggests how the Open Innovation literature can be enriched by considering the recent advancements in the Agile literature, valuing the individual and its autonomy to embrace external ideas from an OI perspective.

Living labs: From scattered initiatives to a global movement

Abstract: This study explores the emergence of the living labs movement based on a literature review and interviews with experts acquainted with early living labs. The study contributes to the growing literature on innovation through living labs by addressing a research gap on why and how this movement is evolving. So doing, the study discusses the emergence of living labs from the perspectives of: (i) early living lab pioneers; (ii) early living lab activities in Europe, especially at Nokia Corporation; (iii) EU funding that supported the creation of living labs; (iv) national living lab networks; and (v) the multinational European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). Moreover, upon highlighting major events in the emergence of living labs, the study identifies three consecutive phases of the global living lab movement: (i) toward a new paradigm; (ii) learning from experience; and (iii) professional living labs.

Individual motivation among entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries: A self-determination perspective

Abstract: We aim to shed light on the deep mechanisms that keep individual entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries motivated in this insecure and fast-paced environment. We collect data through a survey of entrepreneurs working in the Dutch creative and cultural industries (CCI) and examine what motivates these professionals to work in an environment characterized by tough competition. Specifically, we analyse our respondents' self-perceived (creative and entrepreneurial) competences and needs (for autonomy and relatedness) in relation to their motivation to execute creative work. We suggest a reading of our results through the lens of self-determination theory. Our results show that the need for competence is a consistent predictor of an individual's motivation to work in the CCI. Furthermore, we find that although intrinsic motivation is very high among entrepreneurs working in the creative and cultural industries, those who have a relatively high esteem of their creative capabilities do expect external rewards as well. Our study suggests the existence of a trade-off between autonomy and commercial viability rather than one between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations.

Design thinking in social organizations: Understanding the role of user engagement

Abstract: Design thinking has recently gained significant attention as a potential approach to address major global problems. Although its practice is proven to contribute to advance organizational efficiency and address user needs, lack of understanding about its practice in social organizations limits our understanding about its social context. With this background, we study how users persuade social organizations to adopt design thinking. We conducted a qualitative study in four social organizations in India during 2008–2013 and interviewed 38 respondents to answer our research question. Our results indicate that the designer roles are blurred when social organizations adopt design thinking, where users in the form of interconnecting agency reduce the gap between designers and communities.

Reducing the harmful effect of work overload on creative behaviour: Buffering roles of energy‐enhancing resources

Abstract: This study investigates how employees' perceptions of work overload might reduce their creative behaviours and how this negative relationship might be buffered by employees' access to three energy‐enhancing resources: their passion for work, their ability to share emotions with colleagues, and their affective commitment to the organization. Data from a manufacturing organization reveal that work overload reduces creative behaviour, but the effect is weaker with higher levels of passion for work, emotion sharing, and organizational commitment. The buffering effects of emotion sharing and organizational commitment are particularly strong when they combine with high levels of passion for work. These findings indicate how organizations marked by adverse work conditions, due to excessive workloads, can mitigate the likelihood that employees avoid creative behaviours.

Antecedents of team innovation in health care teams

Abstract: We extend previous research on team innovation by looking at team-level motivations and how a prosocial team environment, indicated by the level of helping behaviour and information-sharing, may foster innovation. Hypotheses were tested in two independent samples of health-care teams (N1=72 teams, N2=113 teams), using self-report measures. The examples of team innovation given by the individual team members were then rated for innovativeness by independent health care experts to avoid common method bias for the outcome variable. Subsequently, the data was aggregated and analysed at team level. The study was part of a larger data-gathering effort on health care teams in the UK. Results supported the hypotheses of main effects of both information-sharing and helping behaviour on team innovation and interaction effects with team size and occupational diversity. Differences in findings between types of health-care teams can be attributed to differences in team tasks and functions. The results suggest ways in which helping and information-sharing may act as buffers against constraints in team work, such as large team size or high occupational diversity in cross-functional health care teams, and potentially turn these into resources supporting team innovation rather than acting as barriers.

Ideation contests: Crowd management and valorization to avoid negative feelings of participants

Abstract: This study seeks to understand the managerial consequences of involving users in the innovation process and focuses on how to avoid contestants' negative feelings by dealing with increasingly more informed participants in crowdsourcing contests. Using a qualitative approach confronting participants' and managers' perspectives, the findings reveal a gap between how companies intend to manage their relationships with participants, what they actually do, and how this affects participants' feelings. Three sources of negative feelings emerge from the data and must be dealt with: (1) information regarding the future use of contributions and overpromising, (2) sharing intellectual property rights, and (3) prise allocation and selection criteria. As the increasing empowerment of participants requires rethinking the participant–brand relationship in online crowdsourcing, the results provide guidelines for effective relationship building in creative contests by identifying three types of needed recognition from the consumers' side, which refer to three hierarchical levels of participant valorization from the managers' side: basic, contribution and social recognition.

How to manage creativity time?: results from a social psychological time model lab experiment on individual creative and routine performance

Abstract: Companies have long used various approaches for organizing their employees' time for creative and routine tasks in order to improve innovative performance. In this paper, we examine how work schedule autonomy affects individuals' creative and routine performance. We then evaluate non‐commissioned time models. Results of laboratory experiments with 233 participants reveal that while average routine performance is not affected by schedule autonomy, the effect of schedule autonomy on creative performance depends on the subject's impulsiveness. There is evidence of an inverse relationship between schedule autonomy and creative performance among subjects of low impulsiveness. Hence, our results indicate that the optimal management policy depends on the manager's focus on creative or routine performance and the types of employees the manager supervises. For routine performance, the creativity time model has no significant impact.

Resources, state ownership and innovation capability: Evidence from Chinese automakers

Abstract: Promoting innovation has been a major task for both business practitioners and governments in emerging markets. Based on the resource‐based view, this study examines the contributing factors of firms' innovation capability and the contingent role of state ownership. Utilizing data on 102 Chinese automobile firms, we found that financial resources, R&D human capital, innovation leadership, collaborative culture, and government support positively relate to firms' innovation capability. Moreover, the firm's ownership type serves as a boundary condition for the resource–capability relationship. The significance of different resources in developing innovation capability vary for firms with different ownership types. In particular, government support and R&D human capital have stronger effects in promoting non‐state‐owned enterprises' innovation capability. From a practical standpoint, developing innovation capability should consider the critical role of ownership. Specifically, while state‐owned enterprises can capitalize on organizational and financial resources to enhance innovation capability, it is also important for them to transform bureaucratized systems into more market‐orientated ones and facilitate the effective utilization of R&D human capital and government support.

Organizational creativity‐innovation process and breakthrough under time constraints: Mid‐point transformation

Abstract: Time, as a constraining resource, is an important factor in organizational creativity processes. Yet we know little about its role in influencing the creative‐innovative process. This paper uses a case study to integrate three process‐oriented theories concerning the importance of process mid‐points and breakthrough as time resources dissipate. The context we examine is the design process of an exhibition of industrial innovations at the Science Museum in Jerusalem. We argue that actors select a course of action at approximately the temporal mid‐point of a process and that this course of action is itself creative and leads to a breakthrough transformation. Two types of mid‐point creative breakthrough transformation are classified as recombining and pruning. We suggest a theoretical integration and further directions for research.

Expatriate cultural values alignment: The mediating effect of cross‐cultural adjustment level on innovative behaviour

Abstract: Multinational companies assign expatriates to bridge the scarcity of employees with innovative behaviour from the local labour market. Despite expatriates' significant role in inducing innovative ideas for multinational companies, the existing literature has scarcely examined those antecedent factors that affect their innovative behaviour. Even though previous studies indicated the determinant impact of host countries' culture on the expatriates' work‐related behaviour, little is known about how far it affects their innovative behaviour. Therefore, drawing on the person‐environment fit theory, this study examines the impact of personal value orientation and the host country's culture alignment on expatriates' innovative behaviour. The study covers 149 expatriates, from nine countries, who work in the high‐tech industrial zone of Shenzhen, South China's industrial hub. Moreover, it applies a structural equation model using AmosTM 23 to conduct the analysis. The results reveal that personal value orientation fit with the host country's national culture has a significant impact on expatriates' innovative behaviour. Cross‐cultural adjustment level is found to mediate this relationship. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and suggestions for future research are drawn from the study's limitations.

Corporate hub as a governance structure for coupled open innovation in large firms

Abstract: This paper addresses how the open innovation concept can be applied in large corporations aiming to work with small innovative firms. More specifically, we report an in‐depth qualitative study of how AstraZeneca, a global bio‐pharmaceutical corporation, designed and enacted a new mode of organizing for coupled open innovation, with an initiative called the BioVentureHub. The governance structure behind this way of organizing is explored and conceptualized, and we also analyse how this structure shaped the relations and the value being collaboratively generated and shared. Theoretically, the paper connects the governance literature with open innovation. From the analysis of the empirical case, we propose a distinct governance structure that we label as a corporate hub, and we distinguish it from other “open” governance forms, e.g. market, network and bazaar governance, and explain the potential value it brings for coupled open innovation between large and small firms.

Reinventing tradition: Exploring the creation of new meaning through innovations involving craft‐based design

Abstract: Many studies in the field of innovation focus on novelty and technology, but recent literature and contemporary design practices have proposed an alternative view. Innovation has instead been sugge ...

Building a bridge between performance management, radical innovation, and innovation networks: A systematic literature review

Abstract: Research on performance management (PM) of networks and radical innovation has largely developed along two isolated paths. On the one hand, a growing body of knowledge addresses the use of performance management systems in the context of networks (notably for production and incremental innovation). On the other hand, radical innovation scholars have shown how innovation initiatives that are more uncertain demand the use of new approaches (e.g., new project management routines or different evaluative tools for portfolios). Some scholars even suggest that traditional PM may suppress radical innovation. Our study takes a different approach. It aims to bridge radical innovation and network performance management through a systematic review of the literature. Here, we adopt a hybrid approach that combines bibliometrics with content analysis. Whereas the literature often separates the issues of network performance management and radical innovation, our contribution expands the theory of network management and radical innovation by developing a conceptual framework based on these concepts, thus combining them. We also offer suggestions for further research on this approach. Our framework suggests that overall, the performance management of radical innovation networks presents different features (e.g., recursive rather than linear) and constructs (e.g., openness and unintended performance) from those of innovation network management.

An investigation into the effects of product design on incremental and radical innovations from the perspective of consumer perceptions: Evidence from China

Abstract: By integrating research on product design with ideas from marketing and consumer perceptions, this paper formulates a set of coherent hypotheses about the effects of tripartite design dimensions on consumer perceptions and responses. We conduct two surveys on incremental and radical technology innovations, respectively, and accordingly get two different samples to test the hypotheses. Empirical results reveal that the effects of aesthetic and functional dimensions on consumer purchase intention and word of mouth vary across two types of innovations. Specifically, for incrementally innovative products, aesthetic and functional dimensions influence consumer purchase intention and word of mouth, both directly and indirectly, through the mediation of consumer perceived quality. By contrast, for radically innovative products, the effects of aesthetic and functional dimensions on purchase intention and word of mouth are totally mediated by perceived quality. Additionally, the effects of symbolic dimension on consumer perceptions and responses achieve consistency across radical and incremental technology innovations. That is, the higher the level of symbolic dimension, the stronger purchase intention and the better word of mouth there will be, whereas the direct influence of symbolic dimension on perceived quality is not significant in either innovation category.

Growth strategies in creative industries

Abstract: In recent years there has been increased emphasis, in both academic and political arenas, on the economic importance of the creative industries (CIs). As a result, policymakers are increasingly looking to the CIs as a source of potential growth. The literature on CIs suggests that these industries are predominantly content based rather than market based, with artistic priorities taking precedence over business concerns. This research examines growth strategies in the CIs using qualitative and quantitative methods. An in‐depth case study of 23 firms in CIs suggests that these firms tend to view growth as a secondary goal compared to the goal of creative output. The case study further yields the proposition that firms in the CIs can benefit from adopting what we refer to as an accordion growth strategy, in which firms grow and shrink to accommodate artistic content as well as in response to external forces. Statistical analysis of survey data confirms that firms in the CIs are less likely to have ambitions to grow and more likely to adopt an accordion growth strategy than firms in technology industries. These findings suggest that the policy emphasis on growth in the CIs might be misguided and should allow for alternating periods of growth and shrinkage.

How governance mechanisms in family firms impact open innovation choices: A fuzzy logic approach

Abstract: The inbound open innovation (OI) process consists of the opening of the innovation funnel to the contribution of external partners, with the aim of tapping into their knowledge. This opportunity is particularly valuable for family firms (FFs), which often have insufficient resources. However, the literature on the OI behaviour of family firms is not conclusive. Indeed, both the behavioural theory (BT) and the resource‐based view (RBV) posit negative and positive outcomes regarding openness choices in FFs. We claim that these contrasting results can be reconciled if, according to the literature, FFs are seen as a heterogeneous breed, whose differences are determined by different levels of participation of non‐family members in the governance mechanisms. Indeed, non‐family members can act in favour of OI. However, previous literature has failed to satisfactorily grasp the nuances of this heterogeneity. We suggest that it is necessary to adequately operationalize the heterogeneity concept by means of fuzzy logic. We conducted a survey on 178 Italian FFs. Results show that the involvement of non‐family members affects the extent to which firms draw on knowledge from external partners. Specifically, the higher the involvement of non‐family members, the more there is collaboration with vertical partners along the supply chain.

Burnout and innovative work behaviours for survivors of downsizing : an investigation of boundary conditions

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore conditions in which innovative behaviour can have either desirable or undesirable effects. The current study surveyed employees who remained in an organization following downsizing. Voice costs and perceived influence were measured as boundary conditions. Based on our understanding of Conservation of Resources theory, these variables may be particularly important to consider how individuals view innovative work behaviours in stressful situations such as experiencing downsizing. The results of this study revealed that engagement in innovative work behaviours (IWB) was associated with reduced burnout in employees when they perceived few costs of speaking up in the post downsized environment, but at very high perceptions of voice cost (above 1.74 standard deviations above the mean), this relationship was positive. Similarly, and contrary to what was expected, engagement in IWB was negatively related to burnout when employees perceived they had little influence within the organization. We discuss possible interpretations of this unexpected result. This study adds to the small body of work that examines outcomes, rather than predictors, of innovative behaviour and also identifies conditions in which engaging in innovative behaviours has a negative impact on the individual.

The process of creation in creative industries

Abstract: Research on creative industries (CI) has acknowledged the collective dimension of creation without addressing the crucial role of process and organization in handling such a collective endeavour. Indeed, this research stream has developed independently from the one on new product development (NPD), which focuses on the development process. Inspired by the NPD literature and anchored in the literature on CI, this article aims to enhance our understanding of the creation processes in CI in order to show how the challenges are overcome. Based on a large body of case studies carried out in 12 sub‐sectors of CI, we show that the projects developed in these industries follow a process that combines and iterates four elementary activities: inspiration, framing, prototyping and validation. These activities take place alternatively in a conceptual or a material world and combine collective and individual contributions. A critical player who gives the momentum and makes the crucial decisions heads this process.

Strategies to improve selection of creative ideas: An experimental test of epistemic and social motivation in groups

Abstract: Pre‐implementation activities like idea selection play a crucial role in the innovation process. However, groups of people seem to perform rather poorly when it comes to selecting creative ideas for implementation. The Motivated Information Processing in Groups model (MIP‐G) provides an explanation as to why some groups outperform others when it comes to making group decisions. On the basis of the MIP‐G framework, we hypothesized that groups that are both epistemically and prosocially motivated would outperform other groups in selecting creative ideas. Contrary to our hypothesis, a 2 × 2 experiment in a field sample (N = 240 or 80 three‐person groups) showed that under conditions of high epistemic motivation, proself motivated groups selected significantly more creative and original ideas than prosocial groups. Proself motivated groups did not differ significantly from the prosocial motivated groups in selecting feasible ideas under conditions of high epistemic motivation. Our results suggest that the MIP‐G framework may need refinement to increase our future understanding of group idea selection. To this end, we propose three specific avenues for future research.

How does perceived retail service innovativeness affect retail patronage intentions

Abstract: This study aims to conceptualize the effects of perceived retailer service innovativeness (PRSI), perceived service advantage, customer emotional satisfaction, and attitudes to retail patronage intentions. The proposed model is examined by structural equation modelling (SEM) using 1,386 samples from three retail formats in Taiwan. Results suggest that PRSI can be used as a strategic tool to create competitive advantage and customer satisfaction. PRSI is a critical antecedent factor that affects store patronage intentions through material‐based and experience‐based routes. This study affirms that a retailer's ability to offer service innovations, especially free in‐store services, may not immediately increase the financial performance of firms; however, it can change a consumer's attitude towards the store by becoming a critical determinant of success of the retailing system. The research model can be utilized by other retail studies, especially in this era of increased competition when innovation has become a critical strategic tool for differentiation.

No innovation for the elderly? The influence of cognitive distance in corporate innovation

Abstract: Knowledge of customer needs are crucial for successful corporate innovations. Demographic ageing leads to a higher share of older adults (65+ generation). Consumer‐facing companies are urged to target this special or distant target group, which is mostly underrepresented in innovation teams. Various scientific domains have adopted the concept of psychological or cognitive distance, which is theoretically grounded in Construal Level Theory (CLT). Applied to an innovation context, CLT suggests that it is difficult to form detailed user representations of distant target groups and thus to acquire critical need knowledge. User involvement encompasses approaches designed to increase customer centricity and therefore helps with obtaining a better understanding of customer needs. This paper attempts to (i) explore experimentally the cognitive distance between individual developers and the target group and its role in successful ideation, and (ii) test how cognitive distance effects are moderated by the application of user‐involvement measures. The results show that cognitive distance, in particular social distance, has adverse effects; user‐involvement activities affect ideation quality positively when developers are socially close to the target group. Our findings reveal conditions for the applicability of CLT in innovation management. Implications for management practice include team composition and the application of user involvement when targeting distant target groups.