Showing papers in "Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in 2018"

Ambidextrous leadership, ambidextrous employee, and the interaction between ambidextrous leadership and employee innovative performance

Abstract: Leader opening and closing behaviors are assumed to foster high levels of employee exploration and exploitation behaviors, hence motivating employee innovative performance. Applying the ambidexterity theory of leadership for innovation, results revealed that leader opening and closing behaviors positively predicted employee exploration and exploitation behaviors, respectively, above and beyond the control variables. Moreover, results showed that employee innovative performance was significantly predicted by leader opening behavior, leader closing behavior, and the interaction between leaders’ opening and closing behaviors, above and beyond control variables.

Modeling the impact of entrepreneurial attitude on self-employment intention among engineering students in Ethiopia

Abstract: Entrepreneurship is a worldwide phenomenon with economic growth across the globe that is rendered by the emergence of new and innovative business start-ups. Thus, the main objective of this research was to model the impact of entrepreneurial attitudes on self-employment intention among final year engineering students in Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Debre Markos University and University of Gondar, Ethiopia, in 2017. To achieve the objective of the study, a survey research approach was employed. Questionnaire and interview were the instruments used, and stratified sampling technique was adopted to select 921 respondents from a population of 4327 final year undergraduate engineering students in 2016/2017 academic session. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, chi-square test, principal component factor analysis, and binary logistic regression analysis were employed. The descriptive result revealed that about 57.4% of the students had an intention to be self-employed while 42.6% do not have an intention. The principal component factor analysis was used to reduce the set of variables by grouping variables with similar characteristics together and generates new variables (factors). These methods help the researchers to transform the number of correlated variables into a smaller number of uncorrelated variables. The logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the effect of the predictor variables on self-employment intention status of students. The results showed that entrepreneurial education/training and entrepreneurial attitudes significantly predicts students’ self-employment intention. Accordingly, information and opportunity seeking, creativity and problem solving skills, achievement and instrumental readiness, self-confidence and self-esteem, goal setting, entrepreneurship education/training, business-owned family background, prior business experience with family, access to finance/capitals for startup, and networking and professional contacts were found to be significant predictors at 5% level of significance. These factors had positive relationship with self-employment intention at 5% level of significance. In the meanwhile, demographic factors (such as age, gender, and marital status) and socio-economic factors (such as parents’ occupation, colleagues’ business background, means of finance, discouragement by external environment, and clear future business idea) are not significant predictors at 5% level of significance. The study recommends that the government as well as the universities should design programs that facilitate entrepreneurship to change the mindset, attitude, and intention of those students who do not have knowhow about entrepreneurship as a future career.

A role for the state in the digital age

Abstract: Past and potential contributions of the state to innovation and the creation of the digital economy need to be understood now, more than ever. The state is under attack, and its role in innovation and technological transformation is being increasingly challenged and dismantled in many countries. This article takes an alternative view of state role in the digital age, one that is supported by historical evidence. The article examines the increasing demand for an entrepreneurial state and draws on lessons from pioneering countries. It shows the variety of roles and strategies that the state can play in creating the digital economy. These roles include nurturing a national digital transformation ecosystem and building an innovative and inclusive digital economy. These roles call for new state capabilities to fit with the demands of the digital age. This is a call for strategic learning and partnership, not for dirigisme and protectionism. The paper proposes an agenda for learning to master digital transformation and suggests that the appropriate role of the state must evolve in sync with a learning economy and society.

A maturity model for software startup ecosystems

Abstract: Resulting from the digital revolution of the last decades, multiple startup hubs flourished across the globe in the past 10 years. Healthy environments for the development of innovative, nascent digital enterprises require a well-balanced variety of agents and supporting processes, which we collectively call a software startup ecosystem. These ecosystems are fundamental for the insertion of countries in the digital economy of the twenty-first century. However, having all the elements that compose such environments in the most advanced and prolific state is difficult and relatively rare. In this paper, we show that startup ecosystems can evolve over time passing through a sequence of maturity level stages. For that, we introduce a maturity model for software startup ecosystems based on systematic qualitative research around a multiple case study we conducted across three ecosystems. The study was carried out over 4 years and included an extensive array of data collection mechanisms such as literature reviews, expert interviews, and observations in three relevant ecosystems (Tel-Aviv, Sao Paulo, and New York); all collected data were analyzed with techniques based on Grounded Theory, resulting in a conceptual framework of software startup ecosystems. Finally, we developed a maturity model for startup ecosystems, which helps us understand their evolution and dynamics. Moreover, it can serve as a basis for stakeholders in less mature ecosystems to analyze their environment, identify weak spots, and propose policies and practical actions for improving their ecosystems over time.

Agricultural sector foreign direct investment and economic growth in Ghana

Abstract: The study seeks to establish the relationship between foreign direct investment to Ghana’s agriculture sector and economic growth with secondary data mainly sourced from the World Development Indicator. The techniques employed to analyse the data include descriptive statistic, unit root test, Granger causality test and error correction model (ECM). The study accepted a neutrality hypothesis between foreign direct investment to the Ghanaian agricultural sector and its covariates; trade openness, capital and government expenditure. The study also revealed positive and significant relationship between economic growth and foreign direct invest flow to the agricultural sector and volume of trade respectively. However, government expenditure exhibit negative but significant relationship with economic growth. The study contributes to economic development literature from an important but neglected research context with regards to agricultural development via foreign direct investment to support job creation and overall economic development with particular reference to Ghana. Thus, the study recommends that policy should focus on flexible trade policies to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Ghana’s agricultural sector to accelerate growth across board.

Enterprise innovation in developing countries: An evidence from Ethiopia

Abstract: Enterprise innovation has gained the interest of development policymakers and scholars as the bases for the industrial development. This study comprehensively analyzes the drivers of enterprise innovation in developing countries. The study uses survey data to analyze the determinants of enterprise innovation in Ethiopia using a multivariate probit (MVP) model. For this study, enterprises were grouped into four categories: all-sized, large-sized, medium-sized, and micro- and small-sized enterprises. It appears that engagement in R & D, on-the-job training, and website ownership significantly determine enterprise innovation. This study, unlike previous studies, comprehensively analyzes drivers of innovation by considering enterprises in different sizes and all at the same time. This helps identify factors most relevant for enterprise innovation at all stage which help policymakers get focused on strategy development. Based on the findings, further emphasis on engagement in R & D would help enterprises to become innovative for all categories of enterprises. Furthermore, strengthening the available formal training and diversifying type of the training that is related to skills, knowledge, and techniques that help achieve the long-term objective of the enterprises are worth considering. Enterprises also need to subscribe to different sites that help learn more and access information.

Effects of international marketing environments on entrepreneurship development

Abstract: Entrepreneurs all over the world seek ways of introducing their products to international markets; unfortunately, the international marketing environment poses a lot of opportunities and threats to foreign entrants. The cultural, political, and technological environments act as determinant factors in entrepreneurial success in global markets. This study aims to unravel the effects of these international marketing environments on entrepreneurial developments. The study being descriptive and historical relied heavily on secondary sources of information. Analysis revealed that the PESTEL and other human factors have significant impacts on business transactions. Furthermore, the political systems and governmental regulations on business dealings have a lot to do with entrepreneurial success in the international arenas. The study recommends the establishment of a supportive governmental framework to serve as a platform for the willing entrepreneurs to succeed in the international markets.

Empirical study on innovation motivators and inhibitors of Internet of Things applications for industrial manufacturing enterprises

Abstract: Industrial manufacturing enterprises in export-oriented economies rely on product or service innovation to maintain their competitive advantage. Decreasing costs of computing power, connectivity and electronic components have facilitated a wide range of innovations based on Internet of Things (IoT) applications. However, only few successful IoT applications specific to industrial manufacturing enterprises are known. Although academics have been investigating challenges related to realising IoT, existing literature does not explain this situation integrally. Therefore, interest and engagement in and motivators and inhibitors of IoT application development and deployment are investigated based on a literature review and empirically based on a survey with N=109 participants from enterprises in the Swiss metal, electrical and machine industries. Most enterprises are interested and are often engaged in IoT application development. Improving service and aftersales activities through IoT applications is a common motivator. Inhibitors from four domains hinder the development of IoT applications: business, organisational, technological and industrial. Business and organisational inhibitors are perceived to be more challenging than the technological and industrial ones. The business and organisational issues presented herein have essential impacts on the success of innovation in IoT applications. The results indicate future research directions for the innovation and development of IoT applications, and they can be used by organisations interested in IoT-based innovations to refine policy and decision-making.

Multiple peer effects in the diffusion of innovations on social networks: a simulation study

Abstract: Peer effects in innovation adoption decisions have been extensively studied. However, the underlying mechanisms of peer effects are generally not explicitly accounted for. Gaps in this knowledge could lead to misestimation of peer effects and inefficient interventions. This study examined the role of two mechanisms—sharing experiences (namely, experience effect) and externalities—in the adoption of an agricultural innovation. By referring to the diffusion process of a new crop in Chinese villages, we developed a simulation model that incorporated experience effect and externality effect on a multiplex network. The model allowed us to estimate the influence of each specific effect and to investigate the interplay of the positive and negative directions of the effects. The main results of simulation experiments were the following: (1) a negative externality effect in the system caused the diffusion of innovation to vary around a middle-level rate, which resulted in a fluctuating diffusion curve rather than a commonly found S-shaped one; (2) in the case of full diffusion, experience effect significantly shaped the diffusion process at the early stage, while externality effect mattered more at the late stage; and (3) network properties (i.e. connectivity, transitivity, and network distance) imposed indirect influence on diffusion through specific peer effects. Overall, our study illustrated the need to understand specific causal mechanisms when studying peer effects. Simulation methods such as agent-based modelling provide an effective approach to facilitate such understanding.

Labour productivity among small-and medium-scale enterprises in Uganda: the role of innovation

Abstract: Using the 2013 World Bank Enterprise Survey data for Uganda, this paper employs the quintile estimation technique to explain the relationship between labour productivity and innovation among SMEs. Innovation involves the introduction of a new or significantly improved production process, product, marketing technique or organisational structure. Our results indicate that the relationship between labour productivity and a firm engaging in any form of innovation is neutral. However, there is evidence of complementarity among product, process, marketing and organisational innovation. Specifically, there is a positive association between labour productivity and innovation when a firm engages in all the four innovation types. Even then, the complementarity effect turns out weakly positive with incidences of negative relationship when using any combination of innovations that are less than the four types of innovations. Our results suggest that efforts to incentivise innovation should be inclusive enough to induce all the four forms of innovation.

Emerging health technology firms’ strategies and their impact on economic and healthcare system actors: a qualitative study

Abstract: A growing number of announcements on new and innovative medical devices are reported each year by economic actors. However, very few new technologies are successfully acquired and adopted by healthcare actors. To examine how economic and healthcare system actors perceive entrepreneurs’ strategies employed to respond to and address healthcare system actors’ pressures following firm’s emergence, we gathered data with 20 healthcare system and economic actors using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. We have determined that the acquisition and diffusion of health technologies are increasingly regulated and must respond to increasing pressures from many actors who see their agency power decline. We have found that political strategies address the pressures from institutionalization of practices and decoupling of the health system and its goals, associative strategies react to the power of key influencers such as investors and medical specialists, and mistrust of marketing actions, normative strategies respond to pressures stemming from the growing need for evidence-based data; finally, identity strategies answer to the fragmentation of a public health system and the heterogeneity of local procurement processes are approached. The results may help medical professionals, decision-makers, and evaluators to understand medical device acquisition and diffusion process better.

Developing stereotypes to facilitate dialogue between social entrepreneurs and local government

Abstract: Social enterprises and government share the ultimate goal of solving societal problems, which provides a lot of potential for collaboration between the two parties. While the local government level is the most relevant for social enterprises, little research has been done on the relationship between social entrepreneurs and local government officials. However, in the Netherlands, social enterprises experience these relations as far from optimal, evidenced by the fact that they named ‘regulations and government policy’ as the most important obstacle for increasing their impact in a 2015 sector survey. Therefore, a pilot project was started with social entrepreneurs in an Amsterdam neighbourhood, forming a learning network aiming to improve relations with local government. In the network, an innovative tool was developed in the form of a set of five illustrated stereotypes of social entrepreneurs with certain views towards local government. These stereotypes serve both as a reflection tool for social entrepreneurs and as a communication tool to open dialogue between social entrepreneurs and local government. We conclude that in an applied research project, it is crucial to place focus on the final phases in which results are reformulated into practical tools to match target groups, and resulting tools are distributed through targeted events and publications.

Response to the global financial crisis: a follow-up study

Abstract: Firm response to decline has seen renewed interest based on the impacts of the global financial crisis. Here, we investigate the long-lasting effects of decline on the innovativeness of firms and, ultimately, the performance outcomes of those actions. The study focuses on SMEs in the US forest products manufacturing sector. We analyze the situation within 89 firms with respect to innovativeness in the years 2008, 2012, and 2015. Theory suggests that firms increasing innovativeness in response to the crisis would subsequently decrease innovativeness as US markets improved. With respect to product innovativeness, we find convincing evidence that firms increasing innovativeness subsequently decreased innovativeness. With respect to process and business systems innovativeness, the evidence is weaker, but indicative of a decrease in innovativeness between 2012 and 2015. Expected reduction in innovation efforts and increased focus on producing commodity products is not evident from our responding firms. Based on these findings, it is recommended that firms carefully consider their innovation investments/activities across the business cycle as a more consistent approach may be more productive.

Expeditionary energy economics (e3): the securitization of energy entrepreneurship during megacity counterinsurgencies (a NATO perspective)

Abstract: The rapid urbanization around the world has generated a tremendous interest in the study of megacity insurgencies. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new field of study—of expeditionary energy economics (e3)—that addresses energy management in the military expeditionary environment (EMMEE), particularly through the promotion of (global/local) entrepreneurship. This study argues that successful megacity counterinsurgency (COIN) campaigns of the twenty-first century will depend on fast solutions to critical energy infrastructure (CEI) vulnerabilities within individual communities. The implementation of e3 requires that COIN practitioners have a basic understanding of community-based entrepreneurship (CBE), high-risk/high-impact innovation (HRH2I), and the CEI that these individual communities rely upon. Empirical evidence is also discussed to support a proposed e3 definition.

Entrepreneurship among parents

Abstract: The present study investigates the relationship between the number of children in the household and mothers and fathers’ propensity to become and remain owners of limited liability businesses. We started by identifying all full-time employed taxpayers in Norway in 2004 between 25 and 50 years of age. In this study, we look at the relationship between the number of children in the household and the propensity of these non-entrepreneurs to become and remain business owners from 2005 to 2016. For both sexes, the results show a positive and linear relationship between the number of children at home and business ownership and a U-shaped relationship between the size of the household brood and exit from business ownership.