Intra-Firm Learning from Innovative Activity: The Role of Managers, Work Context and Situated Organizational Attention

The role of innovation in the economy development is extremely significant. Within the framework of this work, the innovative activity of enterprises and its relation to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is of particular interest. This study is aimed at modeling the project management of corporate innovation activity on the basis of CSR. The results obtained by the author for the Russian economy suggest that there is a positive relationship between the level of innovative development and CSR, both in general and in terms of investments in the transformation of human capital. In this regard, the model of project management of corporate innovation activity based on CSR is proposed. Author suggests, that this model's implementation for companies is promising, since transition to such a model should be resulted in an increase in the innovation activity of companies, regions and the whole country, as well as an increase in the economic, social and organizational effectiveness of innovative activity.

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The effect of industry association on firm innovation in Chinese private ventures

Management Decision ◽

10.1108/md-05-2018-0538 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 57 (9) ◽

pp. 2414-2435

Author(s):

Wenge Zhang ◽

Jun Li ◽

Yiyuan Mai

Keyword(s):

Moderating Effects ◽

Firm Level ◽

Firm Innovation ◽

Data Set ◽

Industry Association ◽

Content Type ◽

Emerging Industries ◽

Practical Implications ◽

Firm Learning

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between industry association membership and firm innovation in Chinese private ventures. A secondary objective is to investigate potential moderating effects of firm learning practices and founder characteristics on the above relationship, and to draw out implications for policymakers and practitioners. Design/methodology/approach The paper utilizes data from a sample of 567 Chinese entrepreneurial firms operating in 9 designated emerging industries. Hierarchical regression models were employed to analyze the effect of industry association membership on firm innovation, and the potential moderating effects. A 2SLS procedure was adopted to control for potential endogeneity issue. Supplemental analyses were conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings. Findings The paper provides empirical insights about how industry association membership, along with firm learning practice and founder leadership, affect firm innovation in Chinese private ventures in emerging industries. It suggests that industry association membership positively affects firm innovation. Further, there is a three-way interaction effect of industry association membership, learning practice and founder power on innovation. Research limitations/implications Due to the design of the data set, there are some limitations. First, the study only considered whether a firm belongs to an industry association, but not the nature of such membership (length, firm status in the association, etc.). Second, the cross-sectional design may limit the power of the study to make casual implications about the tested relationships. Practical implications The paper provides important practical implications for policymakers and entrepreneurs in China. In general, the results suggest that private ventures pursuing innovation in emerging industries can benefit from industry associations, and entrepreneurs shall actively engage in firm-level and personal-level learning. For policymakers, the study suggests that to foster innovation in an emerging industry, special attention shall be paid to building necessary institutional support to develop and to strengthen the role of industry association in the industry. Originality/value This paper fulfills an important gap in the literature in that it is one of the first, which investigates the role of the industry association in firm innovation, especially in a non-western context. This paper provides new insights into the role of industry association and firm innovation in an under-researched developing economy context.

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Representations of Practice- Distributed Sensemaking Using Boundary Objects

10.28945/3734 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Inge Hermanrud ◽

Dorthe Eide

Keyword(s):

Online Learning ◽

Boundary Objects ◽

Learning Activities ◽

Future Research ◽

Observation Data ◽

Work Context ◽

Ideal Types ◽

Geographically Distributed ◽

Representations Of Practice

[This Proceedings paper was revised and published in the journal Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology] Aim/Purpose: This article examines how learning activities draw on resources in the work context to learn. Background: The background is that if knowledge no longer is seen mainly as objects, but processes, how then to understand boundary objects? Our field study of learning activities reveals the use of pictures, documents and emotions for learning in the geographically distributed Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority Methodology: The study is a qualitative study consisting of interview data, observation data, and documents. Contribution Contribute to practice based theorizing. Findings: Three ideal types of representing practices have been identified, i.e., ‘Visualizing’, ‘Documenting’ and ‘Testing’. All three are combined with storytelling, sensing, reflections and sensemaking, which point at the importance of processes in learning. The article also add insights about how emotions can be an important resource for boundary spanning – and sensemaking – by creating the capability of reflecting upon and integrating different knowledge areas in the in- practice context. Recommendations for Practitioners : Look for boundary objects within your field to promote online learning. Recommendation for Researchers: Study boundary objects in work context to understand learning. Impact on Society Role of objects in human learning. Future Research: Focus on how emotions can be used for online learning.

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Work context and turnover intention in social enterprises: the mediating role of meaning of work

Journal of Managerial Psychology ◽

10.1108/jmp-11-2017-0412 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 46-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jonghun Sun ◽

Jeong Won Lee ◽

Young Woo Sohn

Keyword(s):

Turnover Intention ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Shared Vision ◽

Social Enterprises ◽

Full Time ◽

Meaning Of Work ◽

Work Context ◽

Content Type ◽

Social Mission

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the role of meaning of work as a linking mechanism between the perception of work context and turnover intention within the rarely studied context of social enterprises.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on meaning of work theories, an integrated research model was developed. Data were collected using questionnaires from 315 full-time employees at 114 social enterprises in Korea. Mediated and moderated structural equation models were used to assess the hypotheses.FindingsSocial mission was fully mediated by meaning of work to predict low turnover intention, and shared vision was partially mediated to predict the same. The authors also found that the positive relationship between social mission and meaning of work was stronger when shared vision was higher.Originality/valueThis study extends previous literature on managerial psychology (i.e. meaning of work and turnover) in the context of a new but increasingly prevalent organizational form, social enterprises. It also provides practical advice for managers seeking to retain employees and encourage the sustainability of the social enterprise sector.

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The role of performance feedback consistency in aspiration level adaptation: Evidence from a European grocery retailer

Journal of General Management ◽

10.1177/0306307019849764 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 18-29

Author(s):

Burak Cem Konduk

Keyword(s):

Performance Feedback ◽

High Performance ◽

Past Research ◽

Aspiration Level ◽

Performance Targets ◽

Aspiration Levels ◽

Organizational Attention ◽

And Performance ◽

The Impact

This study investigates whether and how the impact of drivers of aspiration levels changes across the cases of consistent and inconsistent performance feedback within the context of a retailer. Analysis of internal corporate data shows that while past aspiration level and performance–aspiration gap positively influence the current aspiration level in the case of inconsistent feedback, performance feedback consistency changes only the impact of performance relative to peers. This study replicates past research in a different industry and country due to limited empirical evidence, introduces real-world complexity into aspiration theory, pinpoints performance–aspiration gap as the primary performance feedback, introduces a new sign for the impact of performance relative to peers, and reconciles its previously detected mixed impact. The findings suggest that organizational attention has an inward focus in the case of inconsistent feedback. The results also point out that leaders can trigger change through a performance outcome that lags behind the corresponding aspiration level rather than the performance of peers and eventually move their organizations toward high performance targets by starting with feasible rather than stretch goals.

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