Survey of the literature on innovation and economic performance

Despite very strong differences in their treatment of technological change in economic theory, both the neoclassical and the more Schumpetarian (and evolutionary) economic approaches often assume that market selection rewards the most innovative firms. However, despite such strong assumptions, empirical evidence on whether innovative firms perform better than non-innovative firms remains inconclusive. If innovators do not grow more, does this imply that market selection fails? And does the different impact of innovation on industrial performance (measured by firm growth and profitability) and financial performance (measured by market value and stock returns) signal differences in how industrial and financial markets react to firm level efforts around innovation? This discussion paper reviews the literature on the interaction between innovation and economic/financial performance, and outlines the way that work within FINNOV Work Package 2 (SELECTION), Co-Evolution of Industry Dynamics and Financial Dynamics, will contribute to better understanding this interaction

Women-owned small and medium enterprises in England: analysis of factors influencing the growth process

Practical implications – This research has implications for government or other business development agencies seeking to understand the growth patterns and problems of women-owned enterprises in the East of England. Originality/value – There are few British studies that have focussed on growth oriented women-owned businesses. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by attempting to understand the nature and activities of such business, by analysing the main growth factors and their influence on different growth strategies.Purpose – This study attempts to understand the nature and activities of growth-oriented women-owned businesses in the East of England by highlighting the problems faced by women entrepreneurs during the growth process. Design/methodology/approach – The approach analysed the main growth factors and their influence on the adoption of different growth strategies. An online questionnaire was designed using Snap survey software™, with results exported to SPSS™ for analysis. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected via a variety of scaled, open-ended, rank order, dichotomous, multiple choice and open questions. Findings – The research indicates that most do not opt to develop growth-oriented businesses, choosing instead small, non-scalable, locally focused businesses providing services or operating in low-tech industries. Women who are growth-oriented appear to be inhibited due to a lack of access to, and control over such resources as, capital, business premises, information and technology, production inputs, appropriate childcare, qualifications, experience, training facilities and appropriate assistance from business development agencies. Non-effective accumulation and use of social capital hinders access to appropriate decision-making circles, and limits the probability of accessing critical management and financing resources, especially through the venture capital industry

Leadership and resilience at the Islamic University of Gaza, 1978-2012

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017Leadership in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in turbulent times has been undertheorised. A qualitative case study based on document analysis of 70 documents, 39 interviews and 2 focus groups was the vehicle for examining the role of the leadership at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG). IUG has operated under complex conditions of occupation and ongoing turbulence from its inception in 1978 to the present. This study examines the period 1978-2012. In this time the university grew from 25 men studying Sharia in a tent to 20,000 students (63.7% female) studying across 11 faculties and 112 different specialisations. The study documents and labels four phases of development of the university. The patterns of leadership uncovered in the study include transformational, transactional, heroic, post-heroic and on some specific occasions authoritarian styles, with transformational being the most important. The way in which the leadership resolved short term crises, as well as their long-term and big-picture focus, shaped the development of the university. Resilience theory was applied alongside leadership theory to analyse the responses of IUG leadership. Resilience was taken beyond surviving to capitalising on disruption. Twenty three markers of resilience were found which worked independently and interactively to support resilient responses to the challenges IUG faced. These factors were initially developed from the literature, and new factors were added based on this research. The relationship between leadership styles and the promotion of resilience was examined. The thesis describes a mutual shaping and supporting role between university and society in Gaza, and discusses some of the paradoxes of help and harm coming from players and belief systems external to the university. The paradox of faith which can provide a cohesive, binding set of beliefs to support staff and students, as well as being the source of conflict and harm, is also discussed. A definition of a university as an educational community functioning beyond place, buildings, external recognition, or physical destruction was developed.GR201

What is the driving force behind the Israeli tech industry?

Israel became known in the most recent years as the “start-up nation”. This dissertation aimed to find out what was Israel’s driving force behind her success in the tech industry. To do so, two main topics were covered: (1) What is the nature of Israeli innovation? and (2) what is the employee’s role in that ecosystem? The first topic was covered by an extensive multidisciplinary review of the most up-to-date research available (historical, sociodemographic, financial and political). As for the second topic, a behavioural questionnaire was handed over to an Israeli Fintech company and a sample of 200 participants was surveyed. The research of existing literature finds a strong connection between the compulsory military service, lack of natural resources, immigration, infrastructure and political policies to the innovative character of the country (demonstrated by the successful, technology rich tech sector). The behavioural research carried out in the Fintech company showed moderate results for innovation and relatively higher results for creativity, which highlighted that there is not a significant positive link between a company’s success (and the tech industry at large) and the innovative character of its employees. Israel is a complicated phenomenon of a country, and her successful tech industry is one of the best, globally. This research proves what is accepted to be the main driver for success - the compulsory military service, as a result of the perception of permanent threat to Israel’s security, and employees were not found to contribute innovatively to it.Israel ficou conhecido nos anos mais recentes como a “nação inicial”. Este artigo teve como objetivo descobrir qual foi a força motriz de Israel por trás de seu sucesso na indústria de tecnologia. Para fazer isso, dois tópicos principais foram cobertos: (1) Qual é a natureza da inovação israelense? e (2) qual é o papel do funcionário nesse ecossistema? primeiro tópico foi coberto por uma extensa revisão multidisciplinar das pesquisas mais atualizadas disponíveis (histórica, sociodemográfica, financeira e política). Quanto ao segundo tópico, um questionário comportamental foi entregue a uma empresa Fintech israelense e uma amostra de 200 participantes foi entrevistada. A pesquisa da literatura existente encontra uma forte conexão entre o obrigatório serviço militar, falta de recursos naturais, imigração, infraestrutura e políticas políticas para caráter inovador do país (demonstrado pela tecnologia bem-sucedida e rica em tecnologia setor). A pesquisa comportamental realizada na empresa Fintech apresentou resultados moderados para a inovação e resultados relativamente superiores para a criatividade, o que destacou que não há um ligação positiva significativa entre o sucesso de uma empresa (e a indústria de tecnologia em geral) e o caráter inovador de seus colaboradores. Israel é um fenômeno complicado de país, e sua indústria de tecnologia de sucesso é uma das melhor, globalmente. Esta pesquisa prova o que é aceito como o principal impulsionador do sucesso - o serviço militar obrigatório, como resultado da percepção de ameaça permanente à segurança de Israel, e os funcionários não contribuíram de forma inovadora para isso

Internet-induced marketing techniques: Critical factors in viral marketing campaigns

The rapid diffusion of the Internet and the emergence of various social constructs facilitated by Internet technologies are changing the drivers that define how marketing techniques are developed and refined. This paper identifies critical factors for viral marketing, an Internet-based ‘word-of-mouth’ marketing technique. Based on existing knowledge, five types of viral marketing factors that may critically influence the success of viral marketing campaigns are identified. These factors are the overall structure of the campaign, the characteristics of the product or service, the content of the message, the characteristics of the diffusion and, the peer-to-peer information conduit. The paper discusses three examples of viral marketing campaigns and identifies the specific factors in each case that influence its success. The paper concludes with a viral marketing typology differentiating between viral marketing communications, unintended viral marketing and commercial viral marketing. This is still a rapidly evolving area and further research is clearly needed to monitor new developments and make sense of the radical changes these developments bring to the market

Firm Performance, Worker Commitment and Loyalty

Using matched employer-employee level data drawn from the UK Workplace and Employee Relations Survey, we explore the influence of worker commitment and loyalty on firm level labour productivity and financial performance. Our empirical findings suggest that worker commitment and loyalty enhance both labour productivity and financial performance at the firm level thereby highlighting a hitherto neglected conduit for improved firm performance. Using employee level data, we also explore the determinants of worker commitment and loyalty in order to ascertain how such attachments to the firm may be engendered. In general, our employee level analysis suggests that it is firm level characteristics (such as appraisal schemes, supervision, suspensions and redundancies) that influence attachments to the firm. Such findings suggest that firms may be able to exert some influence over the loyalty and commitment of its workforce, which, in turn, may affect firm performance

Management practices in Australian healthcare: can NSW public hospitals do better?

© 2016, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of best management practices in an Australian state-run healthcare system, namely New South Wales (NSW), and studies the impact of a range of hospital factors in driving best management practices as a means of enhancing healthcare delivery. Design/methodology/approach – This study adapts a unique survey instrument globally tested to quantify the multi-dimensional nature of hospital management practices in 42 acute care public hospitals of NSW. The authors then analysed the role of hospital-specific characteristics in driving best management practices, namely hospital size (measured by the number of hospital beds, employees and doctors), level of skill and education, degree of hospital manager autonomy and organisational hierarchy. Findings – The findings of this study show the areas of strength and potential areas of improvement in NSW hospitals. The authors find a positive association between the adoption of better management practices and hospital size (measured by the number of hospital beds and employees), level of skills and education, degree of hospital manager autonomy and organisational hierarchy. However, hospital size as measured by the number of doctors did not have a statistically significant relationship. Practical implications – This paper is of interest to both hospital administrators, clinical doctors and healthcare policy-makers who want to improve and develop strategies for better management in the healthcare sector. Originality/value – This study provides an internationally comparable robust measure of management capability in public hospitals, and contributes to the evidence-base of management practices and performance in hospitals