Search

We study how the human capital embedded in teams is affected by, and reallocated through, corporate bankruptcies. After a bankruptcy, U.S. inventors produce fewer and less impactful patents. Moreover, teams become less stable. Consequently, compared to inventors that rely less on teamwork, the performance of team inventors deteriorates more. These findings point to the loss of team-specific human capital as a cost of resource reallocation through bankruptcy. Acquisitions by industrial firms and joint mobility of inventors with past collaborations limit these losses, suggesting that the labor market and the market for corporate control help preserve team-specific human capital in bankruptcies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Chinese listed companies from 2010 to 2022, this study empirically examines the impact of digital technology innovation on corporate ESG performance. The results show that digital technology innovation significantly enhances corporate ESG performance, positively impacting E, S, and G aspects. The mechanism analysis indicates that digital technology innovation further improves enterprises’ ESG performance by fostering green innovation, and enhancing the corporate governance structure. Moreover, the heterogeneity analysis reveals that digital technology innovation can better promote the improvement of ESG performance in larger enterprises, non-state-owned enterprises, industries with heavy pollution, non-high-tech industries, enterprises in the eastern and central regions, and regions with better business environments. This study enriches and expands the scope of research on the effects of the digital economy at the micro level, and provides new research perspectives to help listed companies effectively fulfil their ESG responsibilities and achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolving landscape of higher education, identifying key drivers of organizational performance is crucial. This study investigates the impact of intellectual capital on knowledge management and innovation and how these factors collectively enhance organizational performance. Conducted among top leaders at 21 state universities in Indonesia, this quantitative research used structured questionnaires validated by prior studies. The high response rate strengthens the reliability of findings analyzed using SPSS for descriptive statistics and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS 3.0 for hypothesis testing. The results indicate intellectual capital significantly influences knowledge management and innovation, which in turn positively affect organizational performance. Intellectual capital enhances both knowledge management and organizational performance, while effective knowledge management fosters innovation, further contributing to improved performance. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive integration of intellectual capital, knowledge management, and innovation within the context of higher education, providing empirical evidence of their interconnectedness and collective impact on organizational performance, which has been largely unexplored in previous studies. This study's practical implications encourage strategic investments in intellectual capital and knowledge management, ultimately contributing to improved organizational performance and providing valuable insights for policy and decision-making in the higher education sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of European Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) on regional innovation. KETs are a group of six technologies that share features with General-Purpose Technologies and are anticipated to contribute to innovation, Europe’s industrial competitiveness, and tackling grand societal challenges. As previous studies show innovation-driving effects of KETs, we are interested in the role of KETs in the regional technological space and its effect on innovation within a region. We analyse data from 141 German Labor Market Regions (LMRs) over a 15-year period and find varying and even negative impacts of individual KETs on regional knowledge creation. These findings emphasize KETs’ heterogeneity and the need for tailored regional policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research & Innovation (R&I) policy initiatives employed by the European Union (EU) across its regional economies are important instruments to ensure the scientific and technological progress along with the associated benefits. One relevant aspect in this regard is to encourage and enable collaboration between regional partners to enhance potential learning opportunities and to ensure cohesive long-term development patterns. Furthermore, frequently these initiatives are also targeted at specific technology sectors, such as the EU R&I policy actions towards nanotechnology. Based on an advance theoretical framework and data from the official EU project databases as well as regionalized European Patent Office data, the present study develops a methodological tool through which it is possible to identify effective collaboration settings, while providing policymakers and evaluators with a practical tool that will enable them to predict the possible outcomes of such critical EU-funded R&I projects from the onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firms in younger labor markets produce more innovation. We establish this by instrumenting the current labor force with historical births in each local labor market in the United States. Analyses of firms and inventors allow us to rule out unobservable heterogeneity across local labor markets and firms, life cycles, and other effects. Corporate innovation in younger labor markets reflects the innovative characteristics of younger labor forces, and its market value is higher. Younger workers as a group, not merely inventors by themselves, produce more innovation for firms through the labor force channel rather than through a financing or consumption channel. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the determinants of knowledge flows, proxied by patent citations, within 31 Chinese administrative provinces. Relying on patent data from the US Patent and Trademark Office during the period 1995-2019, we are able to identify 27118 patent citation pairs (focusing only on USPTO patents with first inventors residing in China). In order to explain the number of citations from a Province to another, in addition to geographic and technological proximity, we use factor analysis in order to capture the effect of regional research structure. In particular, we measure the private versus public research intensity of each Chinese administrative province. Our econometric results show that, as expected, geographical and technological distance between Provinces are negatively correlated with patent citations. In addition, we find that Chinese administrative provinces that show bigger intensity with regard to public and to private research both receive more patent citations and cite more other patents in other Provinces. This effect is particularly significant when the two regions are specialized in private research, which indicates a strong effect of cognitive proximity. Finally, and at odds with prior research, we find that controlling for social proximity between Provinces does not impact the effect of geographical and technological proximity. These results, if confirmed by further studies, might have significant policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide new evidence that disruptions in firms' access to credit during the Global Financial Crisis significantly affected product innovation in the consumer goods sector. We combine highly granular retail scan data with lending data and find that credit-constrained firms introduced fewer new products, those products were less novel, and new products sold less well. Overall, these findings suggest that disruptions to credit markets impair firms' ability to compete for profits through new product offerings. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial zones in Algeria play a crucial role in shaping the attractiveness and competitiveness of the country’s regions. The impact of these zones extends beyond economic factors, influencing the overall appeal and competitive edge of different regions. Understanding the dynamics of industrial zones is essential for comprehending Algeria’s economic landscape and its efforts to enhance regional development. The primary objective of this article is to shed light on industrial zones and their impacts on regional industrial attractiveness and competitiveness in Algeria. Firstly, it involves clarifying the concept of regional attractiveness and competitiveness in relation to their economic, environmental, and social dimensions. This leads us, secondly, to examine non-institutional actors, specifically companies, and their interactions with their regions, based on an understanding of the local area, including the effect of industrial zones on the attractiveness and competitiveness of local companies.

While extensive research studies exist on the influence of AI solutions on organizations as a whole, there is a paucity of comprehensive studies examining the adoption of these solutions in product development and subsequent management processes. This article presents an exploratory investigation of the applications, challenges, and determinants of success associated with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions employed in the product development and management processes. To this end, a qualitative thematic analysis is conducted based on twelve in-depth interviews with experts proficient in AI engineering and product management, representing twelve distinct organizations within the Polish IT sector. This article offers insights into four potential applications and expounds on various factors impacting the challenges and success of deployed AI solutions, generating two additional emergent themes. This article delineates practical implications for organizations and product managers and proposes intriguing directions for future research exploring topical areas of study.

This paper intends to assess the drivers of knowledge creation in emerging countries. Specifically, the study empirically investigates the long-run impact of financial development, research and development (R&D) activities and the protection of intellectual property rights on knowledge production in China using the ARDL bounds testing approach during the 1979–2018 period. The study also assesses the impact of financial development on knowledge production via its interaction with financial regulations, trade openness and human capital. We measure knowledge capital stock and R&D capital stock using the perpetual inventory flow method assuming different rates of depreciation, while the financial development is measured by conducting the principal component analysis (PCA) of three key banking sector indicators including credit to the private sector to GDP ratio, the ratio of the liquid liabilities to GDP and the sum of commercial bank and central bank assets. Results show that financial development, R&D activities and patent protections are important determinants of knowledge creation in China. Further, estimates reveal that improvements to financial regulations, increased freedom to trade and the level of tertiary education moderate the effect of financial development on knowledge production. The results are robust to several control variables such as the macroeconomic environment of the economy, trade openness, foreign direct investment and knowledge accumulation in the rest of the world. The findings of the paper suggest that the steps taken to develop the financial sector and accelerate R&D activities may contribute to the accumulation of new ideas and stock of knowledge in emerging countries. Furthermore, the study emphasizes prudent financial regulations, trade freedom and improved access to tertiary education to enhance the effect of financial development on knowledge production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to analyse the effect of insurance development on sophistication measured by the economic complexity index. Empirical analyses are carried out on a sample of 36 African countries over the period 2003-2019. In order to limit potential endogeneity biases, we run the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments and the Lewbel estimator. Empirical results, robust to a set of sensitivity analyses, show that insurance development can foster economic complexity in Africa. Moreover, when distinguishing between life and non-life insurance, empirical results remain globally unchanged, with a greater effect of non-life insurance as compared to that of life insurance. Furthermore, the mediation analysis enabled us to identify innovations and investments as some transmission channels through which insurance development may affect economic complexity in Africa. Thus, African leaders would do well to improve the regulation of the insurance business to enable it to participate effectively in financing the economy and managing risks, thereby stimulating economic complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While intellectual property (IP) management is critical for innovation, specific knowledge and innovation patterns within it can obstruct commercialisation. This study explores how these patterns impede the path to market success for emerging innovations. We introduce a novel method to detect and recognise these patterns, offering insights into factors contributing to innovation system failure. Applying the Triple Helix Model, we leverage text mining, network analysis, and structural equation modelling within the Russian pharmaceutical industry. Our research reveals limitations in the triple helix model’s ability to capture problematic innovation patterns. Notably, local-closed and local semi-closed innovation networks emerge as significant barriers to commercialisation, further exacerbated by foreign dominance. While strong actor synergy is crucial, it alone cannot guarantee competitive advantage. Factors like geographical distance, disciplinary silos, and limited external collaboration further hinder success. This study highlights the need for effective knowledge production and collaboration practices, alongside strong synergy, to achieve market-leading innovations. Recognising and addressing these patterns can inform policy decisions, ultimately fostering more robust innovation outcomes, advancing innovation system theory in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of failure in innovation projects affects organisational behaviour and the performance of firms. This study develops a theory of errors in innovation project-level failure. Error is a set of faults that generates deviations in phases of the R&D process in projects, decreasing the expected results. From a systemic perspective, innovation failure in a project is due to a set of errors that generates a negative outcome. The proposed theory clarifies the general determinants of innovation failure in projects that are due to errors in design, execution and market orientation. Case studies in the drug discovery industry and pharmaceuticals validate the consistency of the proposed theory, giving examples of errors in projects leading to innovation failures. The payoff matrix of success/failure occurrences predicts that the probability of failure in innovation projects can double by setting a difficult goal compared to an easy one. Inductive implications of the proposed theory are that organisations reduce innovation failure in projects with better adaptedness to changes that minimise errors and learn from them. The proposed theory can guide R&D managers, designers, etc. in detecting critical errors in the R&D process to apply strategies of problem solving based on a winning approach by learning from errors that lead to innovation failure in projects to enable the organisation to adapt, take advantage of important opportunities and cope with consequential environmental threats for achieving goals and sustaining the competitive advantage in turbulent markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New firms have been regarded as one of the key elements for local development. Existing studies focus on the direct impact of new firms via labour markets and job creation. However, the impact of new firms on regional innovation is less investigated. Our analyses are conducted for a developing country, Turkey. Findings of the study show that new firms are crucial for the regional differences in innovation. Results are robust to spatial dependence, an alternative firm formation measure, various regional controls and endogeneity issues. Additionally, impact of the new firms is spatially non-homogenous reminding the ineffectiveness of one-size-fits-all type policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) use networks to overcome knowledge deficiencies in pursuing innovation. However, balancing the cost and risk of growing networks, especially internationally, with potential gains in knowledge remains a critical challenge. Searching for innovation knowledge in international and domestic networks can be complementary when learning is compressed or as competing when the SMEs capacity to use the new knowledge is exceeded. This paper aims to investigate whether knowledge searches in domestic and international networks are complementary or conflicting in pursuit of innovation. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on firm-level data set comprising 426 SMEs located in New Zealand, an advanced small and open economy. Using multi-level modelling, this study tests competing hypotheses, asking whether domestic and international network searches are complements or substitutes when seeking ambidexterity. Findings: The research finds that, in contrast to earlier research, which shows increasing network breadth drives innovation activity, SMEs benefit less from knowledge search across combined domestic and international networks for exploration innovation and ambidexterity. In contrast, exploitation shows no effect, suggesting that combined networks could support exploitation. Originality/value: This paper highlights how SMEs mitigate the influence resource constraints have on the partnerships they form and how this translates to ambidexterity. Specifically, recognising that an opportunistic approach to network development may impose future constraints on SME ambidexterity. From a management perspective, the paper recognises that balancing knowledge search across domestic and international networks can facilitate ambidexterity; however, to prevent spreading resources too thinly, this likely requires exit from early domestic innovation network partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we examine how symbolic knowledge innovation—that is, the recombination of ideas on aesthetic value in new ways—emerges in the periphery. While symbolic knowledge innovation drives growth, its role in creating new paths in the periphery is largely under-investigated. New path creation has been largely envisaged through macro (e.g. policy) or meso (e.g. industrial R&D) aggregates, overlooking micro-level actors (e.g. individuals), and their agency in mobilizing heterogeneous resources vital for innovation. Viewed in this light, we investigate how the interaction of actors at different levels (macro, meso, and micro) shapes symbolic knowledge innovation in the periphery. We draw on the case of Bauhaus movement to investigate symbolic knowledge innovation in the peripheries of Weimar and Dessau. Our findings illustrate symbolic knowledge innovation at the Bauhaus in terms of three phases, namely, semiotic codes: Bauhaus idea generation and articulation; material basis: development of Bauhaus artefacts; and material basis: Bauhaus commercial success. We further unpack actors' agency and show how each phase of symbolic knowledge innovation emerges through bricolage. We contribute to the economic geography literature by showing the role of bricolage and actors' agency in symbolic knowledge innovation for new path creation in the periphery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to explore whether the nature of innovation is accumulative or radical and to what extent past year accumulation of technology stock can predict future innovation. More importantly, the authors are concerned with whether a change of policy regime or a variance in the quality of technology will moderate the nature of innovation. Design/methodology/approach: The authors examined a dataset of 3.6 million Chinese patents during 1985–2015 and constructed more than 5 million citation pairs across 8 sections and 128 classes to track knowledge spillover across technology fields. The authors used this citation dataset to calculate the technology innovation network. The authors constructed a measure of upstream invention, interacting the pre-existing technology innovation network with historical patent growth in each technology field, and estimated measure's impact on future innovation since 2005. The authors also constructed three sets of metrics – technology dependence, centrality and scientific value – to identify innovation quality and a policy dummy to consider the impact of policy on innovation. Findings: Innovation growth is built upon past year accumulation and technology spillover. Innovation grows faster for technologies that are more central and grows more slowly for more valuable technologies. A pro-innovation and pro-intellectual property right (IPR) policy plays a positive and significant role in driving technical progress. The authors also found that for technologies that have faster access to new information or larger power to control knowledge flow, the upstream and downstream innovation linkage is stronger. However, this linkage is weaker for technologies that are more novel or general. On most occasions, the nature of innovation was less responsive to policy shock. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the debate on the nature of innovation by determining whether upstream innovation has strong predictive power on future innovation. The authors develop the assumption used in the technology spillover literature by considering a time-variant, directional and asymmetric matrix to model technology diffusion. For the first time, the authors answer how the nature of innovation will vary depending on the technology network configurations and policy environment. In addition to contributing to the academic debate, the authors' study has important implications for economic growth and industrial or innovation management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of escalating global climate change and mounting environmental challenges, the interplay between green innovation—a pivotal engine of sustainable development—and climate vulnerability is crucial for grasping global climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. This study delves into the intricate relation between climate vulnerability and green innovation, utilizing panel data from 131 nations from 1995 to 2019. Our empirical analysis reveals that climate vulnerability significantly hinders green innovation. We further dissect the influence of various sub-sectoral dimensions of climate vulnerability, identifying that ecosystems, food, infrastructure, and water are vital contributors to green innovation. At the same time, habitat and health sectors are detrimental to it. Additionally, we examine the influence of economic and globalization heterogeneity, finding that climate vulnerability adversely impacts green innovation in non-OECD and low-to middle-income countries, with less pronounced effects in nations with higher economic sophistication. Notably, climate vulnerability poses a more significant barrier to green innovation in countries with lower globalization. Our research also indicates that corruption control and political stability can ameliorate the adverse consequences of climate vulnerability on green innovation. In contrast, income inequality and increased greenhouse gas emissions intensify these adverse impacts. This paper contributes to the literature by presenting novel cross-country evidence on the factors influencing green innovation, with a focus on the effect of climate vulnerability.

AbstractCorporate innovation plays a crucial role in maintaining competitiveness and enhancing firm value. However, despite being the world’s leading manufacturing nation, the role of managerial ownership in fostering innovation within the Chinese manufacturing industry has not received adequate attention. Therefore, this research investigates the influence of managerial ownership on corporate innovation using data on patent activities from Chinese listed manufacturing firms covering the period from 2008 to 2021. Drawing on agency theory, empirical evidence confirms a positive relationship between managerial ownership and corporate innovation. This result remains robust across various tests, including the use of alternative dependent variables, the application of two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to control for managerial ability, correction of selection bias using Heckman two-stage estimation, and the utilization of Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimators. Additionally, the study clarifies the input channel and efficiency channel through whic-h managerial ownership positively influences corporate innovation. This paper contributes to the literature on corporate innovation by offering evidence for the role of managerial ownership on the innovation output. It also offers valuable governance insights for policymakers in emerging economies who are exploring corporate governance mechanisms for innovation systems, aiming to facilitate a systemic shift toward an innovative manufacturing economy.

Despite the increasing adoption of digital technology, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) continue to lag behind larger firms. This study integrates the technology, organization, and environment (TOE) framework with Rogers’ diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory to investigate the factors influencing SMEs’ digital technology adoption. Data from 419 SMEs was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), followed by artificial neural network (ANN) analysis to rank the importance of the variables identified.The PLS-SEM results show that technological, organizational, and environmental factors directly impact adoption. The supported variables include adoption costs, top management support, human resources, digital culture, and trading partner pressure. Some factors indirectly impact adoption through top management support. This study also found that SMEs’ international orientation moderates the relationship between digital culture and adoption behavior. The ANN results identify that the most important predictors, ranked from the most to the least influential, are digital culture, international orientation, top management support, trading partner pressure, human resources, and adoption costs.This research contributes to the theoretical discourse on technology adoption by integrating the TOE framework with Rogers’ DOI theory. It highlights that no single TOE element functions in isolation. The findings provide practical guidance for SME managers, stressing the need to improve organizational factors, such as, human resources, digital culture, and top management support. Governments may use these findings to identify ways to support SMEs’ digital technology adoption, particularly by offering subsidies to reduce costs, which remain a barrier.

The existing literature on SME internationalization has inadequately integrated joint innovation capabilities, organizational unlearning, and the internationalization process. Previous studies have primarily examined these concepts separately, obscuring their interconnection and reciprocal impact. This study fills in a gap in the literature and responds to calls for more studies (e.g., Du, Zhu & Li, 2023; Genc, Dayan & Genc, 2019) by developing and testing a moderated mediation model to examine how joint innovation capabilities affect exploratory innovation through the mediating role of organizational unlearning. The research also examines the moderating effect of the degree of internationalization on this relationship. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 300 logistics and general managers from SMEs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), utilizing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the measurement models' validity and reliability, and to test the hypothesized relationships. The results demonstrate that organizational unlearning is a key mechanism linking collaborative innovation capabilities with exploratory innovation. Additionally, the degree of internationalization significantly moderates this relationship, with a stronger mediation effect when internationalization is low. These findings provide practical implications for SMEs and managers, especially in overseeing innovation and unlearning processes while accounting for the degree of internationalization in their growth strategies. Managers in SMEs must recognize the complexities introduced by internationalization, such as diverse cultural norms and regulatory frameworks, which can impede the process of unlearning. To address these challenges, SMEs should consider adopting region-specific innovation strategies or investing in cross-cultural training to effectively manage the integration of diverse knowledge sources.

In the dynamic world of construction projects, fostering innovation is paramount. This study investigates the transformative potential of shared leadership as a catalyst for team innovation. We examine knowledge-sharing density as a critical mediator through the lens of knowledge management. We adopted a mixed methods approach, collecting multi-wave and multi-source field data and using social network measures. The results demonstrate shared leadership acts as a direct driver of knowledge-sharing density, facilitating innovation in construction projects. Knowledge-sharing density emerges as a transformative force, mediating the impact of shared leadership on team innovation. This intricate relationship unveils hidden potential for innovation within construction teams. Results also show the influence of team open-mindedness norms, which moderate the direct link between knowledge-sharing density and team innovation and the indirect influence of shared leadership. This study pioneers an integrated approach to understanding leadership and knowledge management in the construction sector, with important insights for team leadership, knowledge-sharing, and project performance.

This paper aims to inform policy and research in the domain of tourism and hospitality on the role of innovation and entrepreneurship. The paper applies the review research methodology to collate, comprehend, and synthesise 139 papers selected through a standard procedure. Our findings show that innovation drives growth and value in new tourism and hospitality firms. The study examines external factors, particularly government policies, influencing industry stakeholders’ entrepreneurial orientation and the macroeconomic environment affecting entrepreneurial activities. It also highlights the importance of social entrepreneurship in industry innovation and sustainability. This article emphasises the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in tourism and hospitality growth, value creation, and social and environmental issues.

The undeniable mutual relationship between the environment and the individual begins with the onset of human life. This human–environment relationship imposes, on every generation, the task of leaving behind a clean and sustainable environment. This study aims to investigate the determinants of pro-environmental innovative behaviours in a generational context. The study's findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay of environmental awareness, creativity, risk-taking propensity, proactive coping and pro-environmental innovative behaviours of three generations (X, Y, Z). The results reveal substantial generational differences in the correlations between determinants such as environmental awareness, risk-taking, creativity and proactive coping. This implies that a tailored approach to encouraging innovative behaviours and environmental awareness may be required for each generation.

Measuring innovation has long posed a significant challenge and has been the subject of extensive scientific research. Various definitions and measures of innovation exist, and each measurement approach faces limitations. This research aims to conduct a systematic literature review to expose the tendencies in measuring various types of innovation, thereby revealing different approaches, challenges, and limitations. This paper systemises and groups indicators, highlighting similarities and differences in measuring various innovation types. The systematic literature review includes 172 papers from the WoS Core Collection and Scopus databases, presenting innovation indicators across nine types of innovation: product, process, service, technological, management (or organizational, administrative), business model, supply chain, green (or environmental, eco), and open innovation. The analysis reveals that researchers often employ a broad range of indicators, many of which are not even closely aligned with specific innovation types. Accordingly, this paper offers recommendations for selecting indicators tailored to innovation type.

As smart cities advance, Internet of Things (IoT) devices present cybersecurity challenges that call for innovative solutions. This paper presents a conceptual model for using AI-enabled anomaly detection systems to identify anomalies and security threats in smart city IoT networks. The foundation is supported by the Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). In this framework, the importance of user engagement in ensuring effective AI-driven cybersecurity solutions is underlined with an emphasis on technological readiness and human interaction with AI. By fostering a security-conscious culture through continuous education and skills development, this research provides actionable insights for enhancing the resilience of smart cities against evolving cyber threats. The proposed framework lays the groundwork for future empirical studies and offers practical guidance for policymakers and urban planners dedicated to safeguarding the digital infrastructures of potentially tomorrow's cities – the smart cities.

This article investigates the critical role of Digital Literacy (DL) in shaping the adoption and use of ChatGPT. As advanced AI tools rapidly integrate into daily life, it is essential for both policymakers and technology developers to understand the factors driving their mainstream adoption. DL was quantified using the Internet Skills Scale (ISS) tool, applied on a scale of 0 to 10 across six areas of ChatGPT application: general use, testing possibilities, entertainment, fulfilling work and school tasks, obtaining new knowledge, and companionship during moments of solitude. The study employs non-parametric difference tests, relational analyses, and binomial logistic regression models, analysing data from a statistically representative sample (N = 1,025) of the Czech population. The findings reveal significant relationships between DL and five of the six areas. Higher DL levels correlate with using ChatGPT for testing, entertainment, and acquiring new knowledge. Conversely, lower DL levels are linked to using ChatGPT as a companion during moments of solitude. Notably, no significant relationship was found between DL and using ChatGPT for work or educational purposes. These results suggest that as DL improves, the use of AI tools like ChatGPT will diversify across different contexts. The study highlights the need for targeted DL programs to enhance AI adoption, reduce digital inequalities, and ensure that advanced technologies are accessible to all population segments.

Two questions persist regarding global value chains (GVCs): First, what are the strategies and pathways through which multinational enterprises (MNEs) integrate and navigate GVCs? Second, what are the characteristics of GVCs in which MNEs participate? An analysis of these questions leads to inside–out and outside–in perspectives on GVCs. The literature on MNEs mostly focuses on the quantity and quality of foreign direct investment rather than on the differences in MNEs’ production activities and structure of GVCs. This study examines the effects of MNEs’ participation in simple and complex GVCs on domestic innovation. We find that the positive effects are mainly driven by MNEs’ downstream participation in simple GVCs. The mechanism tests indicate that MNEs’ upstreamness within simple GVCs negatively affects domestic firms’ absorption capacity and internal R&D and that within simple and complex GVCs negatively affects domestic firms’ export resilience.

Empirical studies based on detailed, theory-based analyses are essential for a deep understanding of technology adoption. This study provides an overview of blockchain applications in logistics management, employing a comprehensive theoretical framework. Blockchain is considered a critical digital infrastructure for logistics operations due to its distinctive characteristics, including decentralization, transparency, immutability, real-time information sharing, reliability, and end-to-end visibility. These characteristics address many contemporary logistics challenges. The study introduces a research model that integrates the fit-viability model (FVM) and task technology fit theory (TTF), demonstrating blockchain's suitability for enhancing logistics operational functions and sustainability performance. To validate the model, data were collected from logistics managers of 576 companies and analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) regression. This research offers valuable insights for managers, policymakers, and decision-makers on practical challenges and potential solutions in logistics through the application of blockchain. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the implementation of blockchain can improve the alignment, resilience, transparency, integration, and sustainability of logistics tasks.

This study investigates the impact of entrepreneurs' technical backgrounds on innovation output from the perspective of innovation quantity and quality, using data from A-share listed private companies in China between 2009 and 2018. Our analysis reveals that CEOs with technical expertise significantly enhance both the quantity and quality of firm innovation. We identify three key mechanisms through which technical backgrounds promote innovation: increased management attention to innovation, reduced information asymmetry, and enhanced long-term investment. These findings contribute to the literature on Upper Echelons Theory and corporate innovation, offering practical insights for private enterprises aiming to achieve talent-driven technological innovation and foster high-quality development.

This article investigates whether a micro-entrepreneur's personality influences their innovativeness. Using the Big Five theory and a broad definition of innovation from the 4th version of the Oslo Manual (two types and nine categories of innovations in total), the study analyses data from 1,848 Polish micro-entrepreneurs. Since innovativeness is a complex process with several interdependencies, and previous research shows that introducing one type of innovation is not independent of introducing other types, Multivariate Probit (MVP) regression was used to estimate the models. The results allow two conclusions to be drawn. Firstly, in the case of product innovations implemented by micro-entrepreneurs, three personality traits have a positive impact. These are Openness to experience, Conscientiousness and Extroversion. Secondly, in the case of business process innovations, all 7 types are positively influenced by two personality traits, namely Openness to experience and Extroversion.

This study examines the innovation process through the interrelationships of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) dimensions in an emerging economy. Using a five-point Likert scale, we adopt a survey approach to measure individuals’ EO dimensions and explore the relationship between proactiveness, risk-taking, motivation, and innovation outcomes. We test our hypotheses using a sample of 466 individuals in Kuwait. Survey data are analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and a partial least squares approach. The results indicate that proactiveness and motivation positively relate to risk-taking. In addition, we find that our mediating variable, risk-taking, directly impacts innovation. The is an indirect effect of motivation and proactiveness on innovation, through risk-taking. These findings shed light on the interrelationships among different dimensions within the EO framework, pathways towards innovation, and provide meaningful insights for promoting innovation outcomes.