bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Efficient Applicability Limits of Social Entrepreneurship
Authors: Pavlov Ruslan
Published: September 2024

The efficiency of social entrepreneurship depends on the ability of social enterprises to be sustainable. So, this paper implies deriving the efficient applicability limits of social entrepreneurship in terms of their sustainability. The more sustainable a social enterprise is, the wider its efficient applicability limits are. So, it's a novel approach towards studying the efficiency of social enterprises and the limits of their efficient applicability. The case study approach is used to estimate these limits, and three social enterprises are taken for this analysis, namely, APOPO, Benetech and Conserve. The insights of this paper suggest that the burden on social enterprises should be dosed, because their viability depends, in most part, on implementing the respective social policy. Under the excessive burden on social enterprises they could be destroyed, whereas under the insufficient burden some of their capacities could be idle, and that would suggest that they are inefficient. Eight factors of increasing the efficient applicability limits of social entrepreneurship (namely the state support of social enterprises, the aid provided for social enterprises by the private sponsors, the support for social enterprises provided by the international organizations, the support for social enterprises provided by the external sources of loan and emission financing, creation of special economic zones in different innovation centres, in which social enterprises are formed, using social enterprises as sub-contractors of the private business in the process of social outsourcing, the position of public opinion towards social entrepreneurship, the strategy of designing and marketing the products of social enterprises) were derived. The measures of the state support, enlarging the efficient applicability limits of social enterprises are provided. Also, the creation of special economic zones in the innovation centres, in which social enterprises are formed, is proposed, as well as the mechanism of subsidizing social enterprises by the state and creating some special conditions for the microfinance and social stock markets as the main external sources of financing social enterprises are suggested.
Perception of Gen Y and Z on Bank’s Financial Performance: Exploring Managerial Capabilities and Digital Innovation
Authors: Asamoah Comfort Adebi , Klapalová Alena , Nsiah Takyi Kwabena , Agirre-Aramburu Izaskun
Published: September 2024

The inception of digitalization has transformed many organizations. Presently, personal and professional lives are difficult to fathom without the utilisation of digital technologies. For organisations, digital innovation has brought up several opportunities. While most of the previous research considered how digital innovation affected worker productivity, and business performance and emphasised the massive deployment of digital technologies, little research has assessed the factors influencing digital innovation. To fill this gap, this study aims to explore the impact of managerial social capital and managerial human capital on digital innovation, and the intervening impact of digital innovation on the connection between firm performance and managerial social capital as well as managerial human capital. To achieve this, 728 bankers in Ghana were conveniently sampled, and the structural equation modelling in the PLS approach was utilized to analyse the data. The results showed that managerial social capital and managerial human capital have a substantial impact on digital innovation. Most significantly, digital innovation emerged as a favourable mediator on the managerial social capital and perceived performance affiliation, and the managerial social capital and expected performance connection. The findings urge managers and policymakers to combine the efforts of managerial social capital and digital innovation to increase the performance of banks as digital innovation has become a necessity in today’s dynamic and digital era.
“Whatever It Takes”: Socioemotional Wealth and Endowment Preservation in Failing Family Firms
Authors: Degmayr Mike Maximilian
Published: September 2024

Prior research has repeatedly highlighted the influence of socioemotional wealth (SEW) on decision-making processes in family firms, given that owner-managers seek to protect their SEW endowments and identity. Yet, little is known about how this influence unfolds in situations of firm failure and how far owner-managers will go to preserve their SEW and identity. Hence, this paper investigates the role of SEW in driving escalation of commitment to a failing family firm and the likelihood of reentering entrepreneurship after the firm’s failure. Furthermore, the role of fear of failure and attribution as moderators in the interplays are investigated. Two vignette studies leveraging 314 observations from owner-managers of family-owned craft businesses in Germany provide evidence for a positive impact of SEW on the degree of commitment escalation to a failing firm and the intention to reenter entrepreneurship after failure. Moreover, the results of the analysis suggest that fear of failure plays a moderating role in the interplay between SEW and escalation of commitment, reducing the extent of commitment escalation by owner-managers. Hence, fear of failure dispositions might either help fuel rationality in decision-making or trigger a “freeze” or “flight” coping strategy rather than direct failure avoidance via additional investments. The findings of this paper hold informative value for owner-managers seeking to reduce adverse or impulsive decision-making and governmental bodies trying to understand how economic wealth might be adversely influenced by a SEW-induced urge to protect failing family businesses. Furthermore, the underlying results enrich the current theoretical understanding of the dark side of SEW while clarifying manifestations of grief, attribution, and fear of failure in the family firm context. At last, this paper outlines various avenues for future research.
Design Thinking for Frugal Innovation: Unleashing Sustainable Business Models in Emerging Markets
Authors: Patnaik Jayshree , Tarei Pradeep Kumar
Published: September 2024

Frugal innovation is a hotbed for low-cost innovative solutions that addresses the needs of underprivileged customers in emerging markets. Many of such frugal innovations are designed and developed by organizations that work at the grassroots, and, develop solutions in response to the interests of disadvantaged communities. With a central tenet of transforming an existing or undesirable state into a desired state, Design plays a significant role in meeting the unmet needs of such disadvantaged communities. Lately, Design Thinking is increasingly gaining traction as a human-centered approach to innovation that focuses on creative, innovative, and iterative development. The foundation of Design Thinking lies in a strong desire to understand more about the people for whom the products and services are developed. When combined with the principles of sustainable business models, design thinking can lead to frugal innovations that not only meet the needs of underprivileged customers but also engender long-term social, economic, and environmental implications. However, studies focusing on the interplay of design thinking and sustainable business models, to unravel the outcome of frugal innovation are scanty. The current study fills this knowledge gap by uncovering how design thinking and sustainable business models can jointly help in improving the outcomes of frugal innovation practices in emerging markets. The research methodology comprises qualitative data collection through a multi-case study strategy using a grounded theory approach. The findings result in a conceptual framework that can be utilized to assess the performance metrics of organizations practicing frugal innovation in an emerging market context. The framework suggests that the outcome of frugal innovation can be measured using various indicators such as affordability, accessibility, energy efficiency, empowerment, and a human-centric approach. By focusing on human-centered solutions and maximizing the potential of frugal innovation, the study’s contribution can potentially offer insights for organizations aiming to create a sustainable impact.
Ecological Innovations in Hotel Companies: A Case Study of Poland
Authors: Sala Krzysztof
Published: September 2024

Entrepreneurship is one of the key pillars of the modern market economy. The most important attributes of entrepreneurship include innovation. According to many economists, most of the economic growth of developed countries should now be linked to the application and implementation of innovation. Among many types of innovations, ecological innovations (eco-innovations) deserve special attention. Ecological innovations contribute to the reduction of operating costs, increase in competitive advantage and facilitate entry into new markets. At the same time, they have a positive impact on the natural environment. The examples of eco-innovations are also increasingly often found in hotel companies. The aim of the publication is to discuss the current examples of the most significant ecological innovations in hotel enterprises. The article considers the significant impact of ecological innovations on the activities of this type of enterprises. In order to achieve the objectives of the publication, the Polish hotel market was taken into account. The article presents the following research thesis: Environmental innovations are an increasingly important element influencing the operation of hotel enterprises in Poland. However, there is still little awareness of them among guests. The article was written on the basis of books studies, monographs, magazines and netographic information. Methodology of research carried out for the needs of the work. To identify and analyze ecological innovations in hotels in Poland, as well as for the purposes of achieving the goals of the work, two methods of collecting primary research material were used. The first one is based on the analysis of existing data, including the analysis of guest opinions on the booking portal and literary criticism. The second one consisted of a diagnostic survey in which a non-standardized interview was used as a research technique on a deliberately selected group of hotel owners and managers from all over Poland, who have decided to introduce ecological innovations on the premises of their facilities. Interviews were conducted in January-February 2024. The interview did not take into account objects that temporarily suspended their activity. The results of the research positively verify theses.
New Skills and Knowledge for Digital Entrepreneurs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Orozova Daniela , Angelova Nadezhda , Zlatev Zlatin
Published: September 2024

Digital technologies are becoming increasingly complex and integrated, leading to significant transformations in society and the economy. The article aims to explore and summarize the new opportunities and potential risks of the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in all aspects of life, to define the new skills and necessary knowledge of digital entrepreneurs and to highlight the need for transformation in modern education. Recognizing that the relationship between technology and business is two-way and becoming stronger, revealing that well-prepared employees are a guarantee of success and prosperity of companies in various fields, we try to focus on the main groups of qualities, skills and basic knowledge of students in the age of artificial intelligence. The development of the Internet, expansion of connectivity through social networks, the advent of AI, 3D printing, and immersive technologies like Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality, require new knowledge and skills, leading to new challenges in education. Qualified personnel in this modern world must have solid professional training and systemic thinking (knowledge, skills, accumulated information), developed cognitive abilities, and personal skills based on collecting and analyzing large amounts of diverse information from heterogeneous sources. Questions arise: how can multiple information sources be combined effectively, and how can the fusion of multiple sources provide additional information to support decision-making processes? Combining information obtained from the real world makes the results heterogeneous and more informative. It follows the need to develop machine learning methods to extract relevant information from increasingly complex data sets. The goal is to improve the accuracy of the applied classification algorithms by combining predictions from multiple models, as well as obtaining a more stable final classification evaluation, effective handling of noisy data, adaptation to changing conditions, and improving stability when solving problems. On the other hand, how to ensure that the enormous potential of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, connection with the physical world, machine learning, and pervasive networks of people and machines will be fully used to improve the quality of life and contribute to the building of stable societies. Changes must be subordinated to policy and investments for reliable artificial intelligence and based on an ethical and human-centered approach. All of these should be established as a fundamental principle of training in Higher education which imposes the need for transformation in modern education.
Business Research and Development: Is there a Substitution Effect of Public Support?
Authors: Pisár Peter , Huňady Ján , Honzova Stanislava
Published: September 2024

The importance of research and development is reflected in the fact that one of the main priorities of the EU's development policies is increasing spending on research and development in EU member states (EC, 2010). Enterprises do not always have enough internal financial resources to launch their own innovation projects, and therefore they turn to external resource providers (Wang et al., 2016). The paper is aimed at examining the impact of corporate expenditures on R&D from the point of view of their funding sources and analysing the occurrence of the substitution effect of public support for R&D in EU 27 countries. These countries also have the highest level of public financing of research and development, that is, they use the public support of business innovations to the highest extent. The analysis showed that in the EU 27, the substitution effect of public support for research and development is not significant, or rather the complementarity of both types of expenditure prevails at the national level, as public funding of corporate research and development seems to have a positive effect on private research and development and investments. Our analysis is based on available secondary data for 27 EU member states. for a twenty-year observation period (2000-2020). The results have been achieved by using a methodology that includes cluster analysis, panel regression and correlation analysis. We bring new empirical evidence on the relationships between public support and business research and development expenditures. The research results showed the main sources of funding for corporate research and development. It concerns the business enterprises, government and abroad. The cluster analysis determined three clusters, divided according to the structure of the financing of R&D enterprises in EU countries. The results of the cluster analysis were partially in line with the current results of the European Innovation Review. Our findings provide policy implications for the public support policy.
Action or reaction? Entrepreneurial and Market Orientation for Implementing Circular Economy Practices in German SMEs
Authors: Hoffmann Antonia , Marticke Nils
Published: September 2024

Circular Economy (CE) is one of the most promising practices in sustainable business development and achieving climate targets. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in this context due to their predominance in many countries and their associated ecological impact. Although studies indicate that CE offers various environmental and economic benefits, its implementation within SMEs remains relatively low. While SMEs face multiple challenges and barriers, there remains a lack of insights into the factors that can accelerate CE practices. A promising approach to overcoming these challenges involves strategic orientations. This study examines two specific strategic orientations, market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation, and their relationship with CE implementation in SMEs. Therefore, survey data from 757 German SMEs were analysed using multiple linear regression, which resulted in multifaceted insights. Both market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation positively influence CE implementation. Market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation demonstrate varying joint relationships, with entrepreneurial orientation acting as an enabler in the mediation between market orientation and CE. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationships between various factors influencing the implementation of CE practices in SMEs. In particular, it provides the basis for further research into the interplay between market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation and their joint influence on CE. Practitioners in SMEs should not only integrate market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation as a holistic approach but, more specifically, seek to establish a culture that encourages innovativeness and risk-taking and deepen further marketing efforts throughout the organization to facilitate CE implementation. This ultimately leads to ecological sustainability and financial improvements in SMEs.
Exploring the potential of AI to increase productivity in small marketing teams
Authors: Szenftner Aniko , Stumpp Stefan , Knopf Tobias
Published: September 2024

Marketing scientists as well as practitioners believe that artificial intelligence (AI) holds the promise of productivity gains for organizations. However, there has been little scientific research into these theories. This study investigates the role of AI in enhancing marketing productivity, deriving insights from a case study conducted with the marketing team of an industrial software start-up. Drawing upon Case Study Analysis by Yin (2018) and Participatory Action Research by Kemmis and McTaggart (2007), the study employs a combination of survey interviews, AI tool research and AI tool testings. Key findings indicate that productivity gains are more likely than productivity impairments with the use of marketing AI tools. This effect is even stronger when knowledge workers possess high levels of AI skills and utilize AI tools with suitable capabilities. Having closely analyzed six marketing disciplines, particularly SEO / content and design demonstrated significant productivity gains including generative AI (GAI) tools the team already subscribed to like ChatGPT 4 and Canva, but also new AI solutions. While an AI tool’s level of integration only showed a weak positive productivity impact, future studies are suggested to further investigate this variable by comparing the effects of less advanced but more accessible tools like generative AI versus highly advanced, but less accessible business AI. Having navigated the vast and dynamic landscape of AI tools, insights further emphasize the importance of AI experience sharing and informed decision-making, implying knowledge of own user rights and always staying updated on AI advancements. Zooming out from process level, the work's literature review further highlights the role of environmental and organizational AI enablers, like budget allocation, fostering AI trust and mindset, but also implementing AI routines and responsibilities. Overall, this research underscores the imperative for companies, especially startups and SMEs, to explore AI technology as a means to enhance productivity and gain a competitive edge.
Library Trends and Developments in a Technologically Driven Era
Authors: Distanont Anyanitha , Khongmalai Orapan , Distanont Sasipin , Treenuchagron Chansin
Published: September 2024

The rapid evolution of digital technologies has significantly impacted how libraries operate and serve their communities, leading to a transformative shift in library services internationally. Despite the widespread acknowledgment of this digital shift, there remains a substantial gap in understanding of how libraries are adapting to these changes, particularly in terms of integrating digital innovations to enhance user access and engagement. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by examining the directional trends of library development in the context of digital transformation. By analysing library services in three regions - Europe, the United States of America, and Asia - critical adaptations and innovations are identified that are shaping the future of library services. The goal is to illuminate the current landscape and propose strategic directions to help library stakeholders with planning and implementation.
Transforming Academic Libraries into Hubs of Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Case Study of a New Library Model
Authors: Khongmalai Orapan , Distanont Anyanitha
Published: September 2024

In a data-driven era, academic libraries must evolve beyond traditional roles as spaces for reading and storing information resources to become platforms promoting learning, research, innovation, future skills, and entrepreneurship. Based on the triple helix model of innovation, this paper highlights the new library model in a case study aimed at transforming traditional academic library services into enterprising, innovation-driven activities. For over ninety years, Thammasat University Library has been located on Rattanakosin Island, an historical area of Thailand. More recently, the library business model has evolved to meet modern needs. This qualitative research uses a case study to explore library strategies to create space meeting requirements of diverse user groups: students, faculty, staff, alumni, businesspeople and the community, including older residents. Service innovations responding to user demands are prioritized by drawing on the expertise of librarians. These changes generate new revenue for the library and enhance the space design and use through the Life Space concept. Co-working spaces, learning areas, inspirational corners, and performance venues make the library a platform for inspiring creativity, learning, life enhancement, and business ventures. The Thammasat University Library has also become an innovative bridge linking university research with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), facilitating knowledge transfer and research commercialization. These findings may serve as guidelines for academic libraries seeking to adapt the Library of Life approach to be centres catering to readers of all generations and stations in life.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia: The Role of Geographical Indications
Authors: Smith Robert , Smith Nucharee , Perry Mark
Published: September 2024

The Southeast Asian economies have been highly proactive in developing Geographical Indicators (GIs) within their jurisdictions. For instance, Thailand developed its “One Tambon One Product” (OTOP) project to support community co-operatives in tambons (sub-districts) and villages throughout Thailand. The aim was to increase village incomes and preserve local wisdom. This followed Japan's One Village One Product (OVOP) program. This was followed by its “One Province, One GI” to encourage each of its 76 provinces and Bangkok to develop at least one GI product. The aim was to increase village incomes and preserve local wisdom. Subsequently, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) established its One District One Product (ODOP) program. In addition, local communities throughout most of the eleven Southeast Asian Nations, often with the support of external development agencies, have protected their products using GIs or Trademark legislation. The number of domestic GIs registered within the eleven Southeast Asian nations as of April 2024 was Cambodia with seven, Indonesia with 127, Lao PDR with six, Malaysia with 79, Thailand with 194, and Vietnam with 94. These cover both agricultural and non-agricultural products, with the majority in each jurisdiction being the agricultural sector. This paper outlines the legislative framework of GI protection of products from the above jurisdictions and how the legislation has provided a framework for local entrepreneurs and communities to develop and protect local products, thus improving the quality of life of those local communities, whether as producers or providers of labour. Cambodia and Lao PDR have also followed a different path to registering GIs as they are parties to the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Geneva Act, which provides a one-stop shop for registering GIs. Products protected by the relevant legislation include agricultural products, products derived from agricultural products, cooked food, handicrafts, and woven cloth, including associated designs and pottery methods and designs. Three examples are provided in detail: Kampot Pepper – Producers return to ancestral lands after 40 years of civil war and unrest; Bolaven Coffee – International development agencies support small landholders to form a co-operative to support the development of their community; and Mak Mao Berry Juice – One man’s 30-year passion to commercialise a local product.
Dealing with Failure: The Media’s Portrayal of Entrepreneurs in Croatia
Authors: Kastela Korina , Škokić Vlatka
Published: September 2024

Entrepreneurship and stigma have been subjects of interest in various studies within the entrepreneurship field. The evidence suggests that societal stigma may lead to the stigmatization of entrepreneurs who have faced business failure, potentially influencing their strategic decisions and the likelihood of re-entry into entrepreneurship. Additionally, the liability of newness and the stigma of failure are critical factors that shape entrepreneurial dynamics and outcomes in different national contexts. The fear of societal judgment and negative perceptions can deter individuals from engaging in entrepreneurial activities, hindering entrepreneurial risk-taking and innovation, and limiting the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures. The societal stigma associated with business failure in former socialist economies has been a significant factor influencing entrepreneurial activities in these regions. Research has indicated that socialist ideology historically stigmatized private proprietorship, associating it with negative connotations such as parasitism, exploitation, and profiteering. This lasting stigma has had implications for individuals pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities in post-socialist economies, impacting their perceptions and decisions regarding entrepreneurship. The transition from socialist planned economies to market-oriented systems has brought about changes in attitudes towards entrepreneurship. While socialist legacies may have initially influenced societal norms and perceptions of entrepreneurship, the emergence of market economies has led to a reassertion of entrepreneurship in these regions. Numerous studies indicate that the way media depicts entrepreneurs and their ventures plays a crucial role in shaping the attractiveness of entrepreneurship as a career choice and in developing social norms pertinent to the entrepreneurial spirit. In our research, we utilize qualitative content analysis to examine the representation of entrepreneurship, including the successes and failures of entrepreneurs, in Croatian media. The findings reveal a dominant adverse perception of entrepreneurship as a career in Croatia, with entrepreneurs frequently depicted as tycoons. Additionally, since the 1990s, entrepreneurs have faced stigma, and there appears to be no evident direction for improvement in this area.
Emphasizing Sustainability in Entrepreneurship Education: Lessons Learned from a Case Study
Authors: Kaiser Verena , Krzywonos Małgorzata , Maisch Bettina
Published: September 2024

In response to the growing imperative for sustainable entrepreneurship, this study investigates the efficacy of integrating targeted sustainability content into an action-learning-oriented international entrepreneurship course. This case study aimed to evaluate the impact of integrating sustainability content into an existing entrepreneurship course focusing on food-related business ideas to enhance students’ sustainability literacy and understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship. Self-reflection protocols of two consecutive student cohorts of the same course were compared before and after the curriculum modification. The results clearly show that both student groups have built up many competencies, and significant knowledge of, entrepreneurial skills. However, the first group built up fewer skills in sustainability. The findings serve as an essential insight for entrepreneurship lecturers who aim to enhance entrepreneurial and sustainability skills among their students, as well as a thorough understanding of impact entrepreneurship. They receive helpful advice on which content to add to their existing entrepreneurship courses to emphasize sustainability.
The Possibilities of Artificial Intelligence Usage in Loyalty Programs
Authors: Kushnarevych Andrii , Kollárová Daniela
Published: September 2024

From the year 2022, when the GPT 3 model became publicly available, Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a buzzword in marketing. To say it still is influencing the field would be an understatement with new models and technologies continuously emerging and existing ones getting better and better. Loyalty programs as a sales promotion tool have also undergone big changes in recent years and AI is bringing new opportunities and challenges to the field. In this paper, we investigate the possibilities of artificial intelligence usage in loyalty programs. We aim to showcase the diverse opportunities through which AI can enhance loyalty program experiences. Among those usage opportunities we put specific attention on AI personalization and predictive modelling. By harnessing AI capabilities, organizations can possibly find new ways to enhance customer engagement, satisfaction, and build stronger loyalty. In this paper we are also looking at the current state of loyalty programs in the selected market and the way AI is being used in them. It is important to note that we approach the topic from two points of view – customers` and brands`. That means that we are trying to highlight how certain AI technologies can possibly improve customers` experience as well as how AI may be a helpful tool for businesses who want to manage loyalty programs. The final part of our article includes information on the suggested ways AI technologies may be implemented into loyalty programs based on the information provided in previous parts of the paper. Suggested implementation strategies are also appropriate as a starting point for further research, where every single technology would be researched more in detail. The main goal of this article is to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the possibilities of how Artificial Intelligence can be used in the context of loyalty programs today. The article is theoretical-empirical and is based on external information from trustworthy sources as well as our own research of certain AI technologies in the context of loyalty programs.
Innovation Success in the European Union: Aggregate Demand Analysis
Authors: Bernard Vaníček  , Fišera Tomáš
Published: September 2024

In the current period of uncertainty in the European Union, innovation is becoming a key factor for maintaining not only economic stability but also competitiveness in the globalised environment. Following the financial crisis that hit Europe, aggregate demand indicators slowly started to stabilise, mostly reaching their peak in 2019. However, in the following year, due to the pandemic crisis, these indicators fell again, posing a new challenge for researchers around the world. This study examines the relationship between macroeconomic indicators of aggregate demand and innovation performance in 25 EU countries. Using data for the period 2013-2021 as input for the regression analysis, the research identifies firm investment and exports as important innovation support factors and highlights their key role. On the other hand, the research shows that household consumption and imports are barriers to innovation. Somewhat surprisingly, government spending on goods and services does not have a significant impact on innovation success, underlining the need to rethink government investment policies. This finding highlights the need for a more thorough analysis of the effectiveness of state investment in innovation and possible adjustments to state policies to maximise the promotion of innovation activities in the state. The study also highlights the importance of comprehensive strategies that promote investment and exports, while emphasising the removal of barriers to innovation in the form of household consumption and imports.
The Debt Dilemma: Driver or Brake of Innovation in the EU?
Authors: Fisera Tomas , Vanicek Bernard
Published: September 2024

In the current economic environment, the issue of increasing indebtedness is receiving considerable attention. This article delves deeper into a comprehensive analysis of how different forms of debt – from households to corporations to governments – affect innovation performance within the European Union (EU). Since the EU includes 25 different countries, it provides a rich background for this analysis covering the period from 2013 to 2021. By applying regression analysis techniques on a large dataset, this study offers a new insight into the complex relationship between indebtedness and innovation performance. A key part of this analysis is the Global Innovation Index, widely recognized as a metric for evaluating innovation performance among nations. The empirical findings of this study reveal a subtle dynamic: while government debt appears to be a drag on innovation performance, private sector indebtedness, including both households and non-financial institutions, shows a positive effect. This dichotomy underlines the crucial importance of implementing responsible fiscal policies that prioritize the promotion of innovation without jeopardizing financial stability. In addition, the research highlights the importance of fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, supporting university research, and developing innovation incubators to create a robust innovation environment.  In addition, this study not only clarifies the current status, but also identifies areas requiring further research, such as research into other factors influencing the innovation environment. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations associated with the current understanding of the relationship between debt and innovation. These limitations underscore the need for continued refinement of methodologies and investigation of other factors that may influence this interaction, thereby providing fertile ground for future research efforts. In conclusion, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how debt dynamics shape innovation outcomes in the EU context.
The Role of the Inclusive Leader in Driving Innovation: An Example of a Teal Organisation
Authors: Rzepka Agnieszka
Published: September 2024

The role of the leader is to create change and indicate the direction in which the organisation should go. Leader is the one who inspires, creates the organisational culture and builds emotional relationships that result in a much more effective company. His or her activity also influences the level of innovation in the company - the more inspired a co-worker perceives a leader and the greater his or her capabilities and freedom of action, the greater the chance of creating newer or even revolutionary solutions. The author's research has shown that the role of a leader in an innovative organisation cannot consist only in creating and promoting a vision, and then inspiring others to make it a reality. It can be concluded that the period of feisty and charismatic visionary leaders is slowly passing into oblivion, and their place is being taken by leaders who are able to discover and unleash the creative potential of the entire team in their talented colleagues. Amidst the evolving landscape of businesses, there is a growing focus on identifying key traits of leadership essential for effective organizational change. It is advocated that every organization should draw on these traits to innovate its employee resources. The presented results show the results of four years of research within the framework of the project entitled Teal Organisations: developing self-management and entrepreneurial culture in the age of Economy 4.0. The research shows how the understanding of innovation, the role of leadership has changed over several years and what research gaps are emerging. The research targeted micro and small enterprises in the family business sector. Insights from the third stage conducted in 2023 shed light on the qualities and competencies of leaders. The study’s findings highlight that leadership fosters better team outcomes through enhanced decision-making and collaboration. Our research shows, that leaders are required to acquire, develop and refine the skills of facilitating the work of a team to effectively and continuously generate innovation. The leader must master several skills, i.e. knowing the tools of creative team work, allowing the free flow of information, the ability to integrate ideas in order to create a new, better idea, so that the valuable ones do not get diluted and are qualified for further innovative work through well-considered decisions.
Entrepreneurial Competences Development of University Students in the Czech Republic
Authors: Adamec Petr , Marinič Peter
Published: September 2024

Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activities represent driving force of developed economies from national economic point of view. From individual point of view of each entrepreneur, it mainly represents possibilities of applying and developing potential innovative business ideas and ensuring independent and freer future existence of individuals. Small and medium-sized enterprises form a significant part of the economy in developed economies and are characterized by many positives in the current turbulent world. Also, for these reasons, European Union support the development of entrepreneurial activities and the development of entrepreneurship appears as an important topic in the educational environment as well. Today, there are already identified approaches to the development of entrepreneurship at the European level, which enable the effective development of relevant entrepreneurship competence, especially in primary and secondary education level. Entrepreneurship Competence Framework - EntreComp, is interconnected with other frameworks for the development of wide range of competences among pupils. From theoretical point of view, pull and push factors can be identified to support entrepreneurship among future entrepreneurs, which motivate future entrepreneurs to enter business. In our paper, we focus on identification of the situation in implementation of entrepreneurship support in the Czech Republic in the broader concept of education policy, with subsequent focus on possibilities of developing entrepreneurship among university students in Brno. We analyse the motivation of students for entering a university course focused on the development of practical competences leading to the possibility of active action in the role of entrepreneur. We connect the results of the analysis with the theoretical approach to the development of entrepreneurship and with the approaches of the official education policy in the Czech Republic. We hope that this will confirm the correctness of our approach to the development of entrepreneurship competence and support the development of other activities in this area.
Robert K. Merton and Innovation-Related Topics: Three Theoretical Ideas
Authors: Pedersen Tor Helge
Published: September 2024

As in other disciplines, such as organization science, sociology, and economics, there are good reasons for scholars in innovation and entrepreneurship research to revisit the classics within and outside their own research fields. Robert K. Merton (1910–2003) is not usually explicitly connected to innovation research, but to fields such as the sociology of science and knowledge. However, his scholarly productions include texts relevant to innovation and entrepreneurship. In 1935, he published on invention and innovation in American industry, and in 1938, he put forward the idea of innovation as deviant behavior or nonconformist adaptive behavior (Merton 1938a). In 1945, he began writing about the concept of serendipity, which he later discussed several times. This paper discusses how theoretical insights from Merton may inspire entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation research. The discussion is framed around Merton’s innovation-related ideas and their relevance today, based on 20–25 Merton publications from 1934 to 2004 drawn from his larger scholarly production. The paper extracts three main examples of Merton’s theoretical ideas and insights. The first is his interest in simultaneous independent discoveries (Merton 1961a; 1961b), which has later been seen as a zeitgeist perspective on (scientific) creativity. The second is his view of innovation as deviant behavior and an adaptive response (Merton 1938), which is relevant to, among others, discussion of the dark side of innovation. The third is his interest in the idea of serendipity in scientific discovery (Merton 1945; 1948a), which is relevant today in relation to entrepreneurial opportunity and accidental innovation.
From Bonds to Bridges: Exploring Social Capital's Role on Migrant Entrepreneurs' Identity Construction
Authors: Hachana Rim , Ben Youssef Amal
Published: September 2024

This paper contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by illustrating the significance of social capital in shaping the identity of migrant entrepreneurs throughout various stages of the entrepreneurial process. The novelty of this research lies in highlighting the adaptability of the social capital role in constructing the migrant entrepreneurs’ identities, enabling them to overcome challenges encountered in emerging contexts. By employing a thematic-content analysis method strengthened by narratives, we gain a comprehensive understanding of how migrant entrepreneurs interpret and enact their social capital in constructing their entrepreneurial identities. Our results reveal that EI construction is a dynamic process that ME navigate through the strategic use of SC. This involves the cultivation of both bonding and bridging social networks that provide crucial resources, emotional support, and access to diverse opportunities. Our results highlight that ME are engaged in a complex process of identity negotiation, where they must balance the preservation of their origin's cultural identity with the necessity to adapt to the entrepreneurial identity valued in the host country. This process involves a sophisticated interplay of adopting, adapting, and sometimes resisting the norms and expectations that define the entrepreneurial landscape they are operating within.
Predicted and Prized Critical Skills for a Graduate to Produce Effective Innovation
Authors: Khumalo Sithembiso , Du Plessis Tanya
Published: September 2024

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been mandated with the task to train and produce graduates with the capability to contribute to the economy and improve societies through teaching and learning. Furthermore, they are tasked with the responsibility to produce graduates with the capability to produce innovations that change the world for the better. For a university to produce such graduates it would need to focus on the curriculum and ensure that the skills and knowledge taught are relevant to produce innovative graduates. The purpose of this research paper was to identify the predicted and prized skills that a graduate can use to produce groundbreaking innovations. This objective would yield guidance on the most critical skills that should be included in a BCom degree to produce graduates with the capability to produce groundbreaking innovations. This research employed a Mixed-method approach with the use of both qualitative and quantitative approach. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with 11 participants from the University of Johannesburg commercialisation units and an online questionnaire from 69 innovation experts from the South African Business Innovation Community (Innovation Summit), and the Innovation, Sustainability and Visionary Leadership Group. Data was collected through descriptive content analysis with the aid of Atlas.ti and inferential statistical analysis. This study is part of a completed PhD study, the reporting is only on Predicted and Prized critical skills for a BCom degree graduate. Based on the results ideation, reasoning, problem solving, complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity and analytical thinking are skills and competences predicted to improve innovation and produce graduates with the capability to innovate. Furthermore, based on the results critical thinking, judgement and decision making are very significant skills for a person with a BCom degree.  In conclusion, HEIs should place more emphasis on critical thinking skills within the curriculum and complex problem-solving skills. These skills should not only be exclusive to certain programmes but throughout the entire HEI’s curriculum.
Uncollected Solid Waste Detection and Reporting Using Machine-learning and Geotagging
Authors: Mutunhu Ndlovu Belinda , Zhou Prestige , Maguraushe Kudakwashe , Dube Sibusisiwe
Published: September 2024

Uncollected solid waste has become an ever-growing threat to our livelihoods, posing many problems that span health risks, environmental pollution, and unpleasant aesthetics. Traditional methods of reporting uncollected solid waste have proven ineffective and we struggle to keep pace in addressing the growing volumes of waste.  This study focused on developing a solid waste detection and reporting system based on machine learning and geotagging. The developed system sought to enable solid waste management entities to obtain verified solid waste reports and accurate location details of the uncollected waste instances. A ResNet model was trained on commonly used solid waste image datasets from online sources. The model achieved a provisional accuracy beforescore of seventy percent (70%) though this statistic can be improved by adjusting model parameters. A rapid iterative design approach was employed to facilitate the development of the crowdsourcing app. This enabled the researchers to swiftly build, evaluate, and refine functional prototypes of the system before finalization. The resulting system receives solid waste images together with their location data and verifies the correct image reports using the trained model, before finally visualizing the reports on a map. Overall, the system provides a platform for the general public to collaborate with solid waste management bodies in combatting uncollected solid waste. In the future, the system may be diversified to allow reporting other amenity issues besides uncollected solid waste.