Towards A Deeper Understanding of the Relationship between Structural Reconfiguration Capacity, Technological and Non-technological innovations, and Firm Performance

The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ahead of Print.
Small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, the backbone of the Southeast Asian economy, are struggling to operate and maintain profitable growth in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic. During the recovery process, technological and non-technological innovation is a major factor in enterprise efficiency and profitability. However, it is unclear what drives manufacturing enterprises to innovate in technological and non-technological approaches and how they choose to implement innovation to keep their businesses growing and successful. Therefore, to answer this issue, this research develops and empirically tests a model based on dynamic capabilities and innovative perspectives utilizing World Bank Enterprise Survey data from 789 manufacturing enterprises in Southeast Asian countries. The hierarchical regression model assists create prediction equations to test technological and non-technological innovation as the mediators of structural reconfiguration and innovation investment on firm performance. The results reveal that structural reconfiguration and innovation investment impact technological and non-technological innovation. Additionally, structural addition and investment in formal R&D have a moderated impact on technological innovation. Finally, firm performance may be boosted by organizational innovation.

Accelerating ventures in Kazakhstan: The case of ineffective effectiveness in talent retention

The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Ahead of Print.
Accelerators play an essential role in fostering regional development by offering various resources to entrepreneurs and their new ventures. Their services are critical for entrepreneurs in developing countries. However, the majority of the business incubator studies are concentrated on developed economies, while developing countries represent an under-researched domain. Scholars argue that research on accelerators and business incubators, in general, is not theoretical and mainly descriptive. Using the knowledge-based view and resource-based view theories, this study discusses how an accelerator based in Kazakhstan, a developing country in Central Asia, designs its programs. Then looking through the cognitive evaluation theory lens and comparing 13-month longitudinal data, it analyses how program design impacts talent retention. The study adds a theoretical perspective to the non-theoretical domain of accelerators and business incubators by emphasising the role of motivation in the retention of talent. It also theorises about the four main steps involved in the acceleration program design and discusses the critical factors that shape those steps in the context of emerging markets.