The Moderating effect of Innovation Ecosystem on Knowledge Entrepreneurship and Innovation Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Kenya

Main Article Content

Isaac Muiruri Gachanja
Stephen Irura Nganga, Professor
Lucy Maina Kiganane, Dr

Abstract

The turbulent and highly competitive business environment has exposed firms to unprecedented uncertainties brought about by market disruptions. Organizations have attempted to thwart this menace by leveraging on innovation, but innovation activities are complex and are not always viable. The purpose of this study is therefore to examine the moderating effect of Innovation Ecosystem (IE) on the relationship between Knowledge Entrepreneurship (KE) and Innovation Performance (IP) of manufacturing firms in Kenya. The study was anchored on the complexity theory. Mixed method research was applied which utilized cross-sectional design. The target population was 828 manufacturing firms. Purposive and stratified random sampling was used to determine a sample size of 115 firms. The study found that IE has a great moderating effect between KE and IP in manufacturing firms in Kenya. Collaboration and networking between industry, research organizations and universities should be strengthened to promote IP and increase the competitiveness of firms. Further studies should investigate the nature and effects of tension that emanates as a result of knowledge leakage that occurs during interactions with the various players within the IE

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Stephen Irura Nganga, Professor, Karatina University

Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship

Lucy Maina Kiganane, Dr, The Cooperative University of Kenya

Senior Lecturer, Entrepreneurship

References

Abosede, A. J & Onakaya, A.B. (2013). Intellectual entrepreneurship: Theories and challenges. International Journal of Business Administration, 4(5).
Alegre, J., Lapiedra, R. & Chiva, R. (2006). A measurement scale for product innovation performance. European Journal of Innovation Performance,9(4), 333-353.
Andreeva,T. & Kianto, A. (2011). Knowledge process, knowledge-intensity and innovatio: A moderated mediated analysis . Journal of Knowledge Management, 15(6), 1016-1034.
Anning-Dorson, T. (2017). Moderation-Mediating effect of demand and organizationculture on innovation and performance relationship. Marketing Intelligence and Planing, 35(2), 222-242.
Barile, S., Lusch, R., Reynoso, J., Saviano, M. & Spohrer, J. (2016). Systems, networks and ecosystem in service research. Journal of Service Management, 27(4), 652-674.
Cao, Y. & Zhao, L. (2013). Analysis of patent management effects on technological innovation performance. Baltic Journal of Management, 8 (3), 286 - 305.
Chang, Y., Chang, H., Chi, H., Chen, M., & Deng, L. (2012). How do established firms improve radical innovation performance? The organizational capabilities view. Technovation, 32, 441-451.
Chen, Y., Lin, M & Chang, C. (2009). The positive effects of relashionship learning and absortive capacity on innovation performance and competative advantage in industrial markets. Industrial Marketing Management 38(2), 152-158.
Cornell University, INSEAD & WIPO (2015). The Global Innovation Index 2015: Effective innovation policies for development. Fontainebleau, Ithaca and Geneva.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches. Washington DC: Sage.
Denscombe, M. (2008). Communities of practice a research paradigm for the mixed methods approach. Journal of Mixed Methods Research 2(3), 270-283.
Dvir, R. & Pasher, E. (2004). Innovation engines for knowledge cities: An innovation ecology perspective. Journal of Knowledge Management, 8(5), 16-27.
Engler, J. & Kusiak, A . (2011). Modelling an innovation ecosystem in adaptive agents. International Journal of Innovation Science, 3(2), 55-68.
Ikeda, K. & Marshall, A. (2016). How succesfull organisations drive innovation. Strategy and Leadership, 44(3), 9-19.
Jusoh, R., Asimiran, S. & Ziyae, B. (2010). The factors influencing knowledge entrepreneurship in Malysian manufacturing companies. Journal of US-China Public Administration, 7(4), 86-95.
Lau,A.K. & Lo, W. (2015). Regional innovation System, absorptive capacity and innovation performance. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 92, 99-114.
Leavy, B. (2012). Interview - Ron Adner: Managing Interdependencies of an innovation ecosystem. Strategy and Leadership, 40(6), 14-21.
Majava, J., Leviakangas, P., Kinnumen, T., Kess, P. & Foit, D. (2016). Spacial health and life sciences business ecosystem : A case study of San Diego. . European Jornal of Innovation Management, 19(1), 26-46.
Malek, M., Mearns, K. & Flin, R. (2010). Stress and psychological well-being in UK and Malaysian fire fighters. Cross Cultural management: An international Journal, 17 (1), 50 - 61.
McDonald, R.E. (2002). Knowledge entreprenenuership: Linking organisational learning and innovation. University of Connecticut.
Nandakumar, M., Ghobadian, A. & O'Regan, N. (2010). Business level strategy and performance: the moderating effects of the environment and structure. Management Decisions, 48 (6), 907 - 939.
Oke, A. (2011). Linking manufacturing flexibility to innovation [performance in manufacturing plants. Journal of Production Economics, doi: 10./j.ipe.2011.09.04.
Ongwae, G. J., Mukulu, E. & Odhiambo, R. (2013). Innovation activity and firm growth across key sectors of the Kenya economy. Proceeding of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 1st SHRD resarch conference.
Poikola, A., Kola, P. & Hintikka, K. A. (2011). An introduction to opening information sources, Ministry of transport and communication. Helsinki, Finland.
Uzkurt, C., Kumar, R., Kimzan, H., & Eminoglu, G. (2013). The role of innovation in the relationship between organisational culture and firm performance; A study of the banking sector in Turkey. European Journal of Innovation Management, 16(1), 92-117.
Sambuli, N., Whitt, J.P. (2017). Technology innovation hubs and policy engagement: Making all voices count research report. Brighton: Institute of development studies.
Sharifirad, M. & Ataei, V. (2012). Organizationculture and innovation culture: Exploring the relationship between constructs . Leadership and organizationDevelopment Journal, 33(5), 494-517.
Senges, M. & Duart, J. M. (2007, September 21). Knowledge entrepreneurship in Universities : Practice and strategy in the case of internet based innovation appropriation. Barcelona, Spain.
Sotarauta, M. & Pulkinen, R. (2011). Institutional entrepreneurship for knowledge regions: In search of a fresh set of regional innovation studies. Environment and Planing, 29(1).
Suki, N. & Suki, N. (2015). Consumer environment behaviour towards staying at a green hotel: moderating of green hotel knowledge. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 26 (1), 103-117.
Valencia, J.N., Valle, R. & Jimenez, D. (2010). Orgainsation culture as determinant of product innovation. European Journal of Innovation Management, 13(4), 466-480.
Wahyono. (2018). The moderating effect of customer orientaion variable on the influnce of professional competence towards the quality of strategy implementation . International Journal of Law and Management, 60 (6), 1432 - 1447.
Wang, L., Yeung, J.H. & Zhang, M. (2011). The impact of trust and contract on innovation performance: The moderating role of environmental uncertainity . International Journal of Production Economics, 134, 114-122.
Zhang, J., Benedetto, A. & Hoenig, J. (2009). Product development strategy, product innovation performance and the mediating role of knowledge utilization: Evidence from subsidiaries in China. Journal of International Marketing, 17(2), 42-58.
Zelaya-Zamora, J. & Senoo, D. (2013). Synthisizing seeming incompatibilities to foster knowledge creation and innovation. Journal of Knowledge Management, 17(1), 106-122.