Product Design Innovation and Customer Value: Cross‐Cultural Research in the United States and Korea

Innovation is one of the key drivers of success that a firm must utilize to develop a competitive advantage. The ability to innovate is especially important for a firm's survival in dynamic, changing environments. Customer demands are constantly changing, and more purchases are made when a firm's product design incorporates what customers perceive as cutting‐edge innovations. Satisfying customer demands is a distinct challenge for product designers because firms must develop a clear understanding of what aspects of design the customer wants. Although the importance of design has increased, very little research has been done to explain the relationship between product innovation and product design. Studies indicate that design innovation may create greater customer value through improvements in design value. Previous research has been limited and has not provided a clear concept of design innovation or defined the relationship between design innovation and marketing competencies. This paper seeks to offer a conceptual definition of design innovation, and to define the link between design innovation and marketing competencies. This paper utilizes cross‐cultural research to discover how these concepts differ due to cultural differences between the United States and Korea. This research contributes substantially to our understanding of the relationship between design innovation and customer value.     

Customer and Supplier Involvement in Design: The Moderating Role of Incremental and Radical Innovation Capability

More and more firms are leveraging design as a resource to gain the upper hand in today's competitive business market. To this end, this study draws on the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm to examine the relationship between customer and supplier involvement in the design process and new product performance. The research also extends the RBV to a contingency lens by introducing product innovation capability (incremental and radical) as a moderator to draw the boundary conditions of the impact of customer/supplier involvement in design on new product performance. Using data collected from Canadian high‐tech companies, the findings provide strong support for the hypotheses in that customer involvement in design helps new product performance under high incremental innovation capability but harms new product performance under high radical innovation capability. In contrast, supplier involvement in design was beneficial to new product performance under both high incremental and radical innovation capability. The managerial implications for the role of design under different innovation capabilities are discussed.     

Innovation Aesthetics: The Relationship between Category Cues,Categorization Certainty,and Newness Perceptions

Recent research notes a disconnect between what marketers deem new and innovative versus what consumers actually perceive. Many factors may contribute to this; however, the factor that has significant potential to first attract a consumer to a new product, visual aesthetic design, is investigated in this research. Findings from four studies indicate that if a consumer cannot affix a category label to a new product with certainty, as can happen with innovative aesthetics, a product's newness will be underappreciated and product evaluations will suffer. By utilizing a categorization framework and specifically accounting for the role of categorization certainty, insight into the effects of innovative visual aesthetics and why newness perceptions are inherently subjective, and therefore, potentially hazardous to new product adoption, is provided.     

The Interplay of Customer and Product Innovation Dynamics: An Exploratory Study

The challenges of successfully developing radical or really new products have received considerable attention from a variety of marketing, strategic, and organizational perspectives. Previous research has stressed the importance of a market‐driven customer orientation, the resolution of market and technological uncertainty, and organizational processes such as cross‐functional teams and organizational learning. However, several fundamental issues have not been addressed. From a customer's perspective, a more innovative product tends to have uncertain benefits and requires customers to learn new behaviors. Customer preferences can, therefore, change as product experience and learning increase. From a firm's perspective, it is unclear how to be customer‐oriented under such dynamic preferences, and product strategies using evolving technologies will tend to interact with how customers learn about an innovation. This research focuses on identifying unresolved issues about these customer and product innovation dynamics. A conceptual framework and series of propositions are presented that relate both changing technology and customer learning to a firm's strategic decisions in developing and launching really new products. The framework is based on in‐depth interviews with high‐tech product managers across several sectors, focusing on the business‐to‐business context. The propositions resulting from the framework highlight the need to consider relevant customer dynamics as integral to a firm's product innovation process. Successful innovation strategies and future research challenges are discussed, and applications to better understanding customer needs and theories of disruptive innovation are examined. Several key insights for innovation success hinge on a broad, downstream orientation to customer needs and product innovation dynamics. To be effective innovators, firms must know their customers' customers and competitors as well as or better than their immediate customers do. Market research must extend downstream for a comprehensive understanding of customer needs dynamics. In the context of disruptive innovation, new dimensions of customer needs may become more valuable based on perceived downstream customer trends. Firms may also innovate on secondary needs because mainstream customers do not always give firms the design freedom to radically innovate on primary features. Understanding customer commitments and how they develop under evolving needs can help firms focus resources on innovative efforts more likely to be accepted by customers.     

Heterogeneous Firm‐Level Effects of Knowledge Exchanges on Product Innovation: Differences between Dynamic and Lagging Product Innovators*

Product innovation is the result of a constant interaction between the in‐house research and development (R&D) department and knowledge exchanges with the firm's environment. Knowledge exchanges come in different forms. They break down into information gathering applied in new product development, research cooperation on particular innovation projects, and managing information outflows allowing the consequent appropriation of the results of product innovation through specific methods. The way firms handle knowledge exchanges affects their performance. This paper looks at three related indicators of performance: (1) research intensity (a measure of innovative input); (2) the share of revenue realized through innovative product sales (a measure of innovative output); and (3) their impact on the growth in total revenue. The bulk of the econometric literature looking into these matters only allows general statistical statements on the behavior of an “average” firm. This paper takes on another view by using the quantile regression method to stress the heterogeneity of innovative firms in their dealing with knowledge exchange and the effect this has on their performance. A first key finding is that research intensity is positively influenced by knowledge externalities, research cooperation, and appropriability, and it is through this that these variables affect innovative revenue and also the growth in total revenue. By using quantile regression these relationships are further refined to screen for differences in behavior between dynamic and lagging innovators. This refinement indicates that, in the case of research intensity, the knowledge externalities gain in importance in the higher quantiles and are insignificant in the lower ones. Next, research cooperation remains important in all quantiles, but a higher significance is observed in the higher quantiles as well. Finally, appropriability is extremely important for the lower quantiles, but it becomes insignificant in the highest. These findings corroborate the assumptions made in the literature on open innovation: knowledge externalities and research collaboration are vital for those opening up their firm for new ideas and who are, at the same time, reluctant to protect their findings through specific appropriation measures. In the case of innovative revenue all variables on knowledge exchange operate through the research intensity irrespective of the quantile, although the impact of research intensity on this type of revenue is higher in the upper quantiles. As for the growth in revenue, the effect of the innovative revenue is, again, higher in the higher quantiles. This suggests that dynamic product innovators have the most efficient R&D process and the strongest growers are so, especially, because they are successful product innovators.     

NPD Planning Activities and Innovation Performance: The Mediating Role of Process Management and the Moderating Effect of Product Innovativeness

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of planning and control on the performance of new product development (NPD) projects. It is hypothesized that (1) thorough business planning at the beginning of a project creates a basis for proficient project and risk planning; (2) the proficiency of project planning, risk planning, and process management activities each improves innovation performance directly; (3) the relationship of planning and success is mediated by process management; and (4) the strength of these relationships is moderated by uncertainty, as determined by the degree of innovativeness. To test the hypotheses, data from 132 NPD projects were collected and analyzed. A measurement model was used to establish valid and reliable constructs, a path model to test the main effects, and a multiple-moderated regression analysis for the moderator hypotheses. The results suggest that the proficiency of project planning and process management is important predictors of NPD performance. Specifically, project risk planning and goal stability throughout the development process are found to enhance performance significantly. Business planning proves to be an important antecedent of the more development-related planning activities such as project planning and risk planning. Additionally, the results lend support to the hypotheses regarding the mediating role of process management in the planning–performance relationship. Project planning and risk planning support the quality of process management and thus impact NPD performance indirectly. Only to a limited extent are the strengths of these relationships moderated by the degree of innovativeness of the NPD project.     

技术创新资源投入对高技术企业产品创新绩效影响的实证研究

以新产品产出作为测度我国高技术企业产品创新绩效的指标,以我国2003~2008年大中型高技术企业的面板数据为样本,应用广义矩方法对包括R&D投入和非R&D投入在内的技术创新资源投入对我国高技术企业产品创新绩效的影响进行了实证分析。结果显示:包括研发经费和科技人员在内的R&D投入、非R&D投入构成要素中的技术改造、技术引进、消化吸收对提升我国高技术企业产品创新绩效具有显著的直接正向影响。同时,研究发现技术引进、国内技术购买作为调节变量,显著提升了研发经费投入对高技术企业产品创新绩效的边际贡献;消化吸收作为调节变量,显著提升了技术引进和国内技术购买对高技术企业产品创新绩效的边际贡献。根据实证研究结论,为在开放式创新环境下提升我国高技术企业的产品创新绩效,本文进一步提出了针对性的对策建议。     

产品危机中品牌资产的作用研究

品牌资产是企业重要的无形资产,能够为企业带来多方面的积极影响。在频繁爆发的产品危机中,品牌资产是否仍有积极影响？本研究基于两项实验的实证结论表明在产品危机过程中品牌资产是加剧而不是抵御了危机的负面影响。研究发现危机的严重性和群发性特征能够调节品牌资产的作用,并且发现感知期望破坏程度是产品危机中品牌资产对消费者态度变化影响的中介变量。     

创新顾客需求和产品设计开发管理的探讨

顾客需求和设计开发,决定产品定位和产品的质量。阐述了顾客需求和设计开发管理中存在的问题,说明了进行顾客需求和设计开发创新管理的必要性,并通过故障模式及影响分析的案例来说明创新管理的重要性。     

The Moderating Effect of Environmental Uncertainty on New Product Development and Time Efficiency*

This empirical study examines the influence of environmental uncertainty on industrial product innovation. The present study addresses what is believed to be a shortcoming in the new product development literature and explores potential effects of environmental uncertainty on the development process, project organization, and on project timeliness with a sample of development projects in two countries, Canada and Australia. When looking at the combined sample of 182 completed projects, this study finds that the perceived market‐related project environment has a direct and positive impact on time efficiency. Further, this research finds that a higher degree of technological uncertainty moderates the relationship between development process, project organization and time efficiency. Consequently, innovating companies may benefit by adapting some of their development approaches to different environmental conditions and to varying degrees of uncertainty. However, when examining country‐specific effects, the results change quite significantly. In particular, the findings indicate that environmental uncertainty in the Canadian sample neither directly impacts time efficiency, nor does it have any moderating effect. Instead, technical proficiency in the development process, project team organization, and process compression appear to be viable strategies to increase time‐efficient development. In contrast, the results of the Australian study suggest that perceived market and technological uncertainty impact time efficiency. In particular, under conditions of technological unpredictability, project team organization increases time efficiency, whereas process compression appears to decrease time‐efficient product development. However, process compression seems to be a viable strategy in environments characterized by lower technological uncertainty. The results also point to the importance of disaggregating data when studying product development processes across countries.     

新加坡对华直接投资与双边产业内贸易关系的实证研究

本文概述了新加坡对华直接投资和双边产业内贸易的现状,重点利用计量模型分析国际直接投资与产业内贸易的相关性,论证了新加坡企业对华直接投资与双边产业内贸易存在着正相关关系,得出两个重要结论:新加坡在中国的直接投资诱发并扩大双边的产业内贸易、垂直一体化直接投资是现阶段中国与新加坡产业内贸易发展的重要动力。最后,在上述研究的基础上提出中国更好地吸引和利用外商投资、提高产业内贸易水平的政策建议。     

The Moderating Effects of Virtuality on the Antecedents and Outcome of NPD Team Trust

The fundamental dynamics of virtual and traditional face-to-face teams may be very different. The purpose of this study is to empirically examine and assess the moderating effects of virtuality on the antecedents and outcome of trust, where virtuality is measured along a continuum from face to face (no virtuality) to fully virtual rather than the more common approach of dichotomizing teams into two groups (i.e., face to face and virtual). The sample includes 116 different new product development teams from a variety of industries. The antecedents of trust that are studied are familiarity, goal clarity, training, relationship conflict, and process conflict. The outcome of trust is analyzed by determining how the impact of trust on cooperation changes as the level of virtuality changes. Primary findings are as follows: (1) Relationship conflict can be more detrimental to virtual teams than face-to-face teams because it is very difficult for team members of virtual teams to resolve their interpersonal disputes; (2) goal clarity is more important for face-to-face teams and less important for virtual teams in creating trust among team members; and (3) the impact of trust on cooperation is less for virtual teams than face-to-face teams. The primary implication for researchers and practice of these findings is that the role and importance of trust in virtual teams needs to be reevaluated. Managers using virtual teams need to realize that interpersonal relationships in virtual teams do not evolve in the same manner as face-to-face teams and may require different management techniques to be successful.     

Maximizing the Utility of Customer Product Testing: Beta Test Design and Management

Many companies regularly use beta tests as part of their product development program. Beta testing can validate the product concept, eliminate performance problems prior to market introduction, and serve as an effective sales promotion device. The risks are significant, however, in that a poorly designed test can destroy account relationships, generate inaccurate data on product performance, and stimulate negative publicity. Robert Dolan and John Matthews present guidelines for effective management of beta test programs. They develop these guidelines based on a literature review, an analysis of twenty-one beta test programs as described in secondary sources, and four in-depth field investigations with cooperating firms.     

Innovation and Product Development Strategies in the Italian Motorcycle Industry

The motorcycle industry in Italy offers fertile ground for anyone interested in developing a better understanding of the role innovation plays in enhancing a firm's competitive position. This industry includes both domestic and Japanese firms, with companies ranging from high-volume manufacturers to specialty or niche producers. Firms trying to gain a competitive edge in this crowded field must contend with not only advances in product and process technology, but also the whims of fashion. In a survey of top-level marketing and product development managers from eight leading firms in the Italian motorcycle industry, Moreno Muffatto and Roberto Panizzolo explore the innovation models these firms employ to enhance their competitive position. Their study has the following objectives: categorizing the various competitors in terms of their product and market strategies and their product development and innovation strategies; highlighting differences between the methods of Italian and Japanese firms competing in this market; analyzing the relationships between firms, as well as the roles suppliers play in the various innovation strategies; and identifying the various organizational models employed by the firms in this industry. Different product and market strategies are identified on the basis of three variables: total production volume, the number of different products offered, and the number of different engine capacities offered. Using these variables, the companies in the study are categorized as volume producers, specialists, or niche specialists. The firms are further differentiated on the basis of the relative emphasis each places on product technology and design, product innovation, product variety, and time-based competition. In the firms studied, partnerships play a key role in new product development. Nearly every firm participates in joint projects, most often involving development of either an entire vehicle or an engine. Other partnerships involve firms in countries that offer emerging markets for the motorcycle industry. Organizational structures and strategies employed by the volume producers in this study include: the large product leader, who oversees concept definition and product planning; the project leaders group, which coordinates all phases of development, including activities assigned to external groups; the project managers matrix, a matrix organizational structure with a strong product orientation; and the business unit program manager, who oversees all projects within an independent business unit.     

我国航天企业股权结构研究

目前我国航天企业面临的一个主要问题就是还未形成以现代企业制度为基础的公司治理结构。本文对我国航天企业公司股权结构问题进行了分析，并借鉴国内外股权结构理论研究成果，探讨了完善我国航天企业股权结构的对策措施，为发展我国航天产业提供决策建议。     

股权结构与公司治理绩效实证分析

本文以深、沪两市101家上市公司为样本，分行业竞争环境强弱从股权属性、股权集中度与公司治理绩效的关系进行实证分析，发现行业竞争环境强的上市公司其治理绩效与法人股比例呈三次函数关系，与流通股比例无显著相关关系；行业竞争环境弱的上市公司其治理绩效与国有股比例、法人股比例呈三次函数关系，与流通股比例无显著相关关系；行业竞争环境强的上市公司，股权分散型优于国有控股型，国有控股型优于法人控股型；行业竞争环境弱的上市公司，法人控股型结构优于国有控股型，国有控股型优于股权分散型。最后根据实证分析的结果，提出构建合理股权结构的结论性建议。     

客户关系管理理论在供电企业的应用研究

简要介绍了国外电力公司为了满足客户日益增长的个性化需求,将客户关系理论应用在电力营销和需求侧管理的具体作法。针对我国供电企业营销和服务工作中存在的问题,供电企业在实施客户关系管理时一定要树立以客户为中心的服务意识,改造业务流程,实施和完善客户经理制,建立客户价值和营销效果评价体系,为客户提供增值服务,不断提高服务能力和服务水平。     

动态环境对公司创业战略与绩效关系的调节效应研究

本文研究创新、冒险、先动、竞争侵略等公司创业战略倾向与绩效的关系在动态环境中的表现。研究结果显示动态环境对公司创业战略—绩效关系存在调节效应。本文在部分实证研究结果上,取得了不同于国外学者的研究结论（动态环境对于先动性与绩效的关系具有负向调节效应）,这种差异性正好反映了中国转型经济环境对于公司创业战略决策和结果的影响,这对于理解、解释中国企业的创业战略决策及其绩效具有启发意义。     

跨国公司在华投资市场导向与绩效关系实证研究

以往文献多是从研发投入、技术转让、知识产权保护导致交易费用不同的角度研究市场导向与外资企业绩效之间的关系,本文则从外资企业功能定位、资源要求、市场机会、风险暴露以及不同动机的成本节约差异入手研究外资的市场导向对绩效的影响。相对出口导向型外资企业而言,市场开拓型外资企业在价值创造中承担了更多的功能、投入更多的资源、面临的市场机会更多、风险更小,并且成本节约更大,这些因素使其绩效好于出口导向型外资企业的绩效。我们通过江苏省苏州地区4026家生产性外资企业2003-2007年数据进行实证研究支持了这一结论。同时,实证研究发现市场导向与绩效之间的关系受到进入方式的调节作用,在合资与独资两种不同进入方式下,市场导向与绩效之间的关系在方向上表现不一致,而且在强度上也存在很大差别,合资的市场开拓型在华子公司的绩效要好于独资的出口导向型在华子公司的绩效。基于该研究结论我们提出相应的管理启示和政策建议。     

中国上市公司治理与企业技术创新关系的实证分析

本文通过利用中国2005—2007年343家上市公司的相关数据,对公司治理与技术创新的关系进行了实证分析。本文的主要发现和结论是:经营者持股与企业技术创新存在正相关关系,但这种发现并不具有统计上的显著性;股权集中度与企业技术创新存在倒U型关系,适度集中的股权结构更有利于企业技术创新;国有持股比例(包括国有股和国有法人持股)与企业技术创新存在反相关关系,国有持股比例越高,技术创新能力越低;以证券投资基金为主的机构投资者对企业技术创新有显著的正效应,机构持股比例越高,技术创新能力越强;独立董事制度与企业技术创新存在正相关关系,董事会中独立董事占比较高的企业技术创新投入明显高于独立董事占比较低的企业。本文还根据上述结论,从公司治理的视角提出了提升中国上市公司技术创新能力的政策建议。