Nukhet Harmancioglu

Theoretical lenses and domain definitions in innovation research

– This study aims to scrutinize the meaning and domain of “innovation” by providing an extensive theory‐driven review of the new product literature in marketing, management and engineering. The overall objective is to classify the recent literature on innovation and to illustrate theoretically derived discourses in the study of innovation., – The paper organizes this literature by providing typologies of discourses, which define innovation. Based on our review of 238 articles from a comprehensive set of journals publishing innovation research, we propose a theoretical divide in the innovation literature., – Theoretical underpinnings, namely adoption/diffusion theory versus the resource‐based/contingency theory view, form one dimension of the typology. Jointly considered with the other two dimensions – level of analysis and customer vs firm perspective – a framework is formed of the different discourses and conceptualisations in the innovation literature., – Past researchers have always proposed a definition of innovation that was embedded in a typology of innovation types; in contrast, the paper allows the theoretical discourses to unveil meanings of innovation and associated constructs (and hence it starts with theory specification, not construct definition). It argues for starting with theory as the basic division and proposes a theory driven typology. Through its theoretical genesis, the paper wishes to create a shared understanding among academics and practitioners of what constitutes innovation and constructs within the related theoretical net.

An exploratory study on the value of service learning projects and their impact on community service involvement and critical thinking

Purpose – This exploratory study attempts to capture some of the principal benefits/factors attributable to service learning/community service projects, from a student perspective.Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 67 males and 83 females (16 graduate, 71 seniors, and 63 juniors) participated in the study.Findings – Students believe that their college experience is preparing them for the job market, that critical thinking has been enhanced, and that their college academic experience has emphasized community service upon graduation.Practical implications – The results increase ones knowledge of the benefits of service learning since so much emphasis is currently being placed on improving the critical thinking and problem‐solving ability of undergraduate business students.Originality/value – Practitioners would be interested in understanding the impact that service learning can have on the problem‐solving ability of potential employees. If additional research could advance the proposition that stude...

The Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation in Overcoming Known and Unknown Barriers to Entry in Foreign Markets

It is often recommended for multinational corporations (MNCs) to adopt an Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) as this can be valuable for effective foreign entries. In this research, however, we assert that the role of EO in the success of foreign entries is contingent on the entry situation, especially the type of entry barrier the MNC is facing. In this study we look at two types of entry barriers, those that are known prior to entry and those that are unknown. Prior research has typically focused on known barriers, those that are expected prior to entry, such as cultural distance, economic distance or competition in the foreign market. The topic of unknown, unexpected barriers has been understudied. Our key contribution therefore is the study of both known vs. unknown barriers of entry as moderators to the EO-foreign entry success relationship.