Yuanzhu Zhan

A big data framework for facilitating product innovation processes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to suggest how firms could use big data to facilitate product innovation processes, by shortening the time to market, improving customers’ product adoption and reducing costs. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on a two-step approach. First, this research identifies four potential key success factors for organisations to integrate big data in accelerating their product innovation processes. The proposed factors are further examined and developed by conducting interviews with different organisation experts and academic researchers. Then a framework is developed based on the interview outputs. The framework sets out the key success factors involved in leveraging big data to reduce lead times and costs in product innovation processes. Findings The three determined key success factors are: accelerated innovation process; customer connection; and an ecosystem of innovation. The authors believe that the developed framework based on big data represents a paradigm shift. It can help firms to make new product development dramatically faster and less costly. Research limitations/implications The proposed accelerated innovation processes demand a shift in traditional organisational culture and practices. It is, though, meaningful only for products and services with short life cycles. Moreover, the framework has not yet been widely tested. Practical implications This paper points to the vital role of big data in helping firms to accelerate product innovation processes. First of all, it allows organisations to launch new products to market as quickly as possible. Second, it helps organisations to determine the weaknesses of the product earlier in the development cycle. Third, it allows functionalities to be added to a product that customers are willing to pay a premium for, while eliminating features they do not want. Last, but not least, it identifies and then prioritises customer needs for specific markets. Originality/value The research shows that firms could harvest external knowledge and import ideas across organisational boundaries. An accelerated innovation process based on big data is characterised by a multidimensional process involving intelligence efforts, relentless data collection and flexible working relationships with team members.

Sustainable Chinese manufacturing competitiveness in the 21st century: green and lean practices, pressure and performance

Instead of focusing on economic growth, firms in the twenty-first century are paying more attention to environmental aspects in order to enhance their sustainable competitiveness. ‘Green and lean’ practices have emerged as a vital method for organisations that are seeking to become competitive and environmentally sustainable. This article aims to describe and evaluate green and lean practices, pressures and performance among various Chinese manufacturing organisations. Based on a literature review, five green and lean practice propositions are identified and summarised. This research collects data from 172 Chinese manufacturing organisations and derives groupings of green and lean practice, pressures and performance via an exploratory factor analysis. The results show that due to competition, marketing pressure and regulatory factors, Chinese manufacturing organisations have increased their environmental awareness to gain environmental competitiveness. This research establishes a foundation of green and lean practice for further investigation. It also suggests that a win-win relationship between economic growth and environment in Chinese manufacturing is possible, and can be enhanced by implementing green and lean practices.

Food supply chain integrity: the need to go beyond certification

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish a conceptual model adopted from a strategy-structure-performance paradigm for investigating the fit between the supply chain integration and halal food supply chain integrity and the impact of halal food supply chain integrity on firms’ performance in a Malaysian context. Design/methodology/approach This study comprises a sample of a halal manufacturing firm in Malaysia. A cross-sectional research design was used in this study. Data were gathered based on mailed and personally administered questionnaires. SmartPLS was used to analyse the 254 valid responses. Findings The research findings indicate that internal integration and strategy have positive impact on halal food supply chain integrity. The study results confirmed that customer integration and supplier integration contributes to halal food supply chain integrity. It also finds that halal food supply chain integrity has a significantly positive impact. Research limitations/implications The results suggested that a strategic collaboration with the supplier pivoted around the quality and integrity of the raw materials should be undertaken. Practical implications The results from this study supports that the managers should adopt all halal food supply chain integrity components to achieve a superior performance. Even though some of the components did not yield significant results in terms of their relationships with firms’ performance, these dimensions were generally related to the standardised industry requirements, such as certifications. Originality/value The findings are original and unique and are based on established theories from the literature on supply chain management practices. The research findings are useful to academics and policymakers interested in fostering a halal supply chain in Malaysia.