Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Innovation is a competitive advantage, with its preservation and continuity dependent
on the organizational innovation capability. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the
innovation capability dimensions and components in medical sciences universities of Iran.
METHODS: The present study is a qualitative study with content analysis approach, undertaken
in 2016–2017. The data processing included 10 deep interviews with the experts of the health
innovation domain in top management of the three types of the medicine sciences universities of
Iran with >5 years of experience. Targeted data sampling was performed using snowball method and
continued until the saturation of the data. Data analysis was performed using conventional content
analysis method using Maxqda 12 software.
RESULTS: Data analysis resulted in the extraction of 28 categories and 8 main themes including
communications and interactions, innovation climate, university setting, policy factors (policy‑making,
rules and regulations), organizational culture, organizational resources, management and leadership,
and organizational learning in two university internal and external dimensions.
CONCLUSION: To accelerate innovation in medical sciences universities, recognizing the potential
of innovation capability is essential.
Keywords
1. Davidsson P. Researching Entrepreneurship. Boston: Springer;
2004.
2. Kim J, Lee S, Marschke G. The Influence of University Research on
Industrial Innovation. Cambridge.: National Bureau of Economic
Research; 2005.(NBER Working Paper No. 11447 June 2005 JEL
No. J62, O31, O33)
3. Rosenblatt M. The use of innovation awards in the public
sector: Individual and organizational perspectives. Innovation
2011;13: 207‑19.
4. Kianto A. Assessing organisational renewal capability. Int J Innov
Reg Dev 2008;1:115‑29.
5. Damanpour F, Schneider M. Phases of the adoption of innovation
in organizations: Effects of environment, organization and top
managers. Br J Manage 2006;17: 215‑36.
6. Drucker P.F. Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Practice and
Principles. New York: Harper & Row, ; 1985.
7. Saunila M, Ukko J. A conceptual framework for the measurement
of innovation capability. Baltic J Manage 2012;7:355‑75.
8. Saunila M. Performance measurement approach for innovation
capability in SMEs. Int J Productivity Perform Manage
2016;65:162‑76.
9. Camisón C, Villar‑López A. Organizational innovation as
an enabler of technological innovation capabilities and firm
performance. J Bus Res 2014;67:2891‑902.
10. Narvekar R, Jain K. A new framework to understand the
technological innovation process. J Intellect Cap 2006;7:174‑86.
11. Laforet S. A framework of organisational innovation and
outcomes in SMEs. Int J Entrep Behav Res 2011;17:380‑408.
12. Saunila M. Innovation capability for SME success: Perspectives
of financial and operational performance. J Adv Manage Res
2014;11:163‑75.
13. Cristina QG, Benavides‑Velasco CA. Cooperation, competition,
and innovative capability: A panel data of European dedicated
biotechnology firms. Technovation 2004;24:927‑38.
14. Helfat CE, Peteraf MA. Understanding dynamic capabilities:
Progress along a developmental path.Strategic Organization.
2009;7 (1):91‑102.
15. MalekAkhlagh E, Moradi M, Mehdizade M, Ahmadi ND.
Innovation strategies, performance diversity and development:
An empirical analysis in Iran construction and housing industry.
Iran J Manage Stud 2013;6:31‑60.
16. Jussila J, Suominen A. Organizational Innovation Capability
In N. Oza, and P. Abrahamsson (Eds.), Building Blocks of Agile
Innovation Booksurge.; 2009.
17. Dehqan R, Talebi K, Arabion A. Research on determinants of
innovation and entrepreneurship at universities in Iran. J Sch
Paramed Tehran Univ Med Sci 2012;1:22‑33.
18. Raffai C. Investigating the Innovation Capability Maturity of
Rural Accommodation Service Providers. Hungary.University
of Pannonia; PhD Dissertation. 2014.
19. Teece DJ. Dynamic Capabilities and Strategic Management:
Organizing for Innovation and Growth. London: Oxford
University Press; 2009.
20. Zhongfeng S, Ahlstrom D, Li J, Cheng D. Knowledge creation
capability, absorptive capacity, and product innovativeness. R D
Manage 2013;43:473‑85.
21. Smith M, Busi M, Ball P, van der Meer R. Factors influencing
an organisations ability to manage innovation: A structured
literature review and conceptual model. Int J Innov Manage
2008;12:655‑76.
22. Dhewanto W, Sohal AS. The relationship between organisational
orientation and research and development/technology
commercialisation performance. R D Manage 2015;45:339‑60.
23. Rhee J, Park T, Lee DH. Drivers of innovativeness and
performance for innovative SMEs in South Korea: Mediation of
learning orientation. Technovation 2010;30:65‑75.
24. Nisula AM, Kianto A. Evaluating and developing innovation
capabilities with a structured method. Interdiscip J Inform Knowl
Manage 2013;8:59‑82.
25. Saunila M, Ukko J, Rantanen H. Does innovation capability really
matter for the profitability of SMEs? Knowl Process Manage
2014;21:34‑142.
26. Hsieh H, Shannon S. Three approaches to qualitative content
analysis. Qual Health Res 2005;15:1277‑88.
27. Elo S, Kääriäinen M, Kanste O, Pölkki T, Utriainen K, Kyngäs H.
Qualitative content analysis: A focus on trustworthiness. SAGE
Open 2014; 4;1‑10.
28. Graneheim U, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve
trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today 2004;24:105‑12.
29. Bengtsson M. How to plan and perform a qualitative study using
content analysis. Nurs Plus Open 2016;2:8‑14.
30. Gumusluoglu L, Ilsev A. Transformational leadership and
organizational innovation: The roles of internal and external
support for innovation. J Product Innov Manage 2009;26:264‑77.
31. Cuevas‑Rodríguez G, Cabello‑Medina C, Carmona‑Lavado A.
Internal and external social capital for radical product innovation:
Do they always work well together? Br J Manage 2014;25:266‑84.
32. Chen Y, Vanhaverbeke W, Du J. The interaction between internal
R&D and different types of external knowledge sourcing: An
empirical study of Chinese innovative firms. R D Manage
2016;46:1006‑23.
33. Xu D. Research on improving the technological innovation
capability of SMEs by university‑industry collaboration. J Eng
Sci Technol Rev 2013;6:100‑4.
34. Romijn H, Albaladejo M. Determinants of innovation capability
in small electronics and software firms in Southeast England. Res
Policy 2002;31:1053‑67.
35. Puffal DP, Teixeira R. Effects of university‑industry interaction
on firm’s innovation: Empirical evidence from Brazilian firms.
Rev Iberoam Estratégia 2014;13:7‑21.
36. Perkmann M, Walsh K. University‑industry relationships
and open innovation: Towards a research agenda. Cross Ref
2007;9:259‑80.
37. Glisson C, Landsverk J, Schoenwald S, Kelleher K, Hoagwood KE,
Mayberg S, et al. Assessing the organizational social context (OSC)
of mental health services: Implications for research and practice.
Adm Policy Ment Health 2008;35:98‑113.
38. Glisson C, Green P, Williams N. Assessing the organizational
social context (OSC) of child welfare systems: Implications for
research and practice. Child Abuse Negl 2012;36:621‑32.
39. Schneider B, Ehrhart M, Macey W. Organizational climate and
culture. Annu Rev Psychol 2013;64:361‑88.
40. Amabile TM, Conti R, Coon H, Lazenby J, Herron M.
Assessing the work environment for creativity. Acad Manage J
1996;39: 1154‑84.
41. Amabile TM, Kramer SJ. What really motivates workers. Harvard
Bus Rev 2010;88:44‑5.
42. Chen T, Tribbitt M, Yang Y, Li X. Does rivals’ innovation matter?
A competitive dynamics perspective on firms’ product strategy.
J Bus Res 2017;76:1‑7.
43. Buergin C. Integrated Innovation Capability. Dubrovnik‑Croatia.
Design: Internationl Design Conference; 2006. p. 455‑62.
44. Lawson B, Samon D. Developing innovation capability in
organiations: A dynamic capabilities approach. Int J Innov
Manage 2001;5:377‑400.
45. Martensen A, Dahlgaard JJ, Park‑Dahlgaard SM, Gronholdt L.
Measuring and diagnosing innovation excellence‑simple
contra advanced approaches: A Danish study. Meas Bus Excell
2007;11:51‑65.
46. Gkiourka P, Tutesigensi A, Moodley K. A Holistic Conceptual
Model for Managing Innovation. Proccess 26th Annual ARCOM
Conference. Leeds, UK: Association of Researchers in Construction
Management; 2010. p. 967‑76.
47. Giannopoulou E, Gryszkiewicz L, Barlatier PJ. A conceptual
model for the development of service innovation capabilities in
research and technology organisations. Int J Knowl Manage Stud
2011;4:319‑35.
48. Hamida MA, Abdullahb M, Mustafac Z, Abidind NZ, Ahmade H.
Conceptual framework of innovation excellence model for higher
education institutions. Proced Soc Behav Sci 2015;174:2846‑8.
49. Yaghoubi M, Teymourzadeh E, Bahadori M, Ghardashi F.
Conceptual model of innovation capability in industrial and
academic research centers: A systematic review. Iran J Manage
Stud 2017;10:609‑40.
50. Porter ME. Towards a dynamic theory of stratgy. Strateg Manage
J 1991;12:95‑117.
51. Bincheng Z, Qian H. An empirical study of the senior corporate
managers’ ability to innovate. J Modern Account Auditing
2013;9:808‑13.
52. Lai WH, Lin CC, Wang TC. Exploring the interoperability of
innovation capability and corporate sustainability. J Bus Res
2015;68:867‑71.
53. Ketata I, Sofka W, Grimpe C. The role of internal capabilities
and firms’ environment for sustainable innovation: Evidence for
Germany. R D Manage 2015;45:60‑75.
54. Shoujun Y, Fangmei L, Yong Y, Runtian J. Organizational culture
evolution: An imprinting perspective. J Organ Change Manage
2014;27:973‑94.
55. Cheung SO, Wong PS, WuAW. Towards an organizational culture
framework in construction. Int J Project Manage 2011;29:33‑44.
56. Sarros C, Cooper B, Santora J. Building a climate for innovation
through transformational leadership and organizational culture.
J Leadersh Organ Stud 2008;15:145‑58.
57. Hock M, Clauss T, Schulz E. The impact of organizational culture
on a firm’s capability to innovate the business model. R D Manage
2016;46:433‑50.
58. Ahmed PK. Culture and climate for innovation. Eur J Innov
Manage 1998;1:30‑43.
59. Glisson C. The role of organizational culture and climate in
innovation and effectiveness. Hum Serv Organ Manag Leadersh
Gov 2015;39:245‑50.
60. Bornay‑Barrachina M, Rosa‑Navarro DD, López‑Cabrales A,
Valle‑Cabrera R. Employment relationships and firm innovation:
The double role of human capital. Br J Manage 2012;23:223‑40.
61. Siadat SA, Chopani H, Kazempur M, Hasandvand MM.
Identification of factors affecting the realization of innovation in
Iranian organizations and provide a strategy for its development.
Initiat Creat Humanit 2013;3:71‑110.
62. Subramaniam M, Youndt MA. The influence of intellectual
capital on the types of innovative capabilities. Acad Manage J
2005;48:450‑63.
63. Saunila M, Ukko J. Intangible aspects of innovation capability
in SMEs: Impacts of size and industry. J Eng Technol Manage
2014;33:32‑46.
64. Wang CJ, Tsai CY. Managing innovation and creativity in
organizations: An empirical study of service industries in Taiwan.
Serv Bus 2014;8:313‑35.
65. Rosenbusch N, Brinckmannb J, Bausch A. Is innovation always
beneficial? A meta‑analysis of the relationship between innovation
and performance in SMEs. J Bus Venturing 2011;26:441‑57.
66. Nilsson S, Ritzén S. Exploring the use of innovation performance
measurement to build innovation capability in a medical device
company. Creat Innov Manage 2014;23:183‑98.
67. Bel R. Leadership and innovation: Learning from the best. Glob
Bus Organ Excell 2010;29:47‑60.
68. Lisboa A, Skarmeas D, Lages C. Innovative capabilities: Their
drivers and effects on current and future performance. J Bus Res
2011;64:1157‑61.
69. Assink M. Inhibitors of disruptive innovation capability:
A conceptual model. Eur J Innov Manage 2006;9:215‑33.
70. Inkinen H, Kianto A, Vanhala M. Knowledge management
practices and innovation performance in Finland. Baltic J Manage
2015;10:432‑55.
71. Aryanto R, Fontana A, Afiff AZ, editors. Strategic Human
Resource Management, Innovation Capability and Performance:
An Empirical Study in Indonesia Software Industry. Bali,
Indonesia: Procedia‑Social and Behavioral Sciences; 2015.
72. Herrmann D, Felfe J. Effects of leadership style, creativity
technique and personal initiative on employee creativity. Br J
Manage 2014;25:209‑27.
2004.
2. Kim J, Lee S, Marschke G. The Influence of University Research on
Industrial Innovation. Cambridge.: National Bureau of Economic
Research; 2005.(NBER Working Paper No. 11447 June 2005 JEL
No. J62, O31, O33)
3. Rosenblatt M. The use of innovation awards in the public
sector: Individual and organizational perspectives. Innovation
2011;13: 207‑19.
4. Kianto A. Assessing organisational renewal capability. Int J Innov
Reg Dev 2008;1:115‑29.
5. Damanpour F, Schneider M. Phases of the adoption of innovation
in organizations: Effects of environment, organization and top
managers. Br J Manage 2006;17: 215‑36.
6. Drucker P.F. Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Practice and
Principles. New York: Harper & Row, ; 1985.
7. Saunila M, Ukko J. A conceptual framework for the measurement
of innovation capability. Baltic J Manage 2012;7:355‑75.
8. Saunila M. Performance measurement approach for innovation
capability in SMEs. Int J Productivity Perform Manage
2016;65:162‑76.
9. Camisón C, Villar‑López A. Organizational innovation as
an enabler of technological innovation capabilities and firm
performance. J Bus Res 2014;67:2891‑902.
10. Narvekar R, Jain K. A new framework to understand the
technological innovation process. J Intellect Cap 2006;7:174‑86.
11. Laforet S. A framework of organisational innovation and
outcomes in SMEs. Int J Entrep Behav Res 2011;17:380‑408.
12. Saunila M. Innovation capability for SME success: Perspectives
of financial and operational performance. J Adv Manage Res
2014;11:163‑75.
13. Cristina QG, Benavides‑Velasco CA. Cooperation, competition,
and innovative capability: A panel data of European dedicated
biotechnology firms. Technovation 2004;24:927‑38.
14. Helfat CE, Peteraf MA. Understanding dynamic capabilities:
Progress along a developmental path.Strategic Organization.
2009;7 (1):91‑102.
15. MalekAkhlagh E, Moradi M, Mehdizade M, Ahmadi ND.
Innovation strategies, performance diversity and development:
An empirical analysis in Iran construction and housing industry.
Iran J Manage Stud 2013;6:31‑60.
16. Jussila J, Suominen A. Organizational Innovation Capability
In N. Oza, and P. Abrahamsson (Eds.), Building Blocks of Agile
Innovation Booksurge.; 2009.
17. Dehqan R, Talebi K, Arabion A. Research on determinants of
innovation and entrepreneurship at universities in Iran. J Sch
Paramed Tehran Univ Med Sci 2012;1:22‑33.
18. Raffai C. Investigating the Innovation Capability Maturity of
Rural Accommodation Service Providers. Hungary.University
of Pannonia; PhD Dissertation. 2014.
19. Teece DJ. Dynamic Capabilities and Strategic Management:
Organizing for Innovation and Growth. London: Oxford
University Press; 2009.
20. Zhongfeng S, Ahlstrom D, Li J, Cheng D. Knowledge creation
capability, absorptive capacity, and product innovativeness. R D
Manage 2013;43:473‑85.
21. Smith M, Busi M, Ball P, van der Meer R. Factors influencing
an organisations ability to manage innovation: A structured
literature review and conceptual model. Int J Innov Manage
2008;12:655‑76.
22. Dhewanto W, Sohal AS. The relationship between organisational
orientation and research and development/technology
commercialisation performance. R D Manage 2015;45:339‑60.
23. Rhee J, Park T, Lee DH. Drivers of innovativeness and
performance for innovative SMEs in South Korea: Mediation of
learning orientation. Technovation 2010;30:65‑75.
24. Nisula AM, Kianto A. Evaluating and developing innovation
capabilities with a structured method. Interdiscip J Inform Knowl
Manage 2013;8:59‑82.
25. Saunila M, Ukko J, Rantanen H. Does innovation capability really
matter for the profitability of SMEs? Knowl Process Manage
2014;21:34‑142.
26. Hsieh H, Shannon S. Three approaches to qualitative content
analysis. Qual Health Res 2005;15:1277‑88.
27. Elo S, Kääriäinen M, Kanste O, Pölkki T, Utriainen K, Kyngäs H.
Qualitative content analysis: A focus on trustworthiness. SAGE
Open 2014; 4;1‑10.
28. Graneheim U, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve
trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today 2004;24:105‑12.
29. Bengtsson M. How to plan and perform a qualitative study using
content analysis. Nurs Plus Open 2016;2:8‑14.
30. Gumusluoglu L, Ilsev A. Transformational leadership and
organizational innovation: The roles of internal and external
support for innovation. J Product Innov Manage 2009;26:264‑77.
31. Cuevas‑Rodríguez G, Cabello‑Medina C, Carmona‑Lavado A.
Internal and external social capital for radical product innovation:
Do they always work well together? Br J Manage 2014;25:266‑84.
32. Chen Y, Vanhaverbeke W, Du J. The interaction between internal
R&D and different types of external knowledge sourcing: An
empirical study of Chinese innovative firms. R D Manage
2016;46:1006‑23.
33. Xu D. Research on improving the technological innovation
capability of SMEs by university‑industry collaboration. J Eng
Sci Technol Rev 2013;6:100‑4.
34. Romijn H, Albaladejo M. Determinants of innovation capability
in small electronics and software firms in Southeast England. Res
Policy 2002;31:1053‑67.
35. Puffal DP, Teixeira R. Effects of university‑industry interaction
on firm’s innovation: Empirical evidence from Brazilian firms.
Rev Iberoam Estratégia 2014;13:7‑21.
36. Perkmann M, Walsh K. University‑industry relationships
and open innovation: Towards a research agenda. Cross Ref
2007;9:259‑80.
37. Glisson C, Landsverk J, Schoenwald S, Kelleher K, Hoagwood KE,
Mayberg S, et al. Assessing the organizational social context (OSC)
of mental health services: Implications for research and practice.
Adm Policy Ment Health 2008;35:98‑113.
38. Glisson C, Green P, Williams N. Assessing the organizational
social context (OSC) of child welfare systems: Implications for
research and practice. Child Abuse Negl 2012;36:621‑32.
39. Schneider B, Ehrhart M, Macey W. Organizational climate and
culture. Annu Rev Psychol 2013;64:361‑88.
40. Amabile TM, Conti R, Coon H, Lazenby J, Herron M.
Assessing the work environment for creativity. Acad Manage J
1996;39: 1154‑84.
41. Amabile TM, Kramer SJ. What really motivates workers. Harvard
Bus Rev 2010;88:44‑5.
42. Chen T, Tribbitt M, Yang Y, Li X. Does rivals’ innovation matter?
A competitive dynamics perspective on firms’ product strategy.
J Bus Res 2017;76:1‑7.
43. Buergin C. Integrated Innovation Capability. Dubrovnik‑Croatia.
Design: Internationl Design Conference; 2006. p. 455‑62.
44. Lawson B, Samon D. Developing innovation capability in
organiations: A dynamic capabilities approach. Int J Innov
Manage 2001;5:377‑400.
45. Martensen A, Dahlgaard JJ, Park‑Dahlgaard SM, Gronholdt L.
Measuring and diagnosing innovation excellence‑simple
contra advanced approaches: A Danish study. Meas Bus Excell
2007;11:51‑65.
46. Gkiourka P, Tutesigensi A, Moodley K. A Holistic Conceptual
Model for Managing Innovation. Proccess 26th Annual ARCOM
Conference. Leeds, UK: Association of Researchers in Construction
Management; 2010. p. 967‑76.
47. Giannopoulou E, Gryszkiewicz L, Barlatier PJ. A conceptual
model for the development of service innovation capabilities in
research and technology organisations. Int J Knowl Manage Stud
2011;4:319‑35.
48. Hamida MA, Abdullahb M, Mustafac Z, Abidind NZ, Ahmade H.
Conceptual framework of innovation excellence model for higher
education institutions. Proced Soc Behav Sci 2015;174:2846‑8.
49. Yaghoubi M, Teymourzadeh E, Bahadori M, Ghardashi F.
Conceptual model of innovation capability in industrial and
academic research centers: A systematic review. Iran J Manage
Stud 2017;10:609‑40.
50. Porter ME. Towards a dynamic theory of stratgy. Strateg Manage
J 1991;12:95‑117.
51. Bincheng Z, Qian H. An empirical study of the senior corporate
managers’ ability to innovate. J Modern Account Auditing
2013;9:808‑13.
52. Lai WH, Lin CC, Wang TC. Exploring the interoperability of
innovation capability and corporate sustainability. J Bus Res
2015;68:867‑71.
53. Ketata I, Sofka W, Grimpe C. The role of internal capabilities
and firms’ environment for sustainable innovation: Evidence for
Germany. R D Manage 2015;45:60‑75.
54. Shoujun Y, Fangmei L, Yong Y, Runtian J. Organizational culture
evolution: An imprinting perspective. J Organ Change Manage
2014;27:973‑94.
55. Cheung SO, Wong PS, WuAW. Towards an organizational culture
framework in construction. Int J Project Manage 2011;29:33‑44.
56. Sarros C, Cooper B, Santora J. Building a climate for innovation
through transformational leadership and organizational culture.
J Leadersh Organ Stud 2008;15:145‑58.
57. Hock M, Clauss T, Schulz E. The impact of organizational culture
on a firm’s capability to innovate the business model. R D Manage
2016;46:433‑50.
58. Ahmed PK. Culture and climate for innovation. Eur J Innov
Manage 1998;1:30‑43.
59. Glisson C. The role of organizational culture and climate in
innovation and effectiveness. Hum Serv Organ Manag Leadersh
Gov 2015;39:245‑50.
60. Bornay‑Barrachina M, Rosa‑Navarro DD, López‑Cabrales A,
Valle‑Cabrera R. Employment relationships and firm innovation:
The double role of human capital. Br J Manage 2012;23:223‑40.
61. Siadat SA, Chopani H, Kazempur M, Hasandvand MM.
Identification of factors affecting the realization of innovation in
Iranian organizations and provide a strategy for its development.
Initiat Creat Humanit 2013;3:71‑110.
62. Subramaniam M, Youndt MA. The influence of intellectual
capital on the types of innovative capabilities. Acad Manage J
2005;48:450‑63.
63. Saunila M, Ukko J. Intangible aspects of innovation capability
in SMEs: Impacts of size and industry. J Eng Technol Manage
2014;33:32‑46.
64. Wang CJ, Tsai CY. Managing innovation and creativity in
organizations: An empirical study of service industries in Taiwan.
Serv Bus 2014;8:313‑35.
65. Rosenbusch N, Brinckmannb J, Bausch A. Is innovation always
beneficial? A meta‑analysis of the relationship between innovation
and performance in SMEs. J Bus Venturing 2011;26:441‑57.
66. Nilsson S, Ritzén S. Exploring the use of innovation performance
measurement to build innovation capability in a medical device
company. Creat Innov Manage 2014;23:183‑98.
67. Bel R. Leadership and innovation: Learning from the best. Glob
Bus Organ Excell 2010;29:47‑60.
68. Lisboa A, Skarmeas D, Lages C. Innovative capabilities: Their
drivers and effects on current and future performance. J Bus Res
2011;64:1157‑61.
69. Assink M. Inhibitors of disruptive innovation capability:
A conceptual model. Eur J Innov Manage 2006;9:215‑33.
70. Inkinen H, Kianto A, Vanhala M. Knowledge management
practices and innovation performance in Finland. Baltic J Manage
2015;10:432‑55.
71. Aryanto R, Fontana A, Afiff AZ, editors. Strategic Human
Resource Management, Innovation Capability and Performance:
An Empirical Study in Indonesia Software Industry. Bali,
Indonesia: Procedia‑Social and Behavioral Sciences; 2015.
72. Herrmann D, Felfe J. Effects of leadership style, creativity
technique and personal initiative on employee creativity. Br J
Manage 2014;25:209‑27.
)