Corporate entrepreneurship, operations core competency and innovation in emerging economies

Abstract

This study used a blended view of corporate entrepreneurship and operations core capability as enablers of innovation. Survey data collected from automotive OEM suppliers in five emerging countries in South-east Asia are used to examine the relationships among corporate entrepreneurship, operations core competency and innovation. We measured corporate entrepreneurship by its corporate culture and leadership, whereas operations core competency was operationalised by a firm’s knowledge management, technology management and process management. Finally, innovation is measured by process innovation and product innovation. Our analyses show that in the context of Asia, corporate entrepreneurship affects a firm’s operations core competency, which in turn affects innovation. Our findings provide valuable insights about the enablers of a firm’s operations core competency and innovation.

Keywords:

• entrepreneurship
• knowledge management
• technology management
• process management
• core competency
• process innovation
• product innovation

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Dr Daniel I. Prajogo, who assisted in drafting an initial version of the survey instrument and ASEAN Secretariat in facilitating the data collection.

Funding

This work was supported by the Higher Education Research Promotion and National Research University Project of Thailand, Office of Higher Education Commission and Thammasat University.