Research PaperNo Access

Linking Adaptive Governance, Strategic Flexibility and Responsible Innovation: Evidence from China

Xia Cao

School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China

Search for more papers by this author

Dan Lv

School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China

E-mail Address: 283671881@qq.com

Corresponding author.

Search for more papers by this author

Zeyu Xing

Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

Search for more papers by this author

, and

Lanting Zhang

School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China

Search for more papers by this author

https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219877023500402Cited by:1 (Source: Crossref)

Abstract

The transformative and complex nature of technological development raises some ethical issues regarding innovation. Actually, many emerging technologies which developed rapidly are actually a double-edged sword. While innovation promotes development, it also affects the nature and society adversely. We discuss the relations among adaptive governance, strategic flexibility and responsible innovation. According to the path of “guide-strategy-behavior”, the influence relationship model of “adaptive governance-strategic flexibility-responsible innovation” is constructed. We took 425 top managers, middle managers and R & D staff as respondents, and finished empirical study by structural equation model (SEM) and fs QCA. We have the following findings: (i) adaptive governance has a positive effect on responsible innovation; (ii) proactive flexibility plays a part in the mediating role between adaptive governance and responsible innovation; (iii) reactive flexibility plays a part in the mediating role between adaptive governance and responsible innovation; (iv) the mediating effect of proactive flexibility is stronger than reactive flexibility. These findings extend the research and practice of adaptive governance and responsible innovation.

Keywords:

References

Adomako, S. and Dai, D. T. (2022). Environmental collaboration, responsible innovation, and firm performance: The moderating role of stakeholder pressure. Business Strategy and the Environment, 31, 4: 1695–1704. Crossref, Google Scholar
Ansoff, H. (1965). Corporate Strategy: An Analytic Approach to Business Policy for Growth and Expansion. Mc Graw Hill, New York. Google Scholar
Ansoff, I. H. (1957). Strategies for diversification. Harvard Business Review, 35, 5: 113–124. Google Scholar
Armitage, D. R. et al. (2009). Adaptive co-management for social–ecological complexity. Frontiers in Ecology & the Environment, 7, 2: 95–102. Crossref, Google Scholar
Arnold, V. et al. (2015). Leveraging integrated information systems to enhance strategic flexibility and performance: The enabling role of enterprise risk management. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 19: 1–16. Crossref, Google Scholar
Burget, M., Bardone, E. and Pedaste, M. (2017). Definitions and conceptual dimensions of responsible research and innovation: A literature review. Science and Engineering Ethics, 23, 1: 1–19. Crossref, Google Scholar
Casper, S. (2013). The spill-over theory reversed: The impact of regional economies on the commercialization of university science. Research Policy, 42, 8: 1313–1324. Crossref, Google Scholar
Caverly, R. W. (2013). Responsible innovation: Managing the responsible emergence of science and innovation in society. Journal of Research Administration, 44, 10: 1513–1514. Google Scholar
Chai, Y. and Zeng, Y. (2018). Social capital, institutional change, and adaptive governance of the 50-year-old Wang hilltop pond irrigation system in Guangdong, China. International Journal of the Commons, 12, 2: 192–216. Crossref, Google Scholar
Cingoz, A and Akdogana, A. (2013). Strategic flexibility, environmental dynamism, and innovation performance: An empirical study. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 99, 582–589. Crossref, Google Scholar
Clark, J. R. A. and Clarke, R. (2011). Local sustainability initiatives in English National Parks: What role for adaptive governance? Land Use Policy, 28, 1: 314–324. Crossref, Google Scholar
Clark, J. R. A. and Clarke, R. (2011). Local sustainability initiatives in English National Parks: What role for adaptive governance? Land Use Policy, 28, 1: 314–324. Crossref, Google Scholar
Cleaver, F. and Whaley, L. (2018). Understanding process, power, and meaning in adaptive governance: A critical institutional reading. Ecology and Society, 23, 2: 49. Crossref, Google Scholar
Dacin, T. M. and Dacin, P. A. (2007). The Sage Handbook of Organisational Insitutionalism. Sage Publications, Singapore, pp. 326–351. Google Scholar
Davis, B. K. (2012). Ethics of Big Data. Farnham, UK: Oreilly Vlg Gmbh & Co, pp. 60–61. Google Scholar
De Saille, S. (2015). Innovating innovation policy: The emergence of responsible research and innovation. Journal of Responsible Innovation, 2, 2: 152–168. Crossref, Google Scholar
Ding, D., Li, Z. and Hu, M. (2013). Study on the potential risks and technical governance issues in the development of emerging technologies. China Soft Science, 270, 6: 62–70 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Doorn, N. (2012). Responsibility ascriptions in technology development and engineering: Three perspectives, Science and Engineering Ethics, 18, 1: 69–90. Crossref, Google Scholar
Eden, G., Jirotka, M. and Stahl, B. (2013). Responsible research and innovation: Critical reflection into the potential social consequences of ICT. IEEE Seventh International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science, IEEE, Paris, May 2013, pp. 1–12. Crossref, Google Scholar
Eikenberry, A. M. and Kluver, J. D. (2004). The marketization of the nonprofit sector: Civil society at risk? Public Administration Review, 64, 2: 132–140. Crossref, Google Scholar
Evans, J. S. (1991). Strategic flexibility for high technology Manoeuvres: A conceptual framework. Journal of Management Studies, 28, 1: 69–89. Crossref, Google Scholar
Fan, Z., Fan, D. and Yuan, S. (2014). Impact of enterprise strategic flexibility on innovation performance: Based on dual perspective of proactive and reactive. In IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering & Engineering Management, IEEE, Hong Kong, pp. 712–716. Google Scholar
Fiss, P. C. (2011). Building better causal theories: A fuzzy set approach to typologies in organization research. Academy of Management Journal, 54, 2: 393–420. Crossref, Google Scholar
Folke, C. et al. (2005). Adaptive governance of social-ecological systems. Annual Review of Environment & Resources, 30: 441–473. Crossref, Google Scholar
Gang, L. and Guoping, C. (2007). A study on the organizational flexibility in uncertain environment. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Innovation & Management, pp. 759–763. Google Scholar
Genus, A. and Marfuga, I. (2018). Responsible innovation: Its institutionalisation and a critique. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 128: 1–9. Crossref, Google Scholar
Gerbing, W. D. and Anderson, J. C. (1988). An update paradigm for scale development incorporating unidimensionality and its assessments. Journal of Marketing Research, 25, 2: 186–192. Crossref, Google Scholar
Gianni, R. et al. (2014). Panel - Responsible innovation in research: A reflexive governance to scientific development. In 2014 IEEE International Symposium on Ethics in Engineering, Science, and Technology (ETHICS). IEEE, Chicago, 2014. Crossref, Google Scholar
Grguric, I. (2011). Europe 2020-European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Revija Za Socijalnu Politiku, 18, 1: 119–124. Google Scholar
Grindle, M. S. (2004). Good enough governance: Poverty reduction and reform in developing countries, Governance, 17, 4: 525–548. Crossref, Google Scholar
Guan, T., Xue, L. and Zhao, J. (2019). Governance innovation empowered by technology: Practical cases based on China’s environmental field. Chinese Administration, 4, 7: 58–65 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Hadj, T. B. (2020). Effects of corporate social responsibility towards stakeholders and environmental management on responsible innovation and competitiveness. Journal of Cleaner Production, 250: 119490.1–119490.10. Crossref, Google Scholar
Hasselman, L. (2016). Adaptive management; adaptive co-management; adaptive governance: What’s the difference? Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 24: 1–16. Google Scholar
Hofmann, K. H., Theyel, G. and Wood, C. H. (2012). Identifying firm capabilities as drivers of environmental management and sustainability practices – Evidence from small and medium-sized manufacturers. Business Strategy & the Environment, 21, 8: 530–545. Crossref, Google Scholar
Holling, C. (1999). Command and control and the pathology of natural resource management. Conservation Biology, 10, 2: 328–337. Crossref, Google Scholar
Hu, S. (2019). Research on the influence mechanism of dual institutional pressure on enterprises’ responsible innovation behavior. Wuhan University of Technology [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Irwin, A. (2006). The politics of talk coming to terms with the ‘New’ scientific governance, Social Studies of Science, 36, 2: 299–320. Crossref, Google Scholar
Janssen, M. and Haiko, V. D. V. (2016). Adaptive governance: Towards a stable, accountable and responsive government. Government Information Quarterly, 33, 1: 1–5. Crossref, Google Scholar
Jeroen, V. D. H. (2013). Value sensitive design and responsible innovation. In Responsible Innovation: Managing the Responsible Emergence of Science and Innovation in Society. Singapore Pte. Ltd: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 75–84. Google Scholar
Jiang, S., Gong, L. and Wei, J. (2011). Capability catch-up of latecomer enterprises under the background of transitional economy: A co-examination model—taking Geely Group as an example. Management World, 211, 4: 122–137 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Johnson, J. L., Lee, R. P.-W., Saini, A. and Grohmann, B. (2003). Market-focused strategic flexibility: Conceptual advances arid an integrative model. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 31, 1: 74–89. Crossref, Google Scholar
Kamasak, R., Yozgat, U. and Yavuz, M. (2017). Knowledge process capabilities and innovation: Testing the moderating effects of environmental dynamism and strategic flexibility. Knowledge Management Research Practice, 15, 3: 356–368. Crossref, Google Scholar
Karri, R. V. N. (2001). Strategic flexibility and firm performance. Washington State University, Washington, 2001. Google Scholar
Lee, R. G. and Judith, P. (2013). Adaptive governance for responsible innovation. In Responsible Innovation: Managing the Responsible Emergence of Science and Innovation in Society. Singapore Pte. Ltd: Wiley, pp. 143–164. Crossref, Google Scholar
Li, D. et al. (2017). Effects of corporate environmental responsibility on financial performance: The moderating role of government regulation and organizational slack. Journal of Cleaner Production, 166, 10: 1323–1334. Crossref, Google Scholar
Li, Y. et al. (2008). Entrepreneurial orientation, strategic flexibilities and indigenous firm innovation in transitional China. International Journal of Technology Management, 41, 1–2: 223–246. Crossref, Google Scholar
Lisa, S. W., Velarde, S. J. and Anita, W. (2018). Adaptive governance good practice: Show me the evidence! Journal of Environmental Management, 222: 174–184. Google Scholar
Lu, D., Sun, Y., Zhou, W. and Yang, D. (2014). Local government performance demands, government control and corporate value research. Economic Research, 49, 1: 56–69 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Mei, L. and Chen, J. (2015). Responsible innovation: Origin, attribution analysis and theoretical framework. Management World, 263, 8: 39–57 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Mei, L., Chen, J. and Sheng, W. (2014). Responsible innovation-a new paradigm of research and innovation. Studies in Dialectics of Nature, 30, 10: 83–89 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Mei, L., Chen, J., Huang, J. and Lv, W. (2018a). Witnessing the prosperity of the country: An interpretation of the central framework of responsible innovation. Technoeconomics, 37, 3: 1–8 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Mei, L., Chen, J. and Wu, X. (2018b). Analysis of the innovation governance of emerging technologies under the paradigm of responsible innovation: Taking artificial intelligence as an example. Technoeconomics, 37, 1: 1–7 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Miller, H. (2006). Adaptive governance, integrating science, policy and decision making, Forestry, 79, 5: 609–610. Crossref, Google Scholar
Novellie, P. et al. (2016). National laws and policies can enable or confound adaptive governance: Examples from South African national parks. Environmental Science & Policy, 66: 40–46. Crossref, Google Scholar
Ogbeibu, S. et al. (2021). Responsible innovation in organisations – unpacking the effects of leader trustworthiness and organizational culture on employee creativity. Asia Pacific Journal of Management. https://doi.org/org/10.1007/s10490-021-09784-8 Crossref, Google Scholar
Owen, R., Macnabhten, P. and Stilboe, J. (2012). Responsible research and innovation: From science in society to science for society, with society. Science and Public Policy, 39, 751–760. Crossref, Google Scholar
Podsakoff, P. M. et al. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 5: 879–903. Crossref, Google Scholar
Polishchuk, L. (2009). Corporate social responsibility or government regulation: An analysis of institutional choice. Problems of Economic Transition, 52, 8: 73–94. Crossref, Google Scholar
Ragin, C. C. (2008). Redesigning Social Inquiry: Fuzzy Sets and Beyond. University of Chicago Press. Crossref, Google Scholar
Randles, S. (2019). Deepening ‘Deep Institutionalisation’. JERRI Deliverable 2.1. Available at www.jerri-project.eu/jerri-wAssets/docs/deliverables/wp-1/JERRI_Deliverable_D1_2_ Deepening-Deep-Institutionalisation.pdf [accessed on 22 January 2019]. Google Scholar
Ranjan, V. N. K. (2001). Strategic flexibility and firm performance. Washington State University, Washington. Google Scholar
Ribeiro, B. E., Smith, R. D. J. and Millar, K. (2017). A mobilising concept? Unpacking academic representations of responsible research and innovation. Science and Engineering Ethics, 23, 1: 81–103. Crossref, Google Scholar
Roeser, S. and Pesch, U. (2015). An emotional deliberation approach to risk. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 2, 2: 883–890. Google Scholar
Ron, S. and Aimé, H. (1997). Preparing for the future: Developing strategic flexibility from a competence-based perspective managing for an uncertain future: A systems view of strategic organizational change. International Studies of Management & Organization, 27, 2: 21–42. Crossref, Google Scholar
Simsek, Z., Heavy, C. and Veiga, J. F. (2010). The impact of CEO core self-evaluation on the firm’s entrepreneurial orientation. Strategic Management Journal, 31, 1: 110–119. Crossref, Google Scholar
Song, T. and Zhang, L. (2018). Review and prospects of strategic flexibility research. Journal of South China University of Technology (Social Science Edition), 20, 6: 8–24. Google Scholar
Stahl, B. C. (2013). Responsible research and innovation: The role of privacy in an emerging framework. Science and Public Policy, 40, 6: 708–716. Crossref, Google Scholar
Stilgoe, J., Owen, R. and Macnaghten, P. (2013). Developing a framework for responsible innovation. Research Policy, 42, 9: 1568–1580. Crossref, Google Scholar
Swierstra, T. and Rip, A. (2007). Nano-ethics as NESTethics: Patterns of moral argumentation about new and emerging science and technology, Nanoethics, 1, 1: 3–20. Crossref, Google Scholar
Thoumrungroje, A. (2015). The moderating roles of organizational learning and strategic flexibility on marketing strategic change and business performance: Evidence from firms in Thailand. International Marketing in the Fast Changing World, 26: 179–198. Crossref, Google Scholar
Voegtlin, C. and Scherer, A. G. (2017). Responsible innovation and the innovation of responsibility: Governing sustainable development in a globalized world. Journal of Business Ethics, 143, 2: 227–243. Crossref, Google Scholar
Von Schomberg, R. (2013). A vision of responsible research and innovation. In Responsible Innovation: Managing the Responsible Emergence of Science and Innovation in Society, Wiley, pp. 51–74. Crossref, Google Scholar
Wang, T., Libaers, D and Jiao, H. (2015). Opening the black box of upper echelons in China: TMT attributes and strategic flexibility. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 32, 5: 685–703. Crossref, Google Scholar
Woodside, A. G. (2013). Moving beyond multiple regression analysis to algorithms: Calling for adoption of a paradigm shift from symmetric to asymmetric thinking in data analysis and crafting theory. Journal of Business Research, 66, 4: 463–472. Crossref, Google Scholar
Wu, X., Chen, J. and Mei, L. (2019). Gender impact assessment and case testing in innovation management. Scientific Research Management, 40, 3: 133–142 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Xia, B. (2013). Study on the ethical risk function of technology innovation management. Journal of Southeast University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 15, 2: 26–30 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Xue, G. and Zhao, Y. (2017). Reconstruction of the paradigm of science and technology governance under the framework of “responsible innovation”. Science and Technology Progress and Policy, 34, 11: 1–5 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Xue, L. and Zhao, J. (2016). The development of emerging industries and adaptive supervision. Public Management Review, 22, 2: 3–6 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Xue, L. and Zhao, J. (2019). Towards agile governance: A probe into the development of emerging industries and regulatory models. Chinese Administration, 8, 2: 28–34 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Xue, L., Weng, L. and Yu, H. (2018). Addressing policy challenges in implementing sustainable development goals through an adaptive governance approach: A view from transitional China. Sustainable Development, 26: 150–158. Crossref, Google Scholar
Yang, Z. and Gaoshan, X. (2020). The mediating role of strategic flexibility in the orientation of entrepreneurs and original innovation in different dimensions. Management Review, 32, 3: 136–151 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Yin, M. and Liu, Y. (2016). Research on the impact of new enterprise strategic orientation on entrepreneurial learning. Research in Science of Science, 34, 8: 1223–1231 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Yu, Y. and Mei, Q. (2016). The impact of industrial cluster relationship embedding under the intermediary effect of organizational legitimacy on the performance of startups. Journal of Management, 13, 5: 697–706. Google Scholar
Zhang, H. (2015). The mechanism of knowledge transfer on the innovation performance of alliance enterprises: Using strategic flexibility as an intermediary. Scientific Research Management, 36, 7: 1–9 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Zhao, J., Liao, W. and Xi, X. (2019). The relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and exploratory innovation: A dual intermediary effect model. Management Science, 32, 2: 33–49 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Zhao, Y. and Liao, M. (2017). Responsible research and innovation in China. China Soft Science, 315, 3: 37–46 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar
Zhao, Y. and Wu, S. (2012). Risk and rationality: Nano-science and technology facing social needs-research on nano-security in China and the World. Science and Society, 2, 2: 24–35. Google Scholar
Zhou, F. (2019). Strategic flexibility, intellectual capital and two-way open innovation. Science Research Management, V40, 12: 85–93 [in Chinese]. Google Scholar