The Effectiveness of Service Innovation Practices to Reduce Energy Consumption Based on Adaptive Theory

• Main Authors: Yang Yang, Zhongqiu Li, Yingying Su
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-09-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: service innovation practice; service innovation performance; manufacturing enterprise; environmental uncertainty
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/9/3317

Research on service innovation appears in several research disciplines, with important contributions in marketing, management, and operations research. The purpose of manufacturing enterprise service is to reduce energy consumption. We offer a new account based on an adaptive theory perspective. This paper investigates the relationship among three types of service innovation practices and service innovation performance in manufacturing enterprise. The study further examines environmental uncertainty as a moderator between service innovation practices and service innovation performance. Data collected from 59 manufacturing enterprises in China, and is analyzed and used to validate the article’s theoretical and empirical contributions. The findings reveal that three types of service innovation practices have positive effects on service innovation performance. In addition, the results show that the effect of guide-based service innovation practices on service innovation performance is weakened in manufacturing enterprise when there are higher levels of environmental uncertainty. The effect of project-based service innovation practices on service innovation performance is weakened in manufacturing enterprise when there are higher levels of environmental uncertainty. Based on the results, this study provides implications for service innovation and support roles in fostering and sustaining innovation, which generate sustainable competitive advantage.