Knowledge and Technology Transfer Influencing the Process of Innovation in Green Supply Chain Management: A Multicriteria Model Based on the DEMATEL Method

Abstract

After performing a systematic review of the literature, it was noticeable that the discussion regarding Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) along with Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) and Innovation is scarce. To address this issue, the objective of this paper is to analyze the relationship between GSCM, KTT, and Innovation. To achieve this purpose, we developed a conceptual framework based on the literature review, which raised some hypotheses. In order to verify the hypotheses and validate the framework, we designed a multicriteria model called the KTT-GSCM Multicriteria Model, composed of two stages. The first stage describes factors that are relevant to GSCM, KTT, and Innovation, ascertaining which ones have influence over the others and which ones are influenced by the others, through the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method. The second stage of the model analyzes the level of each perspective in each company and in the supply chain as a whole, thus verifying the hypotheses. This model was applied in 13 firms of a supply chain that has a rotomolding firm as a focal company. Through the development and application of the model, it was possible to verify the hypotheses raised and conclude that the perspectives of GSCM, KTT, and Innovation are, in fact, influenced by one another and that both Innovation and KTT promote greater development in GSCM.

The Effect of Innovation Capability on Business Performance: A Focus on IT and Business Service Companies

“…It was mentioned that advancements in technological innovation can greatly change organizational performance, such as increase sales performance, transform the business model, and stimulate innovation in other areas [12]. Technological innovation plays an important role in various areas of sustainable development: social, environmental, and economic [11]. So, better enhancement of technological innovation in the firms has a significant role in improving sustainable business performance in all aspects.…”

“…A number of studies explained that the external R&D cooperation can slow the internal process when the internal process is complex. The reasons for this are that it is difficult to integrate the external knowledge of other organizations and to adapt to different standards and language codes and that implicit or complex technologies act as an obstacle to innovation during the process of technology transfer through technical cooperation [11]. Therefore, large companies tend to have relatively complex internal processes, and they will therfore prefer to avoid R&D cooperation with outside organizations.…”

“…In particular, this continuous cycle of innovation activity represents the evolutionary process of successful companies [10]. Technological innovation has also been defined as the flow of information used to develop and implement ideas and the activities within the business process as a whole, from the technology of the products and processes to the management systems [11]. Research on innovation and corporate performance has revealed that product innovation provides a competitive advantage to companies through technological superiority and improved product performance, while process innovation provides a competitive advantage in terms of greater productivity and efficiency [12].…”

“…In addition, companies both large and small gain their own benefits and sustainable development in all of its aspects, social, environmental, and economic, in terms of technological innovation; green technology. There are a lot of ways technological innovation can play a role in environmental, economic, and social sustainability to introduce technological advances in health, business, and environment to create new jobs and opportunities [11]. However, despite a number of studies showing that technological innovation activity has a positive effect on corporate performance, some statistical research has reported that this activity may not necessarily have a positive effect, depending on the characteristics of the company or when they enter the market [12].…”

Building Sustainable Development through Technology Transfer Offices: An Approach Based on Levels of Maturity

“…Even though TT is crucial for innovation to occur [8] and TTOs can potentially contribute to the university-industry interaction, spreading technology and generating revenue for the university, there are limited systemic analyses of the attributions of the organizational practices in this process [9] and many of these analyses are focused on evaluating monetary indicators. But a TTO is much more than numbers.…”