Innovative culture and differences for product versus process innovation: reflect on Confucianism and Taoism

ABSTRACT

This article examines the difference between innovative culture for product innovation vs. process innovation and sheds light on Confucian and Taoist philosophical roots in innovative cultures for the two types of innovation. We first identify four dimensions of innovative culture: freedom, openness, team spirit, and support & career development, and hypothesise that freedom and openness are more emphasized in innovative culture for product innovation, while team spirit and support & career development are more stressed in innovative culture for process innovation. Using survey data from 33 high-tech enterprises in China, we find support for our predictions. We further analyse that Taoism is more relevant to innovative culture for product innovation, whereas Confucianism is more related to innovative culture for process innovation. By distinguishing innovative cultures between product vs. process innovation and relating to Confucianism and Taoism, this paper provides a nuanced as well as philosophical understanding of innovative culture.

KEYWORDS:

• Innovative culture
• product innovation
• process innovation
• Confucianism
• Taoism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jin Chen

Jin Chen is a professor of the Department of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy, School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University. He is also the director of Research Center for Technological Innovation at Tsinghua University.

Yumei Chen

Yumei Chen is a PhD candidate of the Department of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy, School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University. She is also a research fellow at the Research Center for Technological Innovation at Tsinghua University.

Langfeng Zhang

Langfeng Zhang is a Talent Development Director at Hangzhou Paivo Technology Co., LTD.