Companies are increasingly motivated to deal with the issue of sustainability not just from a moral standpoint, but also because these issues may be a major root of innovation. To achieve these sustainable innovations, the number of manufacturers who invest in specific resources has been increasing. Supplier contributions to manufacturing company sustainable innovations are influenced by particular investments and specially the human capital investments, which emphasizes the supplier's role in supporting the producer with sustainable innovations. The precise investments might help suppliers contribute to sustainable innovation. However, if a company invests too much in certain resources, such as human capital, the beneficial impacts of such investments may diminish, and the supplier's participation in sustainable innovation may be hampered. Various internal contingency variables can moderate the relationship between the specific investments and sustainable innovation contribution of suppliers. Thus, this study aims at this research gap. This research aimed to study the relationship between human capital specific investments and supplier sustainable innovation contribution in developed markets considering the role of learning and absorptive capacity, and market orientation. This research can be considered as the deductive, quantitative and field research in which the researchers collected the primary data by using a structured questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire confirmed through different quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research sample was chosen by using the convenience sampling. In order to respond to the questionnaire surveys, top- and middle-level managers from 355 Swedish corporations in which suppliers have been incorporated in the corporation’s sustainable innovation activities addressed. Finally, A total of 960 questionnaires for 355 companies handed out, and 102 being returned and analysed. The regression curve estimation method revealed that there is a linear relationship between human capital specific investments and supplier sustainable innovation contribution. Besides, through the hierarchical multiple linear regression, the researchers demonstrated that absorptive capacity and market orientation can play the moderating role in this relationship, while the learning capacity can partially play such role in this relationship. Eventually, the theoretical, managerial and sustainability implications discussed and the limitations of the research in addition to the future research possibilities addressed.

Universities, facing both pressures and opportunities created by globalisation, are currently seeking a way to reinforce their capabilities by enhancing their academic strength through internationalisation. In such a setting, the development of international partnerships has been increasingly recognised as a central strategy for the success of internationalisation. Understanding the increasing importance of international partnerships for universities, this study will attempt to understand what could make a successful partnership and identify which management approach is most likely to realise a successful international partnership between universities. A successful international partnership in this thesis is assumed to be the one that is able to function smoothly and effectively towards achieving the goals set by the partnership. This thesis argues that the best management approach for successful international partnerships is a phase- and principle-based management approach. This approach enables a partnership to facilitate the essential ‘phases’ of development and sustainable growth by embedding some critical principles into its management practices to facilitate those essential ‘phases’. This study proposes there are three essential phases and three critical principles. The three essential phases are ‘building a partnership’, ‘consolidation and catalysing maturity’ and ‘maintaining a positive cycle between growth and consolidation’. The three critical principles are accountability, transparency, and learning capacity. While discussing a phase- and principle-based management approach, this thesis develops the premise that an international university partnership is an organic and dynamic phenomenon and the success of an international partnership is underpinned by entrepreneurial culture. This thesis involves case studies with multiple universities from Japan, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, and Australia, engaging in different types of international partnerships. Through the case studies, this thesis explores whether existing universities consider the three phases and the three critical principles as important, and how they have developed and improved their management structures and processes to implement their international partnerships. To be more precise, two types of international university partnerships are studied, namely a partial and task-specific double degree programme (DDP) partnership between a Japanese university and its partners, which is an example of a standard management model, and a comprehensive and organised strategic alliance between multiple universities from different countries, which is an example of the best management model. Those two models are compared using the phase- and principle-based model as comparator criteria. International university partnership development in a Japanese context is another key theme. This thesis examines the state of international partnerships recently developed by Japanese universities. It makes a comparison of the current situation of Japanese universities using the best identified management model. At present, the most popular type of international partnership in Japanese higher education is that of a DDP, which is a basic and task-specific type of partnership. Many universities around the world are developing DDP partnerships. Such partnerships are therefore appropriate for a case study of a standard management approach. To examine the DDP partnerships developed by a Japanese university, this thesis focuses on the case of Kyushu University, Japan and its partners; the aim is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a basic and task-specific partnership model with respect to current and future circumstances. This thesis studies the strategic alliance between Monash University and the University of Warwick for the best management approach. The Monash Warwick Alliance is an advanced comprehensive partnership with diverse projects involving wide range of stakeholders including researchers, educators, students, administrators, and outside stakeholders. Considering its broad range of scope and stakeholders, it could embrace greater complexity in terms of management, thereby more mature and sophisticated management structures and processes could be required. Based upon understanding the essential features of the best management approach, this thesis attempts to figure out whether and how the limitations of a partial and task-specific DDP partnership, could be rectified and provide recommendations for universities in Japan to aid the further advancement of their international partnership projects and the overall internationalisation of universities. Possible improvements suggest that their management structure should possess the capability to steer and coordinate a partnership by developing accountable management structures and implementing effective communication and information strategies, developing a vigorous system of quality and performance review, creating a mechanism to institutionalise learning, and integrating expertise in the management structures and processes.

[ES] El propósito principal de esta tesis reside en estudiar las relaciones existentes entre la capacidad de aprendizaje de las organizaciones y la innovación en los servicios. Las razones del desarrollo de esta investigación ha sido de una parte conocer la influencia de las tecnologías de la información (TI) con relación a la generación de conocimiento en el aprendizaje organizativo, como elemento necesario para la construcción de la innovación en las empresas del sector servicios, de otra establecer relaciones del empowerment organizacional (EO) con el aprendizaje y la innovación en las empresas que las implementan. El trabajo empírico se ha realizado sobre el sector Hotelero español, en concreto en la categoría de hoteles de 4 y 5 estrellas, dada la importancia que tiene para el PIB de España, entrevistándose a 280 gerentes que representan el mismo número de hoteles. El estudio lleva a cabo la intensidad de empoderamiento e implementación de las TI sobre la capacidad de aprender que actúa como variable mediadora con la capacidad de innovar en servicios. Emplearemos la metodología de ecuaciones estructurales para verificación de las Hipótesis que permitan probar el modelo, descubriendo que los resultados obtenidos son confirmatorios. / [CA] El propòsit principal d'aquesta tesi resideix a estudiar les relacions existents entre la capacitat d'aprenentatge de les organitzacions i la innovació en els serveis. Les raons del desenvolupament d'aquesta investigació ha sigut d'una part conéixer la influència de les tecnologies de la informació (TU) en relació amb la generació de coneixement en l'aprenentatge organitzatiu, com a element necessari per a la construcció de la innovació en les empreses del sector serveis, d'una altra establir relacions del empowerment organitzacional (EO) amb l'aprenentatge i la innovació en les empreses que les implementen. El treball empíric s'ha realitzat sobre el sector Hoteler espanyol, en concret en la categoria d'hotels de 4 i 5 estreles, donada la importància que té per al PIB d'Espanya, entrevistant-se a 280 gerents que representen el mateix nombre d'hotels. L'estudi duu a terme la intensitat d'apoderament i implementació de les TI sobre la capacitat d'aprendre que actua com a variable mediadora amb la capacitat d'innovar en serveis. Emprarem la metodologia d'equacions estructurals per a verificació de les hipòtesis que permeten provar el model, descobrint que els resultats obtinguts són confirmatoris. / [EN] The main purpose of this thesis is to study the relationships between the learning capability of organizations and their service innovation. The reasons for the development of this research have been, on the one hand, to understand the influence of the information technologies (IT) in relation to knowledge creation in the organizational learning, as a requisite for innovation in service sector companies. On the other hand, to explore the relationship between organizational empowerment (OE) and learning and innovation in the companies implementing these. The empirical work has been carried out on the Spanish hotel sector, specifically in the category of four- and five-star hotels, given their importance for Spain's GDP. Interviews with 280 managers representing the same number of hotels were conducted. The study addresses the intensity of empowerment and implementation of IT on the ability to learn, which acts as a mediating variable with the ability to innovate in services. We will apply the methodology of structural equations to verify the hypotheses that permit to test the model, concluding that the results obtained are confirmatory. / Ballester Miquel, JC. (2021). Efecto del empowerment y las TI orientadas a la innovación en servicios en el sector hotelero a través de la capacidad de aprendizaje de las empresas [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/160936 / TESIS

This qualitative study investigated the influences of psychosocial meta-capacities on learning capacity development in a foreign government agency that is undergoing extensive organisational change. The data was obtained through semi-structured interviews with seven participants, who are employees of a foreign visa-processing unit based in South Africa. The participants shared their experiences during the organisational change process, and how different aspects impacted on their learning capacity development. The study highlighted self-efficacy and emotional intelligence as key meta-capacities that can be enhanced to aid learning capacity development. Furthermore, the study recommended that organisations intending to introduce significant changes should be aware of the psychosocial meta-capacities that can be exploited to enhance employee learning capacity development, thereby ultimately ensuring organisational success. This study seems to suggest that the positive influences on learning capacity development are: self-efficacy in the form of self- beliefs about one’s performance ability; the ability to take initiative; and learning orientation - for example, a sense of exploration; emotional intelligence in the form of self-awareness in relation to what needs to happen, and the positive impact of social support systems, for example, supervisors, role models and fellow colleagues. Negative influences on learning capacity development seem to include the following: the inability to manage performance anxiety; high levels of self-doubt, the lack of technical expertise, and learning paralysis in the form of procrastination and the lack of self-motivation. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

La presente tesi teorica propone il MOPC index per misurare quanto i manager abbiano generato una comunità multinazionale di gestione aperta di un generico processo considerando congiuntamente l’affiliazione, la connettività interna, la forza e la multinazionalità. A tal fine ho impiegato il SAOM-Behavior valutando la collaborazione internazionale di processo ed annessa propensione come variabili multiple i cui valori e co-evoluzione dipendono dalla co-influenza tra le collaborazioni internazionali fasiche, tra le medesime e le rispettive propensioni fasiche e tra queste ultime. L’intensità relazionale dipende dal modello mentale condiviso, generatosi a livello di team internazionale, su una certa fase del processo mentre la propensione è funzione dell’orientamento e dell’attitudine alla collaborazione internazionale fasica. Il MOPC index è stato applicato alla comunità multinazionale di innovazione aperta e di gestione aperta introducendo due indici teorici: MOIC index e MOMC index. Infine ho teorizzato la catena del valore del manager (MVC) impiegando il processo innovativo e gestionale; considerando le collaborazioni internazionali sui due processi con annesse propensioni, si ho analizzato la collaborazione internazionale sulla MVC, la relativa propensione e la loro co-evoluzione. Cosi facendo, ho introdotto il MMC index per misurare la comunità multinazionale manageriale e, mediante questo, la multinazionalizzazione d’impresa da una prospettiva relazionale manageriale. / This thesis presents the theoretical MOPC index to measure how much the managers generate a multinational open process community by considering the affiliation, the internal connectivity, the strenghtness and the multinationality. I employed the SAOM-Behavior by evaluating the international process collaboration and the respective propensity as multiple variables whose value and co-evolution depend on the co-influence between the international collaborations phasic, between the same and the respective propensities phasic and between them. The intensity of these relationships depends on the International phasic team mental model sharing (TMMS) while the propensity’s one depends on the orientation and the attitude. Then the MOPC index has been applied to measure the multinational open innovation community and the multinational open management community by introducing the MOIC index and the MOMC index. Finally, I introduced the managerial value chain (MVC) as composed of the innovative and the management process. By integrating the international collaborations related to the two processes and their propensities It’s possible to measure the international MVC collaboration, the correlated propensity and their co-evolution. In doing so, I introduced the MMC index to determine the multinational managerial community’s degree and use it to evaluate the firm’s multinationalization by a managerial relational perspective.