A Sustainable Innovation Strategy Oriented toward Complex Product Servitization

Zhiqiang Zhang, Ling Li and Huiying Zhang
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Zhiqiang Zhang: College of Management and Economic, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Ling Li: Business School, Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, Tianjin 300222, China
Huiying Zhang: College of Management and Economic, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Enterprises performing complex product servitization are more vulnerable to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic because of their large number of suppliers and wide coverage, among other things. The present research focuses on how to promote the sustainable innovation of complex product servitization. We investigate complex products and sustainable innovation—factors influencing the sustainable innovation of complex product servitization—based on the characteristics of product servitization and by combining the definitions of product servitization. We find that inadequate innovation ability and poor technical research and development (R&D) competence are the primary concerns in the sustainable innovation of complex product servitization. Specific to innovation ability improvement, the sustainable innovation of complex product servitization must follow an innovation-driven development strategy, a hard power cultivation strategy, and a soft power cultivation strategy. In terms of technical R&D competence enhancement, technological innovation strategies, integrated outsourcing of technical R&D competence, and independent improvement of technical R&D competence must be implemented to facilitate the sustainable innovation of complex product servitization.

Keywords: complex product servitization; sustainable innovation; technological innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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