Perception of innovation in Spain
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-09-2021-0109 |
| Published date | 26 July 2022 |
| Date | 26 July 2022 |
| Pages | 185-205 |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information policy |
| Author | Covadonga Gijón,Irene Albarrán Lozano,José M. Molina |
Perception of innovation in Spain
Covadonga Gij
on, Irene Albarr
an Lozano and José M. Molina
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper isto evaluate the innovation perception, in its different aspects,of
the Spanish people. To this end, several ordered logit models have been developed to determine the
extent to which socio-demographic characteristicsand other aspects of innovation affect the perception
of innovation.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper analysesthe perception of individuals about innovationin
Spain and the related factors.It uses 2015 and 2018 data on individuals from Spanish surveys. The data
include various measures of innovation perception, age, gender, educational level and other socio-
economicvariables.
Findings –The resultsindicate that peoplehave a better perceptionof innovation if theyare being trained
in innovation or havegood information and communication technologies skills. Among the main results,
thereis a gender gap in the perceptionof innovation,as well as differences interms of digital skills.
Originality/value –To the best of the authors’ knowledge,it is the first time of this kind of analysis in this
country. The results are linkedto the literature, but should nevertheless be taken into account,which is
why somepolicy recommendations are presentedbelow.
Keywords Perception, Innovation, Survey data, Ordered logit
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Innovations are an essential part of the development of society in general and business in
particular. People can benefit from the advances of the innovations, while businesses can
keep or grow their market shareand their profitability (Albertsen et al.,2020).
Innovation is a central idea in the popular imagination, in the media and in public policies.
Godin (2008) analyses innovation in the literature covering: scientific, technical, social
sciences, humanities and arts. The author tries to answer the following question: How has
innovation acquired such a central place in our society extracting concepts that defined
innovation throughout history?
In the current economic landscape, innovation is a key characteristic of both service and
manufactured firms, including sectors such as tourism, where innovation has become
mandatory in the pursuit of long-termcompetitiveness (Iorgulescu and R
avar, 2013).
The literature on managementhas recognized highly qualified human capital as a key factor
in innovation processes at the firm level.Fonseca et al. (2019) introduce an alternative vision
of human capital that measures analytical and interpersonal cognitive tasks: the degree of
abstractionism and hypothesise that, whereas the degree of abstractionism follows a
positive linear association with the tendency to innovation, the association between
abstractionism and product innovation performance follows an inverted U-shaped
association.
The implications and application of social capital bridging and trust skills are crucial for the
success of innovation transformation processes. King et al. (2019) demonstrate that a
deeper understanding of trust and social capital is necessary for innovation process
Covadonga Gij
on is basedat
Applied Economics
Department, Universidad
Nacional de Educaci
on a
Distancia, Madrid, Spain.
Irene Albarr
an Lozano is
based at Statistic
Department, Universidad
Carlos III de Madrid,
Madrid, Spain.
Jose
´M. Molina is based at
Computer Science
Department, Universidad
Carlos III de Madrid,
Madrid, Spain.
JEL classification –C21, C25,
D12, D83, J24, L63, L86, L96,
M15
Received 3 September 2021
Revised 14 April 2022
29 May 2022
Accepted 30 June 2022
DOI 10.1108/DPRG-09-2021-0109 VOL. 25 NO. 3 2023, pp. 185-205, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2398-5038 jDIGITAL POLICY, REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE jPAGE 185
facilitators and project developers to efficiently design and implement time-bound rural-
based innovation projects.
In some sectors, scientific or technological innovations are often met with reactions of
mistrust and rejection by consumers, resulting in lower acceptance of such innovations, for
example, in the food sector (Albertsen et al.,2020).
Kim et al. (2016) present an innovation resistance model study to examine the factors that
influence resistance to In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems in the market in Korea (Kim
et al.,2016
). The results of this paper find that technography, the subjective norm and
previous similar experiencesare powerful and direct drivers of the resistance.
Acceptance of innovations andadoption of technology is highly influenced by the individual
attributes and beliefs of potential adopters. One way to facilitate acceptance is through
Pilot-Test-Demonstration (PTD) projects, and it is also important to understanding the
impact of the organisational set-up of a PTD on the perception of the technology (Grimm
et al.,2020
).
The other way to facilitate the adoptionof innovations is the increase in knowledge. With the
emergence of the e-learning technologies in the past 10 years, the ease of accessibility of
training, learning and teaching has been dramatically increased (Liao and Lu, 2007).
The start-ups need to be designing appropriate business models to deal with consumers’
initial trust and confidence perceptions of digital innovations, as the success rate depends
on consumers’initial trust perceptions. In Konya-Baumbach et al. (2019), five different
experiments explored howstart-ups can signalling trustworthiness to get over low earlytrust
perceptions and drive adoptions.
In the same spirit, Hauser et al. (2006) argue that the innovation’s success depends on its
adoption by consumers. This research provides valuable additions to the existing literature.
The need to overcome low initial perceptions of consumer trust for the successful
commercialisation of digitalinnovations and trust in the online context is discussed.
Entrepreneurial innovation is expected to benefit individuals’ work satisfaction, family–work
balance and personal life satisfaction, as shown by Jensen et al. (2017) in China.
Entrepreneurs around the world find that innovativeness benefits work satisfaction,
work–family equilibrium and personallife satisfaction.
Lin
˜
an (2008) analyses social values regarding entrepreneurship and also personal skill
perceptions. The main goal of the paper is explaining intention based on values and skills.
Conclusions show that the role of perceived skills seems to be more relevant in students.
Implications may be derived in the education, should students have particular skills and
open perception of innovation?
A study of 32 European countries (Grande et al.,2020) concludes that innovativeness is
more closely associated with the creation of jobs than with their destruction, but the study
also finds a psychological riskassociated with innovation.
In Spain, Borraz-Mora et al. (2017) studied the innovation resistance theory (IRT) in
e-banking with management implications for non-adopters’ overcoming innovation
resistance. Lie
´bana-Cabanillas et al. (2014b), also in Spain, study the mobile payment
usage and resistance to use the technology, concluding that if users have no prior
experience, they will not use the technology.
In Iturrate Meras and Fern
andez Esquinas (2019), attitudes and perceptions of citizenship
towards innovation area analysed considering a set of quantitative indicators to assess the
state of public opinion in an innovation system. Study develops several population groups
each one maintaining different positions depending on age, educational level, employment
and type of work. This work concludes that people have different perception about
innovation or the necessityof public investment.
PAGE 186 jDIGITAL POLICY, REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE jVOL. 25 NO. 3 2023
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