Innovation in an authoritarian society: China during the pandemic crisis
ISSN: 0275-6668
Article publication date: 4 January 2021
Issue publication date: 3 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand the role of government played in the innovation process during the social crisis, and to investigate the innovation activities of the authoritarian state when dealing with social crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
Secondary data pertaining to eight impactful technological innovations in China during the COVID-19 crisis reveal how interactions and joint efforts by commercial firms and government organizations emerged as spontaneous responses.
Findings
The analysis of eight innovations – health code adoption, health omnichannel construction, noncontact service provision, distance education provision, public emotion consolation service, cross-boundary project promotion, cloud office adoption and medical material production – reveals a matrix of best practices that details the roles of government (controller or endorser) and the value creation orientation (pro-social or pro-economic value).
Originality/value
This study enriches innovation literature by providing a new perspective on the relationship between governmental force and technological innovation during social crises. As these new insights reveal, technological innovation can contribute to social crisis management. China’s example provides helpful implications for other countries suffering from the COVID-19 crisis.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (#71772142, #71772074).Conflict of interests: none.
Citation
Xiong, J., Yan, J., Fu, K., Wang, K. and He, Y. (2022), "Innovation in an authoritarian society: China during the pandemic crisis", Journal of Business Strategy, Vol. 43 No. 2, pp. 79-86. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBS-10-2020-0223
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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