Mai Thi Thanh Thai

Purpose: This study investigates how the structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of TMT social capital influence exploratory innovation. Drawing on the dynamic managerial capabilities perspective, it examines TMT reflexivity as a cognitive mechanism linking social capital to innovation outcomes and explores the moderating role of paradoxical cognition in shaping this relationship. By integrating social capital and managerial cognition, the study provides a deeper understanding of how TMTs convert internal social resources into exploratory innovation. Design/methodology/approach: This study draws on survey data from 221 senior executives in Chinese firms. A multi-informant design was adopted to reduce potential common method bias, with different executives completing separate sections of the questionnaire based on their functional roles. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the proposed hypotheses, and mediation effects were assessed using bias-corrected bootstrapping. Findings: The relational and cognitive dimensions of TMT social capital are positively associated with exploratory innovation, whereas structural social capital exhibits a negative effect. TMT reflexivity mediates the relationship between social capital and exploratory innovation. Furthermore, paradoxical cognition strengthens the positive effect of TMT reflexivity on exploratory innovation. Practical implications: Managers can enhance exploratory innovation by fostering psychologically safe and cognitively aligned environments within TMTs. Structured trust-building practices, cross-functional dialogue, and collective reflection can strengthen knowledge exchange and integrative decision-making. Developing reflexivity and metacognitive awareness through leadership training enables TMTs to reassess assumptions and adapt to changing conditions. Embedding paradoxical thinking into strategic processes helps reconcile competing demands, such as exploration and exploitation. Managers should also maintain an appropriate balance between network cohesion and cognitive diversity within TMTs to avoid groupthink and enhance strategic adaptability. Social implications: This study highlights the broader societal relevance of how TMT social capital and cognitive capabilities support exploratory innovation. By showing that trust and shared cognition enhance reflexivity, and that paradoxical cognition enables TMTs to integrate competing demands, the study underscores the importance of collective learning and balanced thinking. Strengthening these mechanisms can help organizations improve adaptability and innovation capacity, thereby contributing to broader societal resilience and sustainable development. Originality/value: This study advances research on TMT social capital by unpacking the differentiated effects of its structural, relational and cognitive dimensions on exploratory innovation. It extends the dynamic managerial capabilities perspective by identifying TMT reflexivity as a cognitive mechanism that translates social capital into innovation outcomes. By introducing paradoxical cognition as a boundary condition, the study offers a more integrated explanation of how TMT social capital and managerial cognition jointly shape exploratory innovation.

This study examines the development and influence of the international anti-corruption regime, utilizing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to dissect the discursive practices that shape perceptions of corruption and the strategies employed to combat it. Our analysis reveals how Western institutional entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in defining corruption predominantly as bribery and governance failures, underpinned by a neoliberal ideology that prescribes societal norms and identifies corrupt practices. By exploring the mechanisms through which this ideology is propagated, the research enriches institutional entrepreneurship theory and highlights the neoliberal foundations of current anti-corruption efforts. This study not only enhances our understanding of the institutional frameworks that govern anti-corruption discourse but also demonstrates how discourse legitimizes certain ideologies while marginalizing others. The findings offer practical tools for altering power dynamics, promoting equitable participation, and addressing the imbalanced North-South power relations. By challenging established perspectives, this research contributes to transformative discourse and action, offering new pathways for understanding and combating corruption. These insights have significant theoretical and practical implications for improving the effectiveness of corruption prevention and counteraction strategies globally.

Since its first use in organisational research, nearly five decades ago, imprinting has gained recognition in entrepreneurship studies. Accordingly, this study utilises the behavioural concept to develop new theorisations to account for the entrepreneurial processes of immigrant entrepreneurs. It pays attention on its effects on immigrant entrepreneurs, particularly when it comes to their decision–making and behaviours towards business creation in Canada. A comprehensive analysis of a dataset generated from a systematically selected group of immigrant entrepreneurs revealed the complexity of their imprints at various stages of their entrepreneurial cycle in the North American country. It emerged that imprinting not only modified their behaviours, attitudes and cognition, but also shaped the trajectory of their entrepreneurial processes. That is, their imprints had an effect on how they identified business opportunities, the types of businesses they pursued, their level of entrepreneurial drive, and the types of resources they acquired or accessed in their new environment. Notably, following a period of normalisation in their new surroundings, their original imprints changed due to diminishing affinity with their country-of-origin. This holds research and policy implications as it uncovers an unfolding but less-understood entrepreneurship phenomenon.

Social entrepreneurship has been increasingly acknowledged to be one of the most important mechanisms to help us achieve sustainable development goals. With the official acknowledgement by the United Nations, requirements by education accreditation agencies, and impact investing growth around the world, the need for social entrepreneurship education has become stronger than ever before. This chapter features Social Business Creation (SBC), a unique global training platform that serves as a springboard for education institutions to develop their social entrepreneurship programs through (1) high-standard training program, (2) qualified team of coaches, mentors, and advisors, (3) synchronized implementation in collaboration with the start-up support system, (4) communication hitting the target, and (5) companionship of major partners. With a case study of SBC in Vietnam, we illustrate how SBC has achieved constant growth through its strategies to bring together theory and practice and create a practice community that benefits from extensive collaboration among networks of learners, practitioners, and scientists, to co-create positive social impacts.