Analysis of intellectual and innovative potential and motivation of coal mining engineers

Aggravation of competition, tightening of the industrial safety and environment protection laws, digitalization of economy and higher product quality standards in the coal mining industry calls for stimulation and effectivization of innovations. In the meanwhile, the innovative activity in the coal industry remains much lower than in the other industries, including primary production. To handle this problem, it is required to develop the intellectual and innovative potential of mining engineers. This study is aimed to elaborate an approach to assessing the intellectual and innovative potential of coal mining engineers and to identifying factors motivating them to participate in innovative activities. The methodology of the study rests upon the informal theories of motivation, and on the human assets and brain capital. The empirical data are obtained from the survey of mining engineers from coal mines in the Kemerovo Region, Khabarovsk Krai, Transbaikalia and in the Republic of Khakassia. The authors use the matrix method and correlation analysis for the data processing. Considering the effectiveness of the approach, it is proposed to estimate the intellectual and innovative potential of a mining engineer based on the availability of the certified intangible assets, intellectual properties, as well as the implemented ideas and innovations in technological practices. It is found that the material remuneration is not a guarantee of the higher intellectual and innovative potential of mining engineers. However, the absence of such recompense, or the lack of the reward awareness disimproves engagement engineering personnel in innovation activities. Demotivation, both external and internal, has no significant correlation with the intellectual and innovative potential of mining engineers. The proposed structuring of the intellectual and innovative potential of mining engineers and the identified motivating factors make it possible to differentiate and determine priority routes for increasing the innovative activity of coal mine engineering personnel.

Korkina T. A., Rozhkov A. A., Dovzhenok A. S. Analysis of intellectual and innovative potential and motivation of coal mining engineers. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(5—1):301—315. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_51_0_301.

The study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Project No. 19-29-07350.

Korkina T. A., Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Professor of State and municipal management department Chelyabinsk State university, head of the laboratory Personnel development management «NIIOGR» LLC, Chelyabinsk, Russia, е-mail: kort2005@mail.ru;
Rozhkov A. A., Dr. Sci. (Econ.), director of Science «Rosinformugol» JSC, Professor of «The Public and Municipal administration in Industrial regions» department NUST «MISIS», е-mail: aarozhkov@mail.ru;
Dovgenok A. S., Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Chief researcher, Chelyabinsk Branch of Institute of Mining of Ural Branch of RAS, Russia.

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