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Article
Publication date: 30 July 2018

Julia Nieves and Javier Osorio

The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between information technology (IT) use and management innovation through the mediator role of knowledge-based resources.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the relationship between information technology (IT) use and management innovation through the mediator role of knowledge-based resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents empirical evidence from a survey of 109 companies that run hotel establishments in the Spanish territory. A model of relationships is proposed and tested through a system of structural equations.

Findings

The use of IT favors the development of organizational knowledge and the ability to integrate this knowledge. Moreover, a positive and direct relationship was found between IT use and management innovation, and indirectly through organizational knowledge and knowledge integration capability.

Research limitations/implications

The designed questionnaire did not include any questions related to specific IT tools that could contribute to better knowledge management practices in hospitality organizations, but rather generic questions about IT use. The large number of IT tools that can potentially support knowledge management practices in hospitality companies would make the questionnaire unwieldy for its target respondents.

Originality/value

This paper sheds light on a topic that has hardly been studied in the services literature. Specifically, it addresses the way organizations can facilitate management innovation through the use of IT, while considering the mediator role of knowledge-based resources.

Objetivo

El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la relación entre el uso de las tecnologías de la información (TIC) y la innovación organizativa a través del papel mediador de los recursos basados en el conocimiento.

Metodología

El trabajo presenta evidencia empírica a partir de una encuesta realizada a 109 empresas que gestionan establecimientos hoteleros en todo el territorio español. Un modelo de relaciones se propone y testa mediante un sistema de ecuaciones estructurales.

Resultados

El uso de TIC favorece el desarrollo del conocimiento organizacional y la capacidad para integrar dicho conocimiento. Además, se encontró una relación directa y positiva entre el uso de TIC y la innovación organizativa, así como una relación mediada por el conocimiento organizacional y la capacidad de integración del conocimiento.

Implicaciones/limitaciones

El cuestionario diseñado no incluyó preguntas relacionadas con herramientas de TIC específicas que pudieran contribuir a mejores prácticas de gestión del conocimiento en empresas de alojamiento turístico, sino preguntas genéricas sobre el uso de TIC. El gran número de herramientas de TIC que potencialmente pueden apoyar las prácticas de gestión del conocimiento en las empresas de alojamiento, complicaría la cumplimentación del cuestionario por parte de los encuestados.

Originalidad/valor

Este estudio amplía el conocimiento sobre un tema escasamente estudiado en la literatura de servicios. En concreto, se aborda la forma en que las organizaciones pueden facilitar la innovación organizativa a través del uso de TIC considerando, simultáneamente, el papel mediador de los recursos basados en el conocimiento.

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2008

Kremena Slavcheva, Julio O. De Castro and Andrea Fosfuri

We examine how knowledge‐intensive firms modify their organizational knowledge bases in the context of mobility of researchers. Building on a dynamic capabilities perspective, we…

Abstract

We examine how knowledge‐intensive firms modify their organizational knowledge bases in the context of mobility of researchers. Building on a dynamic capabilities perspective, we propose a conceptual model of firm knowledge base dynamics that clearly distinguishes between two mechanisms: (1) changes in a firm’s pool of researchers and (2) a firm’s ability to reconfigure knowledge. Our model posits that these two mechanisms interact to affect the type of variation in a firm’s knowledge base and elucidates how firms deploy knowledge from different domains.

Details

Management Research: Journal of the Iberoamerican Academy of Management, vol. 6 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1536-5433

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 May 2019

Esteban Lafuente, Angela Solano, Juan Carlos Leiva and Ronald Mora-Esquivel

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between organisational learning capabilities (OLCs) and innovation performance (IP) in organisational contexts where…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between organisational learning capabilities (OLCs) and innovation performance (IP) in organisational contexts where knowledge creation and exploitation are the business’ main source of competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

The study hypotheses are tested on a unique sample of 74 high-performance businesses operating in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) industries and non-knowledge intensive sectors in 2016. The study employs a sequential deductive triangulation analysis (QUAN → qual) based on linear regression models and qualitative interviews.

Findings

The results indicate that OLCs positively impact IP. Additionally, the findings reveal that this relationship is stronger in organisations where knowledge creation and exploitation constitute the main source of competitive advantage, namely, KIBS firms.

Research limitations/implications

This paper offers insights into how the innovation outcomes of OLCs are heterogeneous across industries. This study contributes to a better understanding of the conditions under which the effects of developing learning-enhancing strategies occur in businesses operating in different industries.

Practical implications

Both knowledge generation and exploitation processes are critical for business success, and OLCs play a decisive role in this process. In this sense, the results suggest that managers need to turn their attention to the characteristics of business operations when considering the development of strategies aimed at enhancing OLCs.

Originality/value

The paper further explores the influence of OLCs on IP by analysing how organisational learning strategies interact with relevant organisational characteristics – that are linked here to the exploitation of knowledge-based resources – to yield superior IP.

Propósito

Este trabajo analiza la relación entre capacidades de aprendizaje organizativo y desempeño innovador en contextos organizacionales donde tanto la creación como la explotación de conocimiento constituyen la principal fuente de ventaja competitiva de las empresas.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

Para la verificación empírica de las hipótesis planteadas en este trabajo se emplea una base de datos del 2016 que incluye información de 74 empresas ‘gacela’ que operan en sectores de servicios intensivos en conocimiento (KIBS) y en industrias no intensivas en conocimiento. El estudio utiliza un análisis de triangulación secuencial deductiva (QUAN → qual) basado en modelos de regresión lineal y entrevistas en profundidad de corte cualitativo.

Resultados

Los resultados indican que las capacidades de aprendizaje organizativo impactan positivamente el desempeño innovador. Además, los resultados revelan que esta relación es más pronunciada en empresas – empresas KIBS – donde la creación y la explotación de conocimiento son la principal fuente de ventaja competitiva.

Limitaciones/implicaciones de la investigación

Este trabajo ofrece resultados sobre la heterogeneidad de los rendimientos de las capacidades de aprendizaje organizativo, en términos de innovación. Además, este estudio contribuye a un mejor entendimiento de las condiciones bajo las cuales la implantación de estrategias orientadas a mejorar el aprendizaje organizacional se materializa en un mayor desempeño innovador en empresas que operan en distintos sectores económicos.

Implicaciones prácticas

Tanto la creación como la explotación de conocimiento son procesos clave para el éxito empresarial, y las capacidades de aprendizaje organizativo juegan un papel fundamental en este proceso. En este sentido, los resultados del estudio sugieren que los directores y gestores de empresas deben tener en consideración las características de los procesos operativos de sus empresas a la hora de diseñar e implementar estrategias que buscan mejorar las capacidades de aprendizaje organizativo al interior de la empresa.

Originalidad/valor

Este trabajo investiga en profundidad el efecto de las capacidades de aprendizaje organizativo sobre el desempeño innovador mediante un análisis que busca explicar cómo las estrategias de aprendizaje organizativo interactúan con importantes características de la empresa – las cuales asociamos a la explotación de recursos basados en conocimiento – para generar mayores niveles de desempeño innovador dentro de la empresa.

Article
Publication date: 9 February 2015

Mariano García-Fernández

The aims of this paper are: to identify the dimensions of knowledge management (KM), and to propose a model for KM that will be useful for future researchers in carrying out KM…

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Abstract

Purpose

The aims of this paper are: to identify the dimensions of knowledge management (KM), and to propose a model for KM that will be useful for future researchers in carrying out KM measurement.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a literature review of theoretical and empirical contributions to KM.

Findings

The results obtained show that the creation, transfer and storage, and implementation and use are dimensions of the concept of KM. On the basis of these dimensions, this study proposes a model integrating these dimensions and operationalizes it using selected items, so that future researchers may carry out measurements using the proposed model.

Practical implications

The study implies that companies and researchers use a smaller time in theoretical checks and can devote to measurements which develop improvements.

Originality/value

The present model differs from other, previous models in that it integrates various approaches to the study of KM.

Article
Publication date: 26 September 2018

Imanol Belausteguigoitia Rius and Dirk De Clercq

This paper aims to investigate the relationship of knowledge sharing with unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) and the potential augmenting effects of two factors…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship of knowledge sharing with unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) and the potential augmenting effects of two factors: employees’ dispositional resistance to change and perceptions of organizational politics.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative data come from employees in a Mexican manufacturing organization. The hypotheses tests use hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

Knowledge sharing increases the risk that employees engage in UPB. This effect is most salient when employees tend to resist organizational change or believe the organizational climate is highly political.

Practical implications

Organizations should discourage UPB with their ranks, and to do so, they must realize that employees’ likelihood to engage in it may be enhanced by their access to peer knowledge. Employees with such access may feel more confident that they can protect their organization against external scrutiny through such unethical means. This process can be activated by both personal and organizational factors that make UPB appear more desirable.

Originality/value

This study contributes to organizational research by providing a deeper understanding of the risk that employees will engage in UPB, according to the extent of their knowledge sharing. It also explicates when knowledge sharing might have the greatest impact, both for good and for ill.

Objetivo

Este artículo analiza la relación entre compartir conocimiento y el comportamiento pro-organizacional no ético (CPE), así como el potencial efecto amplificador de dos factores: la resistencia al cambio de los empleados y la percepción del clima político de la organización.

Diseño/metodología/aproximación

Se emplean datos cuantitativos procedentes de los empleados de una organización manufacturera mejicana. Las hipótesis se contrastan utilizando análisis de regresión jerárquico.

Resultados

Compartir conocimiento aumenta el riesgo de que el empleado desarrolle CPE. Este efecto es mayor cuando los empleados muestran resistencia a los cambios organizativos o creen que el clima organizativo está altamente politizado.

Implicaciones prácticas

Las organizaciones deben desincentivar el CPE, y para hacerlo deben comprender que la probabilidad de que ocurra aumenta con el acceso al conocimiento de otros compañeros. Los empleados con acceso a este conocimiento pueden percibir que pueden proteger a la organización frente al escrutinio externo por medio de este comportamiento no ético. Este proceso puede activarse tanto por factores personales como organizacionales que hagan la aparición de CPE más deseable.

Originalidad/valor

Este estudio contribuye a la investigación proporcionando una comprensión más profunda del riesgo de que los empleados muestren CPE, en conexión con su grado de conocimiento compartido. También explica cuando compartir conocimiento puede tener un mayor impacto, para bien o para mal.

Objetivo

Este artigo analisa a relação entre compartilhar o conhecimento e comportamento pró-organizacional antiético (CPA), bem como o potencial efeito ampliador de dois fatores: a resistência a mudança de funcionários e a percepção do clima político da organização.

Design/metodologia/aproximação

Dados quantitativos são utilizados por funcionários de uma organização de manufatura mexicana. As hipóteses são testadas usando análise de regressão hierárquica.

Objetivo

Resultados – Compartilhar os resultados aumenta o risco de que o funcionário desenvolva o CPA. Esse efeito é maior quando os funcionários mostram resistência às mudanças organizacionais ou acreditam que o clima organizacional é altamente politizado.

Implicações práticas

As organizações devem desencorajar o CPA, e para isso devem entender que a probabilidade de isso acontecer aumenta com o acesso ao conhecimento de outros colegas. Os funcionários com acesso a esse conhecimento podem perceber que podem proteger a organização do escrutínio externo por meio desse comportamento antiético. Este processo pode ser ativado por fatores pessoais e organizacionais que tornam o surgimento de CPA mais desejável.

Originalidade/valor

Este estudo contribui para a investigação, fornecendo uma compreensão mais profunda do risco que os funcionários exibem CPA, em conexão com o seu grau de conhecimento compartilhado. Também explica quando o compartilhar conhecimento pode ter um impacto maior, para melhor ou para pior.

Article
Publication date: 1 November 2019

Mohamed Mousa, Hiba K. Massoud and Rami M. Ayoubi

This paper aims to focus on academics in three private foreign universities located in Cairo (Egypt) to explore the effect of organizational learning on individual-level…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on academics in three private foreign universities located in Cairo (Egypt) to explore the effect of organizational learning on individual-level resistance to change with and without the mediation of authentic leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 960 academics were contacted and all of them received a set of questionnaires. After four follow ups, a total of 576 responses were collected with a response rate of 60.00 per cent. The author used the chi-square test to determine the association between organizational learning and authentic leadership. Multiple regressions were used to show how much variation in individual-level resistance to change can be explained by organizational learning and authentic leadership.

Findings

The findings highlight a statistical association between organizational learning and authentic leadership. Moreover, another statistical association is explored between authentic leadership and individual-level resistance to change. Furthermore, the statistical analysis proved that having an authentic leadership in the workplace fosters the effect of organizational learning in alleviating individual’s resistance to change.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected only from academics and did not include rectors and/or heads of academic departments, the matter that may lead to an inflation of statistical relationships. Future research could use a double source method. Moreover, focusing only on private foreign universities working in Egypt diminishes the author’s potential for generalizing his results.

Practical implications

The author recommends establishing a unit for knowledge management inside every university. The function of this unit includes but is not limited to examining prospective socio-political, cultural and economic changes/challenges in the surrounding environment and preparing the possible scenarios for dealing with them. This in turn should comprise involvement and learning opportunities for academics work in these universities. The suggested units should also organize monthly meetings between academics and representatives from different Egyptian sectors such as NGOs personnel, CEOs of private and public companies, environmentalists and politicians to address what change those actors seek universities to undertake to guide academics to fulfill their expectations.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by filling a gap in HR management and organization literature in the higher education sector, in which empirical studies on the relationship between organizational learning, authentic leadership and resistance to change have been limited until now.

Objetivo

Este artículo se centra en los académicos de tres universidades privadas extranjeras situadas en El Cairo (Egipto) para explorar el efecto del aprendizaje organizativo en la resistencia individual al cambio con y sin la mediación del liderazgo auténtico.

Diseño/metodología/aproximación

Se contactó con un total de 960 académicos. Se obtuvieron 576 respuestas válidas para un ratio de respuesta del 60%. Los autores usan el test chi-cuadrado para determinar la asociación entre el aprendizaje organizativo y el liderazgo auténtico. Se utilizaron regresiones múltiples para mostrar cuanta variación en la resistencia individual al cambio puede explicarse con el aprendizaje organizativo y el liderazgo auténtico.

Resultados

Los resultados muestran una asociación estadística entre el aprendizaje organizativo y el liderazgo auténtico. También se explora la relación estadística entre el liderazgo auténtico y el nivel de resistencia individual al cambio. Más aún, el análisis estadístico muestra que un liderazgo auténtico favorece el efecto reductor del aprendizaje organizativo en la resistencia individual al cambio.

Limitaciones/implicaciones

Los datos se obtuvieron exclusivamente de académicos, y no incluían rectores y/o directores de departamento, lo cual puede haber aumentado la significatividad estadística. La investigación futura puede utilizar un método con dos fuentes. Más aún, el foco en universidades extranjeras privadas que trabajan en Egipto puede afectar a la generalizabilidad de los resultados.

Implicaciones prácticas

Los autores recomiendan establecer una unidad de gestión del conocimiento en cada universidad. La función de esta unidad incluye, pero no se limita a, examinar posibles cambios/retos socio-políticos, culturales y económicos en el entorno, y a preparar posibles escenarios para afrontarlos. Esto a su vez debe comprender la identificación de oportunidades de aprendizaje para los académicos en estas instituciones. Estas unidades deberían organizar reuniones mensuales entre los académicos y representantes de diferentes sectores Egipcios tales como personal de ONGs, directores de empresas públicas y privadas, activistas por el medioambiente y políticos para identificar sus necesidades y los cambios necesarios en la universidades para abordarlos.

Originalidad/valor

Este trabajo contribuye a rellenar una ausencia en la literatura sobre organización y gestión de recursos humanos en la educación superior, en la que hasta la fecha no existían estudio sobre la relación entre el aprendizaje organizativo, el liderazgo auténtico y la resistencia al cambio.

Objetivo

Este artigo concentra-se em académicos de três universidades particulares estrangeiras localizadas no Cairo (Egito) para explorar o efeito do aprendizado organizacional na resistência em nível individual à mudança com e sem a mediação da liderança autêntica.

Projeto/metodologia/abordagem

Um total de 960 acadêmicos foram contatados e todos receberam um conjunto de questionários. Após quatro acompanhamentos, um total de 576 respostas foram coletadas com uma taxa de resposta de 60%. O autor usou o teste do qui-quadrado para determinar a associação entre aprendizado organizacional e liderança autêntica. Se usou regressões múltiplas para mostrar quanta variação na resistência individual à mudança pode ser explicada pelo aprendizado organizacional e pela liderança autêntica.

Resultados

Os resultados destacam uma associação estatística entre aprendizado organizacional e liderança autêntica. Outra associação estatística também é explorada entre liderança autêntica e resistência individual à mudança. Além disso, a análise estatística provou que ter uma liderança autêntica no local de trabalho promove o efeito do aprendizado organizacional na diminuição da resistência individual à mudança.

Limitações/implicações da pesquisa

Os dados foram coletados apenas de acadêmicos e não incluíram reitores e/ou chefes de departamentos acadêmicos, o que pode levar a um aumento nas relações estatísticas. Pesquisas futuras poderiam usar um método com fonte dupla. Além disso, o foco apenas em universidades particulares estrangeiras que trabalham no Egito diminui o potencial do autor de generalizar seus resultados.

Implicações práticas

O autor recomenda o estabelecimento de uma unidade para a gestão do conhecimento em todas universidades. A função desta unidade inclui, entre outros, o exame de possíveis mudanças/desafios sócio-políticos, culturais e econômicos no ambiente circundante e a preparação dos cenários possíveis para lidar com eles. Por sua vez, isso deve incluir envolvimento e oportunidades de aprendizado para os acadêmicos trabalharem nessas universidades. As unidades sugeridas também devem organizar reuniões mensais entre acadêmicos e representantes de diferentes setores egípcios, como o pessoal de ONGs, diretores executivos de empresas públicas e privadas, ambientalistas e políticos para as mudanças que esses atores procuram nas universidades para orientar os acadêmicos a atender às suas expectativas.

Originalidade/valor

Este artigo contribui preenchendo uma lacuna na literatura sobre gestão e organização de RH no setor de ensino superior, no qual estudos empíricos sobre a relação entre aprendizagem organizacional, liderança autêntica e resistência à mudança foram limitados até agora.

Article
Publication date: 24 June 2019

Angel Martinez-Sanchez, Manuela Perez-Perez and Silvia Vicente-Oliva

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between agile production (flexible production technology) and absorptive capacity.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between agile production (flexible production technology) and absorptive capacity.

Design/methodology/approach

We use a database of 1,864 Spanish industrial firms from the Survey of Business Strategies (the largest Spanish database of its kind). Our theoretical approach is based on the resource-based view and the dynamic capabilities perspective. The methodology includes descriptive statistics analysis and lineal regression with moderator effect.

Findings

High-agile firms with greater absorptive capacity are more innovative and better performers than low-agile firms. Absorptive capacity moderates the relationship between flexible production technology and innovation performance.

Research limitations/implications

This is a cross-sectional study, which may limit the establishment of causal relationships. We give evidence to the importance of studying absorptive capacity in the agile production implementation process.

Practical implications

There are several managerial implications. First, agile production systems should be integrated into the firm’s innovation system because the continuous improvement of agile production has to be reinforced by the outputs of external knowledge and in-house innovation activities. Second firms that use external sources of knowledge to improve production processes could leverage that benefit better, not only in Operations but also in innovation performance. The adoption of flexible production technology cannot be kept apart from the firm´s organizational learning processes based on external knowledge. Our results also support the contribution of clusters of collaborative firms to improve their production processes throughout absorptive capacity and thus the implementation of agile production systems.

Originality/value

This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, has involved the role of absorptive capacity, as an internal capability/competence, to influence the relationship between agility/flexible technology and innovation performance.

Objetivo

Analizar la relación entre producción ágil (tecnología flexible de producción) y capacidad de absorción.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

Se utiliza una base de datos de 1.864 empresas españolas manufactureras de la Encuesta de Estrategias Empresariales (la mayor base de datos española de este tipo). Nuestro enfoque teórico está basado en la teoría de recursos y capacidades dinámicas. La metodología incluye análisis estadístico descriptivo y regresión lineal con efecto moderador.

Resultados

Las empresas ágiles con mayor capacidad de absorción son más innovadoras y obtienen mejores resultados que las empresas menos ágiles. La capacidad de absorción modera la relación entre tecnología de producción flexible y los resultados de innovación.

Limitaciones de investigación/implicaciones

Es un estudio de corte transversal lo que limita el establecimiento de relaciones causales. Ese evidencia la importancia de estudiar la capacidad de absorción en el proceso de implantación de la producción ágil.

Implicaciones prácticas

Hay varias implicaciones de gestión. La primera es que los sistemas de producción ágil deberían integrarse en el sistema de innovación de la empresa porque la mejora continua de la producción ágil ha de reforzarse con los outputs del conocimiento externo y las actividades internas de innovación. La segunda es que las empresas que utilizan fuentes externas de conocimiento para mejorar los procesos de producción podrían apalancar mejor ese beneficio, no solo en Operaciones sino también en resultados de innovación. La adopción de tecnología de producción flexible no puede mantenerse al margen de los procesos de aprendizaje organizativos basados en el conocimiento externo. Nuestros resultados también apoyan la contribución de los cluster de empresas colaboradoras para mejorar sus procesos de producción mediante la capacidad de absorción y con ello la implantación de sistemas de producción ágil.

Implicaciones sociales

No es aplicable

Originalidad/valor

Este es el primer estudio, en la medida de nuestro conocimiento, que ha considerado el papel de la capacidad de absorción, como competencia/capacidad interna, para influir en la relación entre tecnología flexible e innovación.

Palabras clave

Capacidad de absorción, Tecnología flexible de producción, Innovación

Tipo de artículo

Trabajo de investigación

Objetivo

Analisar a relação entre produção ágil (tecnologia de produção flexível) e capacidade de absorção.

Design/metodologia/abordagem

Um banco de dados de 1.864 empresas de manufatura espanholas é usado no Business Strategies Survey (o maior banco de dados espanhol desse tipo). Nossa abordagem teórica é baseada na teoria de recursos e capacidades dinâmicas. A metodologia inclui análise estatística descritiva e regressão linear com efeito moderador.

Resultados

Empresas ágeis com maior capacidade de absorção são mais inovadoras e obtêm melhores resultados que empresas menos ágeis. A capacidade de absorção modera a relação entre a tecnologia de produção flexível e os resultados da inovação.

Limitações/implicações da pesquisa

Trata-se de um estudo transversal que limita o estabelecimento de relações causais. Isso mostra a importância de se estudar a capacidade de absorção no processo de implementação da produção ágil.

Implicações práticas

Existem várias implicações de gerenciamento. A primeira é que os sistemas ágeis de produção devem ser integrados ao sistema de inovação da empresa, porque a melhoria contínua da produção ágil deve ser reforçada com os resultados de conhecimento externo e atividades internas de inovação. A segunda é que as empresas que usam fontes externas de conhecimento para melhorar os processos de produção podem aproveitar melhor esse benefício, não apenas nas operações, mas também nos resultados da inovação. A adoção de tecnologia de produção flexível não pode ser mantida fora dos processos de aprendizagem organizacional baseados em conhecimento externo. Nossos resultados também apoiam a contribuição do agrupamento de empresas colaboradoras para melhorar seus processos de produção através da capacidade de absorção e com isso a implementação de sistemas ágeis de produção.

Implicações sociais

não aplicável

Originalidade/valor

Este é o primeiro estudo, na medida do nosso conhecimento, que considerou o papel da capacidade de absorção, como competência / capacidade interna, para influenciar a relação entre tecnologia flexível e inovação.

Palavras-chave

Capacidade de absorção, Tecnologia de produção flexível, Inovação

Tipo de artigo

Trabalho de pesquisa

Details

Management Research: Journal of the Iberoamerican Academy of Management, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1536-5433

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 February 2021

Nicolas Salvador Beltramino, Domingo Garcia-Perez-de-Lema and Luis Enrique Valdez-Juarez

The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of the intellectual capital of SMEs on innovation and organizational performance in the context of an emerging country.

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of the intellectual capital of SMEs on innovation and organizational performance in the context of an emerging country.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 259 industrial SMEs from the Cordoba, Argentina. The data were analyzed by partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM).

Findings

The study provides empirical evidence that the three components of intellectual capital generate positive and significant effects on innovation in processes and products. Structural capital is the component that has the greatest effect on innovation. It also showed a positive and significant relationship between innovation in processes and performance, contributing to the scarce empirical literature in the context of SMEs.

Research limitations/implications

The research exposes limitations that uncover a path for future. First, the work uses as the only source of information, the consultation at the highest level of the company. Second, the study covered only industrial companies. Future studies should focus on other sectors and countries.

Practical implications

The results may have important practical implications for SME owners and managers and offer a vision of the influence of intellectual capital on the innovative capacity of the organization.

Originality/value

The value of work lies in establishing the importance of intellectual capital in the environment of an emerging country such as Argentina, given the low level of knowledge that exists in this area.

Details

Journal of Intellectual Capital, vol. 23 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1469-1930

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 April 2020

Nicolás Salvador Beltramino, Domingo García-Perez-de-Lema and Luis Enrique Valdez-Juárez

The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of the structural capital of SMEs in the capacity of innovation and organizational performance, in the context of an…

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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of the structural capital of SMEs in the capacity of innovation and organizational performance, in the context of an emerging country.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 259 industrial SMEs from the province of Córdoba Argentina. The data was analyzed by Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS–SEM).

Findings

The study provided evidence that acquisition of information and knowledge management, organizational culture and structure, systems and processes have positive and significant effects on the innovation capacity of SMEs. Only the communication and cohesion component did not show positive and significant results on it. It also showed a positive and significant relationship between the capacity for innovation in processes and performance, contributing to the scarce empirical literature in the context of SMEs.

Research limitations/implications

The research exposes some limitations that uncover a path for the development of future lines of research. In the first place, the work focuses on the use of a single source of information, the consultation at the managerial level of the company, without considering other representative variables to measure the capacity for innovation. Second, the study covered only companies in the industrial sector and country. Future studies should focus on other sectors and countries.

Practical implications

The results of the study can have important practical implications for the owners and managers of SMEs. The results offer a vision of the dimensions of structural capital that most influence the innovative capacity of the organization. This is especially useful given that in the context of Argentina there is a low level of knowledge and structural capital is key to being more competitive. The managers of SMEs can thus increase the innovative potential of the company and favor the acquisition of information and knowledge and improve its processes and systems to contribute to the development of innovation capabilities to make SMEs more competitive.

Social implications

The results obtained can be useful for those responsible for making public policy decisions, since in the knowledge of the economy to maintain a developed state and nation, it is necessary to include as one of the main issues on the national agenda the improvement of intellectual capital of its people to promote the competitiveness of companies.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the development of intellectual capital literature focused on the generation of innovation and performance in the perspective of SMEs in emerging countries.

Details

Journal of Intellectual Capital, vol. 21 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1469-1930

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 3 July 2017

Beatriz Ortiz, Mario J. Donate and Fátima Guadamillas

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the mediating effect of the identification of valuable external knowledge on the relationship between the development of…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the mediating effect of the identification of valuable external knowledge on the relationship between the development of inter-organizational ties (structural social capital) and the acquisition of external knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 87 firms from Spanish biotechnology and pharmaceutics industries, the authors have tested the proposed mediation hypothesis by applying the partial least squares technique to a structural equations model.

Findings

The study results show that those firms with stronger, more frequent and closer inter-relationships are able to increase the amount of intentionally acquired knowledge, partly due to the greater level of development of their knowledge identification capability. Thus, firms with a higher capability to recognize the value of the knowledge embedded in their inter-organizational networks will be more likely to design better strategies to acquire and integrate such knowledge into their current knowledge bases for either present or future use.

Originality/value

This research contributes to knowledge management and social capital literature by means of the study of two key determinants of knowledge acquisition – structural social capital and knowledge identification capability – and the explanation of their relationships of mutual influence. The paper thus tries to fill this literature gap and connects the relational perspective of social capital with the knowledge-based view from a strategic point of view.

Details

European Journal of Management and Business Economics, vol. 26 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2444-8451

Keywords

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