Redefining the Relationship between Intellectual Capital and Innovation: The Mediating Role of Absorptive Capacity
Journal Title: BAR: Brazilian Administration Review - Year 2016, Vol 13, Issue 4
Abstract
The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between absorptive capacity, intellectual capital and innovation. The main purpose of this research is to demonstrate that absorptive capacity can leverage the relation between intellectual capital and innovation potential. The method was a single case study using exploratory and descriptive research strategies and applying both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The case study investigated was a Brazilian corporation that has been doing business in the paper and corrugated cardboard industry for 72 years. The paper describes a case analysis demonstrating that adoption of practices associated with absorptive capacity has potential to foster intellectual capital, which is particularly important for development of innovations. These practices include assimilation of new technologies; creating capacity to utilize existing internal knowledge held by employees; use of benchmarking; application of technical knowledge; and registration of patents. Triangulation of data provided evidence confirming that the relationship between absorptive capacity and intellectual capital is a driver of innovation in the firm investigated. Additionally, this relationship is better explained by the mediating role of absorptive capacity, which is capable of potentiating intellectual capital to foster innovation.
Authors and Affiliations
Cassol, Alessandra; Gonçalo, Cláudio Reis; Ruas, Roberto Lima
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP40628
- DOI -
- Views 243
- Downloads 0
Effects of Internationalization on Ownership Structure: Evidence from Latin American Firms
We analyze the direct and simultaneous effects of internationalization on the ownership structure of Latin American companies based on agency theory. Using a sample of 425 Latin American firms between 2007 and 2011, wh...
The Stockouts Study: an Examination of the Extent and the Causes in the São Paulo Supermarket Sector
Stockouts remain a significant retail problem. Progress has been limited, as estimates of stockout rates in the past forty years have consistently averaged above 8 percent. The purpose of this study is to investigate th...
The career advancement challenge faced by female executives in Peruvian organisations
The percentage of women in Peru’s workforce overall has been growing at a steady rate, but there are still few women are seen in executive positions. This qualitative study describes the challenges in women’s profession...
Multinationals and Interdependence in Internationalisation Processes
This article deals with interdependence and the internationalisation process of multinationals (MNCs); a topic that has received scarce attention in the literature (e.g. Bell & Young, 1998; Holm et al., 1995). By review...
How to Deal with Negative Publicity: the Importance of Consumer Involvement
Negative information about companies can have a harmful effect on consumer perceptions. However, few studies investigate how consumers process negative publicity and how companies should react to it. In order to examin...