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Knowledge Creation Process and Sustainable Competitive Advantage: the Role of Technological Innovation Capabilities

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between the knowledge creation process and technological innovation capabilities, and analyzes their effect on a firm’s sustainable competitive advantage using a knowledge-based view theoretical framework. We conduct structural equation modeling analyses using survey data from 315 Chinese industrial firms to test the direct and indirect effects of the knowledge creation process on sustainable competitive advantage. Technological innovation capabilities—operationalized to reflect the dimensions of process innovation capability and product innovation capability—are used as the mediating variable for explaining the relationship between the knowledge creation process and sustainable competitive advantage. The results indicate that the knowledge creation process does not have a significant direct effect on sustainable competitive advantage. Rather, the knowledge creation process can only influence the sustainable competitive advantage through the mediating effect of technological innovation capabilities completely. Consequently, the knowledge creation process favors the development of technological innovation capabilities for processes and products, because processes and products can lead to a sustainable competitive advantage.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su9122280

Authors: Chuanpeng Yu, Zhengang Zhang, Chunpei Lin, Yenchun Wu

Institutions: South China University of Technology, Huaqiao University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Taipei University of Education

Language: English

Topic: Innovation and Knowledge Management

Subfield: Strategy and Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896