Knowledge Innovation Capability Research Articles

The Transition of Samsung Electronics through Its M&A with Harman International

The automobile industry is experiencing unprecedented change. Despite its century-old history based mostly in the art of mechanics, increased development of technology and heightened awareness of environmental issues has pushed traditional automobile manufacturers to completely re-examine their strategies. It has also newly invited nontraditional players such as electronic and IT tycoons namely, Samsung, Google, and Apple into the game. The advent of electric cars with cutting edge technology requires active participation and collaboration from diverse industries requiring cross-over joint ventures and M&As. In this light, the recent acquisition of Harman Incorporated for eight billion dollars by Samsung Electronics in 2016 is a significant event that signals great change. As the electronics tycoon expands its boundaries preparing to become an important player in the automobile industry, this study examines how Samsung increases and integrates its knowledge base and innovation capability through the M&A deal with Harman in attempts to enhance its competitiveness in the rapidly evolving automotive market.

Evaluating the role of social capital, tacit knowledge sharing, knowledge quality and reciprocity in determining innovation capability of an organization

PurposeKnowledge sharing has become an integral part of organizations’ business strategies, along with aiding organizations to grow and innovate in the market, and gain competitive advantage. This paper aims to concentrate on the role of tacit knowledge sharing in fostering innovation capability of an organization. Specifically, the study considers social capital (relational, cognitive and structural) as an important precursors to tacit knowledge sharing, which in turn, influences innovation capability of an organization. The study further discusses the role that knowledge reciprocation plays in successful tacit knowledge sharing. The relation between knowledge quality and innovation capability is also discussed in the paper.Design/methodology/approachThe investigation started with a review of extant literature in the field of knowledge sharing and innovation to derive a set of constructs. A set of hypotheses was developed based on the identified constructs, which was subsequently validated through a primary survey based on a structured questionnaire on a sample size of 190 respondents from the Indian industrial domain. The survey responses were subsequently analysed using the statistical technique of structural equation modeling and conclusions were drawn from the findings. Additionally, careful attention was paid in eliminating the common method bias, which is often associated with a primary survey.FindingsA set of six hypotheses were derived based on the identified constructs and were subsequently validated. While validating the hypotheses, it was observed that while knowledge reciprocity, relational social capital and cognitive social capital was positive associated with tacit knowledge sharing, structural social capital did not have a significant effect on the same. Additionally, it was also observed that both tacit knowledge sharing and the quality of knowledge were positively associated with innovation capability.Practical implicationsThe present day business marked by intense competition requires firms to be more aware of their innovative capabilities. Effective sharing of knowledge or information can be deemed as a vital component in achieving this objective. Organizations that practice and nurture innovation activities can use the findings of the current study as a part of their knowledge management strategy. In addition to using the explicit knowledge, which are structured in nature, organizations can also start using tacit knowledge to harness their innovation potential – and the findings from the current study can act as a motivational tool for them to do so.Originality/valueAlthough there is a growing body of literature concerning the role of knowledge management in innovation, there still a dearth in discussing the role of tacit knowledge sharing in exploiting the innovation capability of an organization. The main discussion of this paper brings together a set of important constructs that exhibits the significant role that tacit knowledge sharing plays in determining the innovation capability of an organization. Furthermore, it tries to marry the concepts of social capital and tacit knowledge sharing with innovation capability, therefore adding significantly to the body of literature in knowledge management as well as innovation.

Knowledge sharing in supply chain networks: Effects of collaborative innovation activities and capability on innovation performance

Building on knowledge management and innovation capability theories, this paper aims to reveal the mechanisms of collaborative innovation processes by investigating the complex relationships among critical factors influencing firm's innovation performance in supply chain networks. Using hierarchical Multiple Regression (MR) and Moderated Multiple Regression (MMR) methods, results from a survey of 236 firms in China indicated that there are significant positive relationships between collaborative innovation activities, knowledge sharing, collaborative innovation capability, and firm's innovation performance. Moreover, it is expected that knowledge sharing plays a partial mediating role in the relationships between collaborative innovation activities and firm's innovation performance. Collaborative innovation capability exhibited a moderating effect on collaborative innovation activities - innovation performance relationship. These results contribute to collaborative innovation process management by offering a nuanced conceptualization of the collaborative innovation - performance relationship in supply chain networks.

Study on the Identification of Key Factors of Core Enterprise Knowledge Innovation Ability—Perspective of Distributed Innovation

Improve the core enterprise knowledge innovation capability is the key factor in the success of distributed innovation. How to enhance innovation network for distributed core innovation capability, enhance the level of knowledge innovation, analyzing the impact the core enterprise knowledge innovation capacity of five factors. The method further proposed the use of SNA key factor core innovation capability of factors. The results showed that the core position in enterprise distributed innovation network, the relationship between the core dimensions of corporate social capital, frequent and closeness of the core business with the outside world, is a key factor to enhance the core business knowledge innovation capacity; core businesses access to external knowledge core knowledge outside the enterprise property also has a significant impact on knowledge innovation. The key factor core business can be based on analysis results to adjust its knowledge management and knowledge innovation strategy, a reasonable allocation of organizational resources to improve their ability to innovate and enhance its core competitiveness.

Knowledge Sharing and Innovation Capability of Class C Hospitals in Depok Indonesia

Knowledge Sharing and Innovation Capability of Class C Hospitals in Depok Indonesia

The Influencing Factors of Enterprise Sustainable Innovation: An Empirical Study

Sustainable innovation is the inexhaustible source of development of enterprises. Within fierce market competition, only by depending on continuous innovation can an enterprise exist and develop. By conducting an exploratory factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis, this paper proposes a theoretical model, dividing enterprise sustainable innovation ability into three aspects: knowledge innovation capability, production innovation capability, and market innovation capability, and analyzes the influencing factors respectively. Finally, applying this theoretical model to a practical case, with system dynamics method, the simulation results show that they are consistent with real enterprise facts. Therefore, the framework of determinants of sustainable innovation built in this paper has already been verified theoretically and practically. It not only lays a theoretical foundation for further research, but also provides a clear ground for firms to improve their sustainable innovation.

The Role of Knowledge Absorption and Innovation Capability in the Technological Change and Economic Growth of EU Regions

Abstract The framework of the endogenous growth models and empirical evidence argue that two dimensions determine a region's ability to narrow its technological gap and improve its productivity growth. The first is its absorptive capacity, e.g. its ability to imitate foreign advanced technologies. The second is its innovative capability, namely the extent to which it is able to produce new, advanced knowledge. Thus, the narrowing knowledge absorption and innovation gaps between regions improve a region's productivity level and move it up the value chain towards specialization in knowledge-intensive and high value-added activities. The following paper attempts to contribute to the existing empirical findings and theoretical discussion on the inter-linkages between knowledge absorption, innovation capability, determined technological change, and economic growth of EU regions. The author's results show that despite the fact that the EU has a long tradition in education and new knowledge generation, there is a very modest ability to make EU regions more productive and grow them. The important role of productivity and knowledge-based sectors in improving EU regional prosperity suggests to carefully examine which knowledge activities drive productivity and the catching-up process of the EU regions. Overall, prospects for catching up will depend largely on how regions balance higher education and R&D priorities and place emphasis on the above activities. These results may be regarded as supportive of recent EU regional policy based on the Lisbon and Europe 2020 Strategies of Smart Growth.

Enhancing Business Performance through Learning Organization and Knowledge Sharing Capability: the Mediating Effect of Innovation Capability using PLS Method

This research aims to analyze descriptive condition of Learning Organization, Knowledge Sharing Capability, Innovation Capability, and Business Performance perceived by employees at PT SIT GLOBAL SYSTEMS, an IT consultant company. Besides, research is to analyze influence of Learning Organization and Knowledge Sharing Capability (exogenous variables) on Innovation Capability and Business Performance (endogenous variables) in the company. This research used descriptive statistics and associative methods, with primary and secondary data obtained from observation, interview, and questionnaire to 50 employees as respondents. The data then were analyzed with SmartPLS 2.0 software by measuring loading factor (convergent validity), cross loading (discriminant validity), and reliability for outer model, and interpretation of R2 value, path coefficient, and total effect for inner model. Research found that the descriptive condition of Learning Organization and Knowledge Sharing Capability was on average level, whereas the descriptive condition of Innovation Capability and Business Performance was perceived well by the employees. Research concluded that Learning Organization has positive and significant influence on Innovation Capability; Knowledge Sharing Capability has positive and significant influence on Innovation Capability; Innovation Capability has positive and significant influence on Business Performance; Learning Organization has positive and significant influence on Business Performance, directly and indirectly through Innovation Capability; and Knowledge Sharing Capability has positive and significant influence on Business Performance, directly and indirectly through Innovation Capability.

Customer knowledge management, innovation capability and business performance: a case study of the banking industry

Purpose– This paper aims to examine the effect of customer knowledge management (CKM) on continuous innovation and firm performance in 35 private banks in Guilan (Iran). CKM emerges as an important and effective system for innovation capability and firm performance. However, the role of CKM in innovation and performance is not well understood.Design/methodology/approach– Data have been collected via questionnaires from managers of private banks in Guilan. Feedback was received from 265 managers in 350 distributed questionnaires, and hypotheses were tested using the structural equation modelling.Findings– The results of this paper indicate that knowledge from customers has a positive impact on both innovation speed and innovation quality as well as operational and financial performances. Also, our results demonstrate a different effect of knowledge about customer and knowledge for customers on various dimensions of innovation and firm performance. By using customer’s knowledge flows, firms will be aware of external environment and new changes in customers’ needs and so will be more innovative and perform better.Practical implications– CKM is known as an important system to connecting internal environment to external environment to create novel ideas. The results of this paper shed light on the consequences of CKM on firms and provide support for the importance of CKM to enhance innovation capacity and firm performance.Originality/value– This article is one of the first to find empirical support for the role of CKM within firms and its importance on innovation capability and firm performance. This study can provide valuable insights and guidance for researchers and managers as well.

Dynamic Optimization of Knowledge innovation capability based on PSO

Dynamic Optimization of Knowledge innovation capability based on PSO

Knowledge Sharing Process, Innovation Capability and Innovation Performance: An Empirical Study

The knowledge sharing and innovation have been subject to many studies in the literature. The knowledge sharing and innovation are two important and interrelated subjects that need to be further explored to understand their dynamics and implications. Knowledge sharing has implication for innovation capability and innovation performance of the firms. Innovation capability also affects innovation performance of the firms.This study focuses on the knowledge sharing process and its impact on innovation capability and innovation performance of the firms. The research model along with hypotheses are developed from the literature and tested based on the data collected through a survey on companies in Kahramanmaras. The obtained data from the questionnaires are analyzed through Smart PLS 2.0 program. The results from the study partially confirm hypothesized the influence of knowledge sharing process on innovation capability of the firms. The effect of innovation capability on innovation performance constitutes another finding of this study. However, the hypothesized the influence of knowledge sharing process on innovation performance was not realized. Theoretical and practical implications of the study were discussed in the conclusion part of the study.

Dynamic Comprehensive Evaluation of Knowledge Innovation Capability of Enterprises

Dynamic Comprehensive Evaluation of Knowledge Innovation Capability of Enterprises

Enhancing innovation capability maturity through knowledge conversion

Purpose: This research was aimed at investigating organisational support by means of knowledge conversion processes toward maturity growth in innovation capability areas. Problem investigated: No formal guidelines exist for the use of knowledge management to grow innovation capability maturity. As knowledge management plays a fundamental role in an enterprise's ability to innovate successfully, the following question arises: Can knowledge creation processes be used to enable innovation capability maturity growth? Methodology: The literature therefore provides a strong basis for the argument that knowledge management and more specifically knowledge creation processes could be used to improve an enterprise's innovation capability maturity. A knowledge creation framework that enables innovation capability maturity growth was designed by aligning knowledge creation processes to the requirements for innovation capability growth from one maturity level to the next. The time-frame of the research did not allow the implementation of the framework, and five industry and subject theory experts were used to evaluate the framework. Findings: All five experts responded positively to, and were in agreement that the reasoning applied when identifying the specific knowledge creation process path as a key enabler of growth between innovation capability maturity levels is logical and sound. Value of research: The unique research contribution of the framework lies in providing a tangible link between the fields of knowledge management and innovation capability maturity.Conclusion: The impact of this research lies in the development of a knowledge creation framework that provides guidelines for the use of knowledge creation processes as a vehicle for innovation capability maturity growth.

Organizational knowledge assets and innovation capability

PurposeOrganizational knowledge assets are key organizational factors responsible for firm innovation, as well as effective management. Traditionally, a good piece of research takes the innovation processes from an external perspective, leaving aside the internal complexity that characterizes innovation dynamics. Nevertheless, the innovation capability of a certain firm depends very closely on the intellectual assets and organizational knowledge that it possesses, as well as on its ability to deploy them. In this sense, this paper aims to test empirically the relationships between organizational knowledge assets and the innovation capability of the firm.Design/methodology/approachThe data collection was carried out through a questionnaire on a sample of 251 Spanish high and medium‐high manufacturing firms. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and multiple linear regressions were also used.FindingsBased on the literature review, this work explores the nature and measurement of organizational capital as well as its role on innovation performance in high and medium‐high manufacturing firms.Practical implicationsThis paper proposes a theoretical and empirical model of technological innovation that, based on organizational knowledge assets, highlights the importance of culture and CEO commitment towards innovation, as well as the role played by communication and information technologies (CITs) applied to management on product innovation capability within high and medium‐high manufacturing firms.Originality/valueThe scarcity of empirical works analyzing the innovation phenomena from an internal point of view adds value to the current academic literature, specifically from an intellectual capital‐based view.

The determinants of corporate growth: evidence from Chinese high technology firms

Drawing on the economic growth and social cognitive theory, this paper investigates the effects of management strategies-based factors (knowledge management process competence and innovation capability) and dynamic capabilities-based factors (rewards system and marketing fit) on corporate growth in the Chinese high technology firms. The results show that the knowledge management process competence, innovation capability, and marketing fit exert significant effects on corporate growth. In particular, this study identifies a significant curvilinear relationship between innovation capability and corporate growth. The findings suggest that both management strategy-based and dynamic capabilities-based factors should be considered in achieving long term corporate growth in Chinese high technology firms. These results have important implications for researchers investigating the determinants of high technology firms’ growth performance in transitional economies as well as practitioners seeking to improve corporate growth. This paper concludes with a discussion of the implications and limitations of the research.

Relationships between knowledge acquisition, absorptive capacity and innovation capability: an empirical study on Taiwan’s financial and manufacturing industries

This study investigates the relationships between knowledge acquisition, absorptive capability, and innovation capability on Taiwan’s knowledge-intensive industries using a structural equation model, which is constructed based on the data sampled from financial and manufacturing industries, and the 362 returned valid research samples. By testing five hypotheses, the research results find that absorptive capacity is the mediator between knowledge acquisition and innovation capability, and that knowledge acquisition has a positive effect on absorptive capacity. In addition, we used a multi-group approach and found that industry is a moderator between knowledge acquisition and innovation capability. Finally, a conclusion including research findings, discussion, implication, and future works is presented.

Knowledge Acquisition, Absorptive Capacity, and Innovation Capability: An Empirical Study of Taiwan's Knowledge-Intensive Industries

Knowledge Acquisition, Absorptive Capacity, and Innovation Capability: An Empirical Study of Taiwan's Knowledge-Intensive Industries

The Cultivation of Cluster’s Sustainable Competence Based on Knowledge Management

The cluster has shown its powerful competitive advantages in global competition. However, as amounts of industrial clusters have displayed their competence, some have lost their competitive advantages in global competition. It is meaningful for clusters’ development to cultivate their sustainable competence. This paper analyzes the sources of cluster competence. According this paper, the important ways to make cluster competence sustainable include transferring and sharing knowledge, making innovation in the cluster, absorbing knowledge from other outer sources, and cultivating unique and exclusive knowledge innovation capability that is differing from other clusters. This paper advances two ways for clusters achieving the transformation from closed knowledge system to open one: firstly, cultivate the capability of absorbing new knowledge from other local knowledge sources; secondly, improve the capability of knowledge share and innovation in the cluster.

Knowledge creation and innovation capability in the public university

Universities are widely regarded not only as teaching establishments but also as organisations that foster research, the creation of new bodies of knowledge and innovation. As such, Knowledge Management (KM) plays a significant role in improving and sustaining the research and innovative activities of universities. This paper presents a study of KM schemes in use by various researchers in Research and Development (R&D) units of Thai public universities. The survey focus is on the relationship between the knowledge creation process and innovation capability and includes two critical factors: organisational strategy and incentive. Information was obtained and analysed from 60 researchers in Thai public universities. The initial findings from this study indicate that: the organisational strategy and incentive have a positive impact on the knowledge creation process; the knowledge creation process is related to the innovation capability of the research organisation.

Knowledge flows and innovation capability: The patenting trajectory of Taiwan's thin film transistor-liquid crystal display industry

This paper uses USPTO's patent data to present and analyse knowledge flows and innovation capability within and across Taiwan's top five major players in the thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) industry. Based on the empirical results, the study shows that latecomers, such as Taiwan, to the TFT-LCD industry have internalised external knowledge from the US and particularly from Japan on specific core technologies, while the knowledge relationship between source and recipient is un-intimated. One important finding of this study is that Taiwan's top five TFT-LCD manufacturers possess different knowledge sources and technology focuses. This specialised capability is most likely the cause for their positions in the market (i.e. market share). Each player has unique patenting protocol, in which the coded knowledge (i.e. patenting rate) does not act as a major indicator of innovation performance in Taiwan's TFT-LCD industry. Remarkably, the public research institute does not show its essential impact on TFT-LCD industry as it once was in most East Asian latecomer literature. This study thus provides some useful managerial implications for latecomer firms to facilitate knowledge internalisation and build endogenous innovative capabilities.