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Structural capital, innovation capability, and size effect: An empirical study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Nekane Aramburu  and
Josune Sáenz
Nekane Aramburu
Affiliation:
University of Deusto, San Sebastian, Spain
Josune Sáenz
Affiliation:
University of Deusto, San Sebastian, Spain
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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the impact of different organizational enablers – i.e. ‘structural capital’ – on the ideation stage of innovation processes from an ‘intellectual capital’ (IC) perspective. Considering company size as one of the most relevant contingent variables as regards organizational conditions, the moderator role of this variable is also examined. To gather information about the variables under study, a questionnaire has been designed and addressed to the CEOs of a set of 142 Spanish manufacturing firms with more than 50 employees and which carry out R&D activities. Structural equation modelling (SEM) based on partial least squares (PLS) has then been applied in order to test the hypotheses drawn from the research. The results obtained show the organizational components which exert the greatest impact on the ideation phase and, therefore, the priority aspects to work on, in order to enhance this particular dimension of the innovation capability.

Keywords

intellectual capitalstructural capitalinnovationnew idea generationmanufacturing firmsSpainempirical research
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , May 2011 , pp. 307 - 325
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2011

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