The relationship between R&D, the absorptive capacity of knowledge, human resource flexibility and innovation: Mediator effects on industrial firms

Martínez-Sánchez, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Vicente-Oliva, S. ; Pérez-Pérez, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: This paper analyzes data from 1666 Spanish industrial firms to test how some human resource (HR) flexibility dimensions mediate the relationship between research and development (R&D;) efforts and the absorptive capacity of knowledge (AC). The results show that external R&D; experts and core employee training partially mediate the relationship between R&D; effort and AC, whereas temporary employment does not mediate that relationship. These findings seem to suggest that HR flexibility dimensions that are more knowledge-intensive are more influential on the development of absorptive capabilities. Another finding is that the mediator effects of HR and AC are positively related to innovation performance, suggesting that firms may combine them more effectively with R&D; efforts to enhance innovation.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.07.014

Año: 2020

Publicado en: Journal of Business Research 118 (2020), 431-440
ISSN: 0148-2963

Factor impacto JCR: 7.55 (2020)

Categ. JCR: BUSINESS rank: 28 / 153 = 0.183 (2020) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 2.048 - Marketing (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/ECO2014-56912-R

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Organización de Empresas (Dpto. Direcc.Organiza.Empresas)