The Effect of Knowledge Capacity on Strategic Innovation, Considering the Moderating Role of Competitiveness and Strategic Flexibility (Case Study of INOTEX Companies)

Abstract

With the expansion of the open innovation paradigm as the dominant paradigm in innovation management, the importance of knowledge absorption capacity has become more and more evident. The main purpose of the present research is to analyze the effect of knowledge absorption capacity on strategic innovation, while this study examines the role that competitiveness and strategic flexibility play in enhancing or weakening this relationship. The research method is quantitative and surveys based on a questionnaire. The statistical population of the research is small and medium enterprises of Iranian students who participated in the 7th International Exhibition of Innovation and Technology (INOTEX) in the summer of 2018, which is mostly up-to-date and includes 240 companies, which were selected randomly by 144 companies based on Cochran's formula. After assessing the validity and reliability of the collected data, using the Smart PLS software, the correlation matrix, structural equation test and fit model test were analyzed. Finally, it was found that knowledge absorption capacity is effective in strategic innovation. Also, strategic competitiveness and flexibility in the relationship between knowledge absorption capacity and strategic innovation play a moderating role. According to the results obtained, it can be seen that in the competitive world of today, organizations that have the ability to plan with a competitive approach and have strategic flexibility in creating adaptation to conditions at different times, they can better take the path of innovation.

Keywords

• absorptive capacity
• strategic innovation
• eenvironmental competitiveness
• strategic flexibility