Title: Studying the relationships among human capital, technological capabilities, and innovation in Spanish manufacturing firms

Authors: Daniel Jimenez-Jimenez; Raquel Sanz-Valle

Addresses: Department of Management and Finance, School of Economy and Business Administration, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain ' Department of Management and Finance, School of Economy and Business Administration, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

Abstract: This paper focuses on the relationships among human capital, technological capabilities and innovation. In particular, following the resource-based view and the dynamic capabilities approach, this research proposes that both technological capabilities and human capital are drivers of innovation for both products and processes. In addition, it suggests that the effect of human capital on innovation is mediated by technological capabilities. This idea about mediation arises from a review of the literature, although it has never been specifically addressed. The research uses a sample of 200 Spanish manufacturing firms to test the hypotheses. Findings provide evidence of the direct effect proposed and also show that the relationship between human capital and both product and process innovation is mediated by technological capabilities. However, according to our findings, this mediation is only partial for product innovation. The implications of these results for academia as well as for practitioners are discussed.

Keywords: technological capabilities; human capital; process innovation; product innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2020.108984

International Journal of Technology Management, 2020 Vol.82 No.3/4, pp.227 - 243

Accepted: 05 Mar 2020
Published online: 13 Aug 2020 *

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