Learning, R&D and Manufacturing Capabilities as Determinants of Technological Learning: Enhancing Innovation and Firm Performance

Abstract

Facing the globally competitive environment characterized by uncertainty, dynamism and volatility, technological learning plays an important role in firms' competitive success, supporting their ability to develop maintain and exploit dynamic core competencies, besides leveraging firms to pursue technology based strategies. At this point, extending the resource based view (RBV) of the firm and basing technological innovation capabilities on dynamic capabilities view (DCV) these assets which enable firms to develop, acquire, assimilate and modify technologies to obtain new ones, are seen as critical sources of sustained competitive advantage. However, there is limited effort in the literature on the potential complementary relationship of technological learning with these TICs. In this study, by focusing on the complementary power of learning. manufacturing and R&D capabilities which build the basis for a systematic innovation strategy through establishing appropriate routines, accumulating skills internally and developing the ability to learn selectively, their influence on technological learning is investigated. Specifically, this study will enhance the theory on technological learning by operationalizing technological learning and its characteristics which have rarely been focused on in the literature. The conceptual model is comprised of five research propositions with six main constructs namely; i-) learning capability, ii-) manufacturing capability, iii-) R&D capability, iv-) technological learning, v-) innovation and vi-) firm performance. Concurrently, the managerial implications are discussed and the empirical testing of the propositions stated in the conceptual model is suggested for future research. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the 8th International Strategic Management Conference