Antonia Ruiz-Moreno

Effects of Technology Absorptive Capacity and Technology Proactivity on Organizational Learning, Innovation and Performance: An Empirical Examination

Abstract Technology is crucial for organizations in the knowledge society, but little empirical research has been conducted on technology absorptive capacity and technology proactivity. Based on existing theoretical studies, this article formulates a global model to analyse how technology absorptive capacity and technology proactivity influence organizational learning and organizational innovation, and how these dynamics capabilities affect organizational performance. The model also shows how organizational learning affects organizational innovation. The hypotheses are tested using data from 246 Spanish technological firms. The paper discusses the findings and provides several implications for future research. The findings are important for management practice, especially for firms where technology is the main strategic element.

The relationship between exploration and exploitation strategies, manufacturing flexibility and organizational learning: An empirical comparison between Non-ISO and ISO certified firms

The markets in which organizations currently operate require them to use behaviour based on both exploitation strategy and exploration strategy, each of which contributes fundamental benefits for the firm’s success. Exploitation strategy attempts to obtain the maximum advantage from existing abilities, whereas exploration strategy searches for new ways for the organization to adapt. Further, since manufacturing markets are characterized by short product life, they require a high level of manufacturing flexibility, which can play a crucial role in the development of the exploitation and exploration strategies. This study analyses the relationship of manufacturing flexibility to exploitation and exploration strategies, taking into account an issue of maximum international scope: the implementation of ISO standards. In many international markets, ISO implementation is crucial in enabling organizations to be competitive. However, no consensus has been reached concerning the real benefits that these systems provide to the organizations that implement them. The main goal of our study is to analyse whether there are significant differences in the relationship of manufacturing flexibility to exploitation and exploration strategies in ISO 9001:2000 certified organizations and non-certified organizations. Our results show that most of the relationships analysed are only significant in ISO certified organizations. As an added value, the study analyses the relationship of exploitation and exploration strategies to organizational learning orientation and finds this relationship to be significant in all cases.

The influence of manufacturing flexibility on the interplay between exploration and exploitation: the effects of organisational learning and the environment

This paper analyses whether the firm can combine exploration and exploitation and seeks to determine whether implementing manufacturing flexibility will facilitate the development of either of these two terms or both simultaneously. This relationship was measured in 231 Spanish production firms. The results obtained show that: (1) firms develop exploration of new knowledge at the same time as they exploit their abilities; (2) manufacturing flexibility encourages the development of both exploration and exploitation; (3) this relationship is even more significant if we take into account dynamism of the environment and organisational learning.

The role of QMS in the relationship between innovation climate and performance

The emergence of new global competitors, the convergence of high-technology industries and the increasing speed and cost of technological development promises an increasingly uncertain environment for organisations, making adaptation to changes in the environment a central theme in the study of the organisation for both organisation theory and strategic management. This study thus seeks principally to verify that, while innovation and quality management (QM) alone do not possess the qualities required to provide organisations with sustainable competitive advantages, the bundle of innovation and QM together with other resources and competencies will allow organisations to obtain a competitive advantage and adapt to their environment. The results show that the factors determining innovation – such as resistance to change, cohesion and workload pressures – have repercussions for the firms’ capacity to adapt to their environmentand that a QM context facilitates this adaptation. Finally, we can conclude that a climate of support for innovation is positively related to the organisation’s performance.

Process of value co-creation and its impact on innovation strategy in service companies

Purpose: This article analyzes the factors that influence on the capacity of service firms companies to adapt to changing environment. It analyzes how the critical dimensions of the innovation process influence the gap generated by the difference between the current level of innovation of the company and the level developed by competitors. Design/methodology/approach: Companies were selected from the database Duns and Bradstreet 2000. A sample of companies in Spain in a relatively homogeneous geographic, cultural, legal and political space was chosen. The questionnaire was sent to a total of 200 companies, most of them being large and medium enterprises. Findings and Originality/value: The results show that customer involvement in the innovation process is greater in service firms that have greater innovation gap and are more proactive. Formalization and decentralization present low innovation gap. Limitations: This study is focused on Spanish companies. This work presents the characteristics of a cross-sectional study. Practical implications: In order to better adapt to the environment, firms need to present a greater fit between results on innovation and customer expectations. Therefore, it is very important to accurately detect user needs throughout the innovation process. Originality/value: Our results provide guidance in decisions that are deliberate and which may affect the degree of proactivity of innovation in services. We have advanced in the implications of customer participation in business results. Keywords: Innovation gap, customer participation, decentralization, formalization, service firms.

Examining desorptive capacity in supply chains: the role of organizational ambidexterity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain how a buying organization’s desorptive capacity relative to its supply network enhances the organization’s supply chain competence. The research also analyzes the contingent role of the balanced and combined dimensions of ambidexterity in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Empirical results are obtained through analysis of survey data from a sample of 270 European firms. Hierarchical regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses. Findings The results confirm, first, the positive and significant relationship between the buying organization’s desorptive capacity and supply chain competence; and, second, the key moderating role of organizational ambidexterity, especially in its combined dimension, in this relationship. Practical implications The study suggests that desorptive capacity is key to the organization’s contribution to supply chain competitiveness. The authors also provide practitioners with better understanding of the extent to which they should attempt to balance exploration and exploitation or/and to maximize both simultaneously when seeking greater benefit from desorptive capacity. Originality/value This study extends desorptive capacity research to supply chain management. It responds to calls in the desorptive capacity literature for deeper understanding of the benefits of desorptive capacity and of the role organizational ambidexterity plays in the success of desorptive capacity. By analyzing the independent effects of the combined and balanced dimensions of ambidexterity, the authors advance conceptual and operational understanding of the role of ambidexterity needed in the literature.

Achieving engagement among hospitality employees: a serial mediation model

Purpose This paper aims to disclose some mechanisms whereby job engagement can be created in a hospitality context. A study was conducted to examine the relationships among high-performance work practices (HPWPs), empowering leadership behaviors, psychological empowerment and engagement. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical serial mediation model was developed to examine the proposed relationship. The hypotheses were tested using regression analysis with bootstrapping. In total, 340 hotel workers participated in this study. Findings Both empowering leadership and psychological empowerment were found to be independent mediators of the HPWPs–engagement relationship; in addition, empowering leadership and psychological empowerment mediated this relationship serially. Research limitations/implications Results suggest that hospitality organizations should implement HPWPs and encourage empowering leadership behavior in their managers to create a work context that fosters psychological empowerment. These strategies will, in turn, generate employee job engagement. A richer, deeper understanding of various antecedents of engagement is the main theoretical contribution of this work. Practical implications This research stresses the importance of specific organizational conditions and managerial strategies in achieving psychological fulfillment of hospitality employees. In sum, the present study provides important insights for managers and human resource managers in the hospitality industry who seek to foster empowered, engaged employees. Originality/value The findings suggest that HPWPs are associated with employee engagement through a serial mediation model with two mediators. No research to date has used this nascent methodology to explore the association between HPWPs and engagement.

The effects of employment externalization on the climate of flexibility: Evidence from Spanish firms

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the consequences of externalization from the perspective of the employees. The paper contributes to this line of research by examining how externalization influences internal employees’ perceptions of flexibility. Design/methodology/approach - – The hypotheses were tested with data collected from 249 internal workers in five organizations. To contrast the hypotheses, the paper used hierarchical regression analysis. Findings - – The results of the study indicate that externalization has a negative and significant effect on the climate of flexibility among internal workers. These negative consequences decrease in a context of group potency, but increase among employees with greater supervisory responsibility. Originality/value - – The results obtained add evidence to the small body of theoretical research that has studied the negative effects of externalization on internal employees’ perceptions.