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IT competency and the commercial success of innovation

Anabel Fernández-Mesa (Department of Management, Faculty of Economics, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain and INGENIO (CSIC-Universitat Polite`cnica de Vale`ncia), Valencia, Spain)
José Luis Ferreras-Méndez (Department of Management, Faculty of Economics, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain)
Joaquin Alegre (Department of Management, Faculty of Economics, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain)
Ricardo Chiva (Department of Business Administration and Marketing, University Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

Industrial Management & Data Systems

ISSN: 0263-5577

Article publication date: 6 May 2014

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of information technology competency (ITC) on internal and external learning competency and the relations among ITC, internal and external learning competency and the commercial success of innovation (CSI)

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses survey data from 186 companies. Through structural equation modeling the paper assesses the links between ITC, internal and external learning competency and the CSI.

Findings

First, this study finds that ITC plays a critical role in internal and external learning competencies. Second, internal and external learning competencies are directly related to the CSI. Third, internal and external learning competencies mediate the relation between ITC and the CSI.

Research limitations/implications

The research is cross-sectional, so cause-effect relation cannot be definitively inferred from the results.

Originality/value

This study contributes to organizational learning research, identifying a key antecedent of internal and external learning competencies – ITC – and analyzing the link between internal and external learning competencies and the CSI. Moreover, this study is relevant to IT literature because it shows that ITC, on its own, is insufficient to generate and maintain a competitive advantage. Firms need complementary strategic capabilities such as learning competencies to strengthen the effect of ITC on firm performance.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación from Spain (Ref. ECO2008-00729 and ECO2011-29863) for their financial support for this research. We also want to express our gratitude toward Universitat de València for funding José Luis Ferreras Méndez V SEGLES research grand.

Citation

Fernández-Mesa, A., Luis Ferreras-Méndez, J., Alegre, J. and Chiva, R. (2014), "IT competency and the commercial success of innovation", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 114 No. 4, pp. 550-567. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-09-2013-0389

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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