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 RD 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.

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