Technological capability and firm performance: a literature review with meta-analysis of studies into manufacturing firms
Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management
ISSN: 1741-038X
Article publication date: 16 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Different studies have been conducted on the relationship between technological capability and firm performance. These studies obtain different values for the relationship, known as heterogeneous results. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between technological capability and firm performance and its statistical between-study heterogeneity.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to analyze all the results from this relationship that were found in the literature, we adopted the literature review with a meta-analytic method. We consulted the Scopus and Web of Science databases, which returned, after the application of inclusion criteria, 23 primary studies with data from 5,882 manufacturing firms.
Findings
We observed that technological capability and performance are positively related; however, the results regarding this relationship are heterogeneous. We discovered four possible sources of statistical between-study heterogeneity: (i) the statistical between-study heterogeneity of the variables to measure technological capability and performance; (ii) orientation of the thematic approach – some illustrate the relationship between technological capability and performance using mathematical and theoretical models, while others examine the relationship between technological capability and performance and propose implications pertaining to that relationship; (iii) the source of data for primary studies and (iv) the context in which this relationship is observed.
Research limitations/implications
It is necessary to standardize a set of variables through which technological capability and performance are evaluated so that results and implications can be usefully compared between countries and industrial sectors.
Originality/value
The contribution to knowledge is identifying the statistical between-study heterogeneity on the relationship between technological capabilities and firm performance, as well as its potential sources.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper was supported by Coordenaçao de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).
Citation
Fitz-Oliveira, M. and Tello-Gamarra, J. (2024), "Technological capability and firm performance: a literature review with meta-analysis of studies into manufacturing firms", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-02-2022-0089
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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