Moderating role of innovation culture in the relationship between organizational learning and innovation performance

Abstract

Purpose

Different studies have analyzed the relationship between organizational learning (OL) and innovation performance (IP). However, the question of how innovation culture (IC) affects the relationship between OL and IP remains unexplored. This study aims to examine the impact of IC on the relationship between OL and various dimensions of IP, including product, process and objective innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model was developed and performed based on the relevant literature in the field of OL, IC and IP. The hypotheses are tested with the data collected from companies operating in an intensive knowledge-based industry.

Findings

Based on the results of 625 questionnaires completed by pharmaceutical companies, OL activities and IC can result in product and process innovation. However, this relationship was not supported for the objective innovation. Furthermore, in terms of the moderating role of IC in the relationship between OL and IP dimensions, the results were significant.

Practical implications

The findings help to gain a better understanding of how organizational commitment by creating a culture for innovation can help to maximize the benefits of continuous OL in product and process innovation.

Originality/value

Considering the three aspects of IP, it is the first survey of the contribution of OL in firms’ IP with considering the moderating role of IC. The proposed model would enrich the relevant literature and provide us with better understanding how OL contributes to the IP.

Citation

Ghasemzadeh, P., Nazari, J.A., Farzaneh, M. and Mehralian, G. (2019), "Moderating role of innovation culture in the relationship between organizational learning and innovation performance", The Learning Organization, Vol. 26 No. 3, pp. 289-303. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-08-2018-0139