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Knowledge as a mediator between HRM practices and innovative activity
Author(s) -
LopezCabrales Alvaro,
PérezLuño Ana,
Cabrera Ramón Valle
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
human resource management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.888
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1099-050X
pISSN - 0090-4848
DOI - 10.1002/hrm.20295
Subject(s) - knowledge management , structural equation modeling , business , sample (material) , human resource management , profit (economics) , computer science , economics , microeconomics , chemistry , chromatography , machine learning
Abstract The objective of this paper is to test how human resources management (HRM) practices and employees' knowledge influence the development of innovative capabilities and, by extension, a firm's performance. Results confirm that HRM practices are not directly associated with innovation unless they take into account employees' knowledge. Specifically, our analyses establish a mediating role for the uniqueness of knowledge between collaborative HRM practices and innovative activity, a positive influence of knowledge‐based HRM practices on valuable knowledge, and a positive contribution of innovations to the company's profit. We tested hypotheses in a sample of firms from the most innovative Spanish industries through structural equation modeling. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.