Research Article

R&D investment, intellectual capital, organizational learning, and firm performance: a study of Chinese software companies

Published: 2023-7-4

Journal: Total Quality Management & Business Excellence

DOI: 10.1080/14783363.2022.2158077

Abstract

Abstract The effect of R&D investment on firm performances is subject of a number of internal factors. The dynamics of this effect is unclear in the literature. Based on the knowledge-based view and theory of intellectual capital, this research establishes a theoretical model to test the interrelationships among R&D investment, intellectual capital, organizational learning, and firm performance. We obtained seven years’ panel data from two data centers, and applied mediation and moderation models to investigate the interrelationships. Our findings show while intellectual capital fully mediates the relationship between R&D investment and firm performance, organizational learning moderates the relationship between R&D investment and human capital. Our results show the important roles of intellectual capital and organizational learning in enhancing the effectiveness of R&D investment. Keywords: Intellectual capital, organizational learning, software quality, R&D, firm performance Disclosure statement No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s). Correction Statement This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article. Additional information Funding This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China: [Grant Number 71572196].

Faculty Members

  • Jianping Peng - School of Marxism, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Management, Guangzhou Xinhua University, P. R. of China
  • Jing Quan - Franklin P. Perdue School of Business, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA
  • Qun Qin - Guangzhou Maritime University, 101, Hongshan Avenue III, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, P. R. of China 510725

Themes

  • Mediation and moderation in performance relationships
  • Intellectual capital
  • Organizational learning
  • Knowledge-based view
  • R&D investment and firm performance

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