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The effects of knowledge management on innovative success: an empirical analysis of German firms

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  • Cantner, Uwe
  • Joel, Kristin
  • Schmidt, Tobias

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse the effects of knowledge management on the innovation success of firms in Germany. Using a matching procedure on data from the German Innovation Survey of 2003 (Mannheim Innovation Panel), we pair firms applying knowledge management with twin firms with similar characteristics not applying knowledge management. Our focus is on investigating the effects of knowledge management techniques on the economic success of firms with product and process innovations. The results of our matching analysis reveal that firms which apply knowledge management perform better in terms of higher-than-average shares of turnover with innovative products compared to their twins. We do not find a significant effect of knowledge management on the share of cost reductions with process innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Cantner, Uwe & Joel, Kristin & Schmidt, Tobias, 2009. "The effects of knowledge management on innovative success: an empirical analysis of German firms," Discussion Paper Series 1: Economic Studies 2009,16, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:bubdp1:200916
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ganter, Alois & Hecker, Achim, 2014. "Configurational paths to organizational innovation: qualitative comparative analyses of antecedents and contingencies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(6), pages 1285-1292.
    3. Reza Ansari & Sayyed Mohsen Allameh & Ali Asadi & Mehri Asadi Vasfi & Alireza Harooni, 2013. "Investigating the Relationship between Knowledge Management Processes and Innovation Levels: Managers and Experts of Software Design Companies of Isfahan Province," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 3(2), pages 50-59, April.
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    5. Jenny Meyer, 2010. "Does Social Software Support Service Innovation?," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 289-311.
    6. Svetlana Klessova & Sebastian Engell & Catherine Thomas, 2022. "Dynamics of couplings and their implications in inter-organizational multi-actor research and innovation projects," Post-Print hal-03690108, HAL.
    7. Cobo-Benita, José Ramón & Rodríguez-Segura, Enrique & Ortiz-Marcos, Isabel & Ballesteros-Sánchez, Luis, 2016. "Innovation projects performance: Analyzing the impact of organizational characteristics," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 1357-1360.
    8. Eggert, Andreas & Thiesbrummel, Christoph & Deutscher, Christian, 2014. "Differential effects of product and service innovations on the financial performance of industrial firms," jbm - Journal of Business Market Management, Free University Berlin, Marketing Department, vol. 7(3), pages 380-405.
    9. Cheng, Ru & Tao, Lei & Wang, Qiang & Zhao, Xiande, 2023. "The impact of value co-creation orientation on radical service innovation: Exploring a serial mediation mechanism," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    10. Louise Lindbjerg & Theodor Vladasel, 2021. "Hiring Entrepreneurs for Innovation," Working Papers 1309, Barcelona School of Economics.
    11. Oerlemans, Leon & Chan, K.Y. & Knoben, Joris & Vermeulen, P.A.M., 2018. "Structural and geographical conditions for exploitative innovation : Evidence from South African manufacturing firms," Other publications TiSEM 4abcf615-a0d4-49ef-ba25-c, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    12. Forés, Beatriz & Camisón, César, 2016. "Does incremental and radical innovation performance depend on different types of knowledge accumulation capabilities and organizational size?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 831-848.
    13. Stephane Lhuillery & Julio Raffo & Intan Hamdan-Livramento, 2016. "Measuring creativity: Learning from innovation measurement," WIPO Economic Research Working Papers 31, World Intellectual Property Organization - Economics and Statistics Division.
    14. Guan, Jiancheng & Zhang, Jingjing & Yan, Yan, 2015. "The impact of multilevel networks on innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 545-559.
    15. Erik E. Lehmann & Matthias Menter & Katharine Wirsching, 2022. "University spillovers, absorptive capacities, and firm performance," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 12(1), pages 125-150, March.
    16. Revilla, Elena & Rodríguez-Prado, Beatriz, 2018. "Bulding ambidexterity through creativity mechanisms: Contextual drivers of innovation success," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(9), pages 1611-1625.
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    18. Achim Hecker & Alois Ganter, 2016. "Organisational And Technological Innovation And The Moderating Effect Of Open Innovation Strategies," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(02), pages 1-31, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    knowledge management; innovation; matching estimator;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • M11 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Production Management

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