Behrooz Ghlichlee, Elnaz Mohammadkhani, Amir Hatami
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between knowledge-enhancing HR practices, intellectual capital and sustainable competitive advantage in knowledge-based firms.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative approach was used to conduct the present study. The respondents were sampled from knowledge-based firms in Iran. Overall, 320 managers in 157 firms were selected using convenience sampling. A structural equation model was employed for testing the hypotheses.
Findings
The study confirmed that knowledge-enhancing human resource (HR) practices established a very strong connection with intellectual capital. The results further disclosed a positive relationship between intellectual capital and firms' competitive advantage. A mediated relationship between knowledge-enhancing HR practices and firms' competitive advantage through intellectual capital was also affirmed.
Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted in knowledge-based firms in Iran, which limits the generalizability of the research findings. Therefore, future studies should be carried out with samples from other contexts. Moreover, as the study was cross-sectional, the causal relationships could not be inferred directly.
Practical implications
The paper underscored the importance of intellectual capital in improving knowledge-enhancing HR practices and firms' competitive advantage. It suggests to human resource managers to make the organizational arrangements to design knowledge-enhancing HR practices, thereby developing the intellectual capital that brings competitive advantage to knowledge-based firms.
Originality/value
The results of this study contribute to advance research on the intellectual capital literature by trying to explain how intellectual capital as a mediator variable can influence the relationship between knowledge-enhancing HR practices and sustainable competitive advantage.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Intellectual Capital is a peer-reviewed international publication dedicated to the exchange of the latest research and best practice information on all aspects of creating, identifying, managing and measuring intellectual capital in organisations. The journal publishes original research and case studies by academic, business and public sector contributors on intellectual capital strategies, approaches, frameworks, tools, techniques and technologies in order to increase the understanding of intellectual capital within the context of the modern knowledge economy. The focus of this journal is on the identification of innovative intellectual capital strategies and the application of theoretical concepts to real-world situations.