Does Innovation Ambidexterity Moderate the Relationship between Intellectual Capital and Innovation Performance? Evidence from Morocco

Abstract

. Innovation performance is seen as the backbone of firm ’s sustained competitive advantages. Scholars of the dynamic capability view suggest that Intellectual Capital (IC), such as human, structural, and relational capital, are the main driving force of a firm’s Innovation P erformance (IP). The purpose of this study is to investigate the importance of developing firms’ intellectual capital and their role in leveling up innovation performance. In doing so, this paper conducts an examination by moderating the variable of Innovation Ambidexterity (IA), namely explorative and exploitative activities. By applying a quantitative and cross-sectional design, the study deploys data feedback from managers and executives of manufacturing SMEs across the Moroccan national territory collected from 286 surveys. The results show that IC has a positive and significant impact on IP, while IA has a positive and significant effect on both IP and IC. The study also finds that IA failed to moderate the relationship between IC and IP. This study contributes to advancing the capability theory by adding the importance of developing and reconfiguring firm ’ s human, structural, and relational capital as the main driving force of innovation performance.