Critical success factors for the innovativeness of the electronic industry: An analysis in developed and developing countries

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of critical success factors (CSFs) on the innovativeness of the electronic industry. We propose a novel conceptual model. To validate the model, we used structural equation modelling. Data were collected in a survey with 261 responses from companies in Brazil, Canada and the USA. A multigroup analysis was carried out. The results for the whole sample show that all the CSF investigated have a positive and significant influence at 1% on innovativeness, with the greatest influence obtained by the construct innovative culture and strategy, followed by research and development infrastructure, management knowledge and the innovative environment. The originality lies (1) in a proposition of a novel theoretical model that investigates both the individual effect and joint action of the constructs related to CSF, in a broader set of CSF; (2) in a deeper analysis of the relationship between innovativeness with the innovation performance of organizations in the electronic industry; (3) in a different dimension of analysis comparison considering three different innovation systems; and (4) in a managerial contribution by encouraging the construction of an organizational culture that has as its values the constant search for innovation and for encouraging the creation of innovative solutions.