Quality Management practices, absorptive capacity and innovation performance

Abstract

Quality Management practices (QMP) are a potentially useful tool for increasing a company’s innovation performance. However, the empirical evidence regarding the impact of QMP on innovation performance has been mixed. The purpose of this study is to extend understanding of the impact of QMP on innovation performance by investigating the mediating effect of absorptive capacity on this relationship. A proposed research model and hypotheses are tested using cross-sectional survey data from a sample of 230 leading Spanish firms. The results indicate that QMP enable the development of absorptive capacity, contributing to innovation performance.