Boosting the impact of knowledge management on innovation performance through industry 4.0 adoption

Abstract

This paper aims at examining the role played by Industry 4.0 (I4.0) on the relationship between knowledge management (KM) practices (i.e., knowledge acquisition, knowledge dissemination, and responsiveness to knowledge) and innovation performance (represented by process and product innovation). For that, 153 practitioners from manufacturing firms in India and Brazil were surveyed. The data were analysed through multivariate data techniques. This study was grounded on the concepts from the socio-technical systems theory. Our findings indicated that I4.0 design principles positively moderate the relationship between KM practices and innovation performance. In particular, this moderation seems to be more prominent for product innovation performance, although it was also found for process innovation performance. I4.0 design principles determine the expected mindset and behaviours in companies undergoing digital transformation. Our research showed that the effect of KM practices on innovation performance may be boosted when I4.0 design principles are extensively integrated into organisations.