Abstract

From the traditional perspective of innovation, it is supposed that differences in the firm's innovative activities are basically explained by industry and organizational structure characteristics. By contrast, a growing body of literature that embraces the knowledge-based view of the firm (KBV) considers innovation activities and performance not only in terms of organizational structure or industry characteristics but also in terms of resources and capabilities. Fundamental to the KBV of the firm is the assumption that the critical input in production and primary source of value is knowledge. We show how this influential perspective can be used to extend the findings gained by past research on the firm's capacity to innovate. For that, we refer to results from our research project on the determinants of technological/environmental and organizational innovations. Professor Rachel Bocquet is a visiting scholar at LISER and full professor of strategy and innovation management at Savoie Mont Blanc University (USMB, France). Researcher at the IREGE institute, her field of research is centered on the determinants of technological and organizational innovations and the study of their complementarities. She is also currently investigating corporate social responsibility and its relationships with innovation and performance.