The impact of structural capital on product innovation performance: an empirical analysis

Abstract

By conducting a questionnaire within a network of Portuguese innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and by using a combination of multivariate techniques to determine constructs and relations, the authors build on the intellectual capital and new product development perspectives to empirically analyse the influence of structural capital on product innovation performance. The results indicate that structural capital does have a significant and positive relationship with product innovation performance at Portuguese innovative SMEs. However, not all structural capital elements that were considered for the purpose of this study reveal such significant impact. In fact, ‘product innovation management and strategy’ stands out as the only structural capital element that significantly affects product innovation performance at the innovative SMEs level.