The impact of innovation on agribusiness competitiveness: the mediating role of technology transfer and productivity
- 23 February 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Emerald in European Journal of Innovation Management
- Vol. 25 (3), 741-773
- https://doi.org/10.1108/ejim-05-2020-0180
Abstract
The pre-eminence of innovation and technological transfer in promoting agricultural productivity and competitiveness in developing countries is widely acknowledged. However, the disparate streams of literature on productivity and competitiveness have explored innovation and technology transfer as independent predictors. Consequently, the mechanisms through which innovation and technology transfers jointly affect productivity and competitiveness of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in emerging economies remain under-explored in literature. The present study sought to examine the relationships among innovation, technology transfer, productivity and competitiveness of small-scale agricultural businesses (SSABs) in selected regions in South Africa and Zimbabwe, neighbouring countries which have been plagued by food insecurity in recent years. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to SSABs owners based in Free State and Mashonaland provinces of South Africa and Zimbabwe, respectively. In total, 268 usable questionnaires (67%) were returned for analysis. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and Process macro (based on SPSS) techniques were used to analyse data. The results supported direct significant paths between innovation and technology transfer; technology transfer and productivity; and productivity and competitiveness. Furthermore, the results suggested that technology transfer and productivity consecutively fully mediate the relationship between innovation and competitiveness. The use of a survey could not provide sufficient explanations as to why the variable examined related the way they did. The study provides useful insights into the significance of considering the dimensions and methods of innovation and technology transfer in agricultural business activities and processes to improve productivity and competitiveness of SSABs. The study provides some insights into how innovation and technology transfer could be employed by small scale agricultural businesses as critical mechanisms for heightening productivity and competitiveness of these firms to guarantee food security and employment creation for emerging economies. To the researchers' knowledge, this is one of the pioneer studies to examine the impact of both innovation and technology transfer on productivity and competitiveness of SSABs in two countries in Southern Africa. The study also constitutes a significant contribution to examining serial mediation of technology transfer and productivity of innovation and competitiveness.Keywords
This publication has 55 references indexed in Scilit:
- Competitiveness and productivity: a case study of Italian firmsApplied Economics, 2011
- PLS-SEM: Indeed a Silver BulletJournal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 2011
- The role of knowledge management in innovationJournal of Knowledge Management, 2007
- Agricultural cooperatives II: Can they facilitate access of small-scale farmers in South Africa to input and product markets?Agrekon, 2007
- Limits to Communities of PracticeJournal of Management Studies, 2006
- Open for innovation: the role of openness in explaining innovation performance among U.K. manufacturing firmsStrategic Management Journal, 2005
- Innovation or imitation?Benchmarking: An International Journal, 2004
- Transaction costs and crop marketing in the communal areas of Impendle and Swayimana, KwaZulu-NatalDevelopment Southern Africa, 2001
- SOURCES OF GROWTH IN SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF VERTICAL INTEGRATION OF SMALLHOLDERS WITH PROCESSORS AND MARKETERS OF HIGH VALUE-ADDED ITEMSAgrekon, 1999
- The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1986