Technological Innovative Capabilities of Maritime Equipment Suppliers in Møre and Romsdal.

Abstract

Recent studies advocate the utilization of different technological innovative capabilities (TICs), and discuss their impact on firm competitive performance. Nevertheless, there is limited research on the topic in a Norwegian context. This study examines how TICs drives the performance of maritime equipment suppliers in Møre and Romsdal, and to what extent this relationship is moderated by cluster interaction and firm size. Adopting Yam et al. (2003) capability auditing approach, this thesis uses a triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods. Initially, three in-depth interviews were conducted to test the proposed framework, and increase the comprehension of the research topic. Empirical data was acquired through a survey of 75 maritime suppliers in the region. The findings indicate that marketing capability, manufacturing capability and organizing capability have a statistical significant affect on firm performance. Surprisingly, learning capability, R&D capability, resource capability and strategic capability did not significantly influence performance. Moreover, innovation has a magnifying impact on competitiveness, as the level of agglomeration increases. Thus, this research demonstrates that cluster interaction positively moderates the relationship between TICs and performance. However, the moderating effect of firm size has yet to be discovered. In the latter part of this thesis the findings are discussed, and implications, limitations and suggestions for future research are provided.

Keywords: Innovation, Technological Innovative Capabilities, Cluster Interaction, Firm Size.