Presenting a structural capital model with a focus on technology transfer in Iran's petrochemical industry

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Industrial engineering. Imam Hossein (AS). Tehran. Iran

2 Industrial engineering, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran

3 Management and Industries, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Technology transfer is one of the most important ways to acquire and develop technology for organizations including petrochemical industry. One of the most critical factors influencing technology transfer is the characteristics of the technology receiver. This feature includes mechanisms, structures and processes within an organization, called “structural capital”. Based on the role of the petrochemical industry in other industries and economies and the importance of technology and its transfer in this industry, a model that provides effective structural capital in technology transfer, can provide a framework for understanding and behavior of this capital in technology transfer. This applied research, surveys to present an effective structural capital model in technology transfer in Iran's petrochemical industry. Relying on the literature, structural capital indicators were extracted and summarized by the help of experts, to design a questionnaire. The statistical population of the research covers people who have participated in at least one technology transfer project in the petrochemical industry, using simple random method. The temporal scope of the research focuses on data from the experience of the last thirty years of aforementioned people, which has been collected during a continuous period of Iranian calendar 1399. The spatial and organizational scope of this research includes active production complexes in the petrochemical industry throughout Iran. Using exploratory factor analysis, the dimensions of structural capital were identified and tested using the confirmatory factor analysis. Finally, the structural capital model effective in technology transfer in the petrochemical industry was explained and presented in five dimensions: 1) Renewal capital, 2) Supportive systems and methods, 3) Knowledge management infrastructures, 4) Supporting organizational culture, 5) Appropriate organizational structure.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Agostini, L., & Nosella, A. (2017). Enhancing radical innovation performance through intellectual capital components. Journal of intellectual capital, 18(4), 789-806.
Allameh, S. M. (2018). Antecedents and consequences of intellectual capital: The role of social capital, knowledge sharing and innovation. Journal of intellectual capital, 19(5), 858-874.
Berbegal-Mirabent, J., Gil-Doménech, D., & Eva, M. (2021). Examining strategies behind universities’ technology transfer portfolio: how different patterns of resource consumption can lead to similar technology transfer profiles. Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal, 13(3), 571-593.
Bontis, N. (1998). Intellectual capital: an exploratory study that develops measures and models. Management decision, 36(2), 63-76.
Bontis, N., Chua Chong Keow, W., & Richardson, S. (2000). Intellectual capital and business performance in Malaysian industries. Journal of intellectual capital, 1(1), 85-100.
Bontis, N., Crossan, M. M., & Hulland, J. (2002). Managing an organizational learning system by aligning stocks and flows. Journal of management studies, 39(4), 437-469.
Brooking, A. (1997). Intellectual Capital, London. International Thomson Business Press.
Buenechea-Elberdin, M., Sáenz, J., & Kianto, A. (2018). Knowledge management strategies, intellectual capital, and innovation performance: a comparison between high-and low-tech firms. Journal of Knowledge Management, 22(8), 1757-1781.
Cabrita, M. d. R., & Bontis, N. (2008). Intellectual capital and business performance in the Portuguese banking industry. International Journal of technology management, 43(1-3), 212-237.
Center for Value Chain Studies, 2018, investigating the relationship between chemical industries and large economies. [Online]. Access at: https://vcmstudy.ir [21 Shahrivar 1400].
Chahal, H., & Bakshi, P. (2015). Examining intellectual capital and competitive advantage relationship: Role of innovation and organizational learning. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 33(3), 376-399.
Chen, C.-J., Liu, T.-C., Chu, M.-A., & Hsiao, Y.-C. (2014). Intellectual capital and new product development. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 33, 154-173.
Chen, J., Zhu, Z., & Yuan Xie, H. (2004). Measuring intellectual capital: a new model and empirical study. Journal of intellectual capital, 5(1), 195-212.
Chen, W., & Inklaar, R. (2016). Productivity spillovers of organization capital. Journal of Productivity Analysis, 45(3), 229-245.
Cleary, P., & Quinn, M. (2016). Intellectual capital and business performance: An exploratory study of the impact of cloud-based accounting and finance infrastructure. Journal of intellectual capital, 17(2), 255-278.
Corsi, A., Pagani, R. N., & Kovaleski, J. L. (2020). Technology transfer for sustainable development: Social impacts depicted and some other answers to a few questions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 245, 118522.
Dabić, M., Lažnjak, J., Smallbone, D., & Švarc, J. (2019). Intellectual capital, organisational climate, innovation culture, and SME performance: Evidence from Croatia. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 24(4), 522-544.
Delgado-Verde, M., Martín-de Castro, G., & Amores-Salvadó, J. (2016). Intellectual capital and radical innovation: Exploring the quadratic effects in technology-based manufacturing firms. Technovation, 54, 35-47.
Distanont, A., Khongmalai, O., & Kritpipat, P. (2018). Factors affecting Technology transfer performance in the Petrochemical Industry in Thailand: A Case study. WMS Journal of Management, 7(2), 23-35.
Durrah, O. M., Allil, K. K., & Alkhalaf, T. (2018). The intellectual capital and the learning organization: A case study of Saint Joseph Hospital, Paris. International Journal of Public Leadership, 14(2), 109-118.
Farhadikhah, Z., & Husseini, S. M. H. (2015). A review of methods and models of technology transfer. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, 62, 173-181.
Fitras, M.H; Bigi, T. (2009). A comparative study of the effects of intellectual capital on the organizational performance of Iran's banking industry in both public and private sectors (case study: Tehran city banks); Research Journal of Executive Management, Volume 2, Number 38, from page 101 to page 126.
Ghaderpour, H. (2008). The impact of intellectual capital management on organizational performance, under the guidance of: Seyyed Ali Akbar Afjeh, Allamah Tabatabaei University, Master of Business Administration.
Hafeez, A., Shamsuddin, A. B., Saeed, B., Mehmood, A., & Andleeb, N. (2020). Exploring the impact of absorptive capacity on technology transfer effectiveness: a conceptual framework. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 9(3), 4779-4792.
Hakak, M; Hassanvand, J. (2019). transformational leadership, creativity and innovation in the petrochemical industry; Mediating role of productive work behaviors, Change Management Research Journal, No. 23, from page 77 to page 98.
Hargadon, A., & Sutton, R. I. (2000). Building an innovation factory. Harvard business review, 78(3), 157-166, 217.
Hassani, H., Silva, E. S., & Al Kaabi, A. M. (2017). The role of innovation and technology in sustaining the petroleum and petrochemical industry. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 119, 1-17.
Herremans, I. M., Isaac, R. G., Kline, T. J., & Nazari, J. A. (2011). Intellectual capital and uncertainty of knowledge: control by design of the management system. Journal of business ethics, 98(4), 627-640.
Hemmert, M. (2004). The influence of institutional factors on the technology acquisition performance of high-tech firms: survey results from Germany and Japan. Research Policy, 33(6), 1019-1039.
Hosseinpour, D; logical, M; Malek Mohammadi, S. (2014). Investigating the role of talent management in the development of the organization's intellectual capital (case study: Iran-Penha Helicopter Support and Renovation Organization), Innovation Management, Volume 4, Number 3, from page 97 to page 118.
Hsu, Y.-H., & Fang, W. (2009). Intellectual capital and new product development performance: The mediating role of organizational learning capability. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 76(5), 664-677.
Huang, C. F., & Hsueh, S. L. (2007). A study on the relationship between intellectual capital and business performance in the engineering consulting industry: A path analysis. Journal of civil engineering and management, 13(4), 265-271.
Hussinki, H., Ritala, P., Vanhala, M., & Kianto, A. (2017). Intellectual capital, knowledge management practices and firm performance. Journal of intellectual capital, 18(4), 904-922.
Ibarra Cisneros, M. A., & Hernandez-Perlines, F. (2018). Intellectual capital and Organization performance in the manufacturing sector of Mexico. Management decision, 56(8), 1818-1834.
Iran National Petrochemical Industry Company, 1400, petrochemical industry in the world. [Online]. Access at: https://www.nipc.ir/index.aspx?&siteid=1&pageid=5545 [19 September 1400].
Ismaili Shahmirzadi, H. (2019). Appropriate strategies for the development of the petrochemical industry market, J.A. Iran, Strategic Knowledge Interdisciplinary Studies Quarterly, Volume 10, Number 40, from page 33 to page 56.
Jabar, J. (2012). Strategic Technology Alliances, Technology Transfer and the Performance of Malaysian Manufacturers. Journal of Engineering and Technology (JET), 3, 69-98.
Khalique, M., Bontis, N., Abdul Nassir bin Shaari, J., & Hassan Md. Isa, A. (2015). Intellectual capital in small and medium enterprises in Pakistan. Journal of intellectual capital, 16(1), 224-238.
Khilich Lee, B; Gholamzadeh, D; Imani Po, M. (2014), the model for measuring and reporting the intellectual capital of organizations, the third international management conference, Tehran.
Kianto, A., Sáenz, J., & Aramburu, N. (2017). Knowledge-based human resource management practices, intellectual capital and innovation. Journal of Business Research, 81, 11-20.
Lavoie, J. R., & Daim, T. (2020). Towards the assessment of technology transfer capabilities: An action research-enhanced HDM model. Technology in Society, 60, 101217.
Li, Y.-Q., & Liu, C.-H. S. (2018). The role of problem identification and intellectual capital in the management of hotels’ competitive advantage-an integrated framework. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 75, 160-170.
Liu, C.-H. (2017a). Creating competitive advantage: Linking perspectives of organization learning, innovation behavior and intellectual capital. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 66, 13-23.
Liu, C.-H. (2017b). The relationships among intellectual capital, social capital, and performance-The moderating role of business ties and environmental uncertainty. Tourism Management, 61, 553-561.
Maditinos, D., Sevic, Z., & Tsairidis, C. (2010). Intellectual capital and business performance: an empirical study for the Greek listed companies. European Research Studies, 13(3), 145.
Majlis Research Center, 2017, position of petrochemical industry in national economy, [online] serial number: 16183. Access at: https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/report? [20 September 1400].
Manjily, H. P., & Taleghani, M. (2016). Determine the Factors Affecting the Technology Transfer in the Development of Iranian Oil Fields by Using Contingent Effectiveness Model of Technology Transfer. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review (Oman Chapter), 5(7), 76.
Martín-de-Castro, G., Delgado-Verde, M., López-Sáez, P., & Navas-López, J. E. (2011). Towards ‘an intellectual capital-based view of the firm’: origins and nature. Journal of business ethics, 98(4), 649-662.
Mehralian, G., Nazari, J. A., & Ghasemzadeh, P. (2018). The effects of knowledge creation process on organizational performance using the BSC approach: the mediating role of intellectual capital. Journal of Knowledge Management, 22(4), 802-823.
Mehralian, G., Rasekh, H. R., Akhavan, P., & Ghatari, A. R. (2013). Prioritization of intellectual capital indicators in knowledge-based industries: Evidence from pharmaceutical industry. International Journal of Information Management, 33(1), 209-216.
Moradi, K; Fard Taqi, M.T; Maliki Hassanvand, M. (2015). Evaluating the level of maturity of human capital management in higher education, human resource management researches of Imam Hossein University (AS), volume 8, number 3, from page 211 to page 237.
Musaei, A; Qadatalo, A. (2007). Evaluation of the prospects of Iran's petrochemical industry products with a sieve model from the perspective of the market, market tension and the economy and risk of Iran and the world, the first Iranian petrochemical conference.
Nipna, 2018, the extensive and influential position of the petrochemical industry in Iran's economy. [Online] National Petrochemical Industry Company Public Relations. Access at: www.nipna.ir/fa/newsagency/19319 [25 Shahrivar 1400].
Nguyen, D. Q. (2018). The impact of intellectual capital and knowledge flows on incremental and radical innovation: Empirical findings from a transition economy of Vietnam. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, 10(2/3), 149-170.
Pablos, D., & Ordóñez, P. (2004). Measuring and reporting structural capital. Journal of intellectual capital, 5(4), 629-647.
Parents, M.S; Salimi, N; Behnam, E. (2018). Presenting a model for measuring structural capital in organizations (the case study of the Yazd Province Railway Organization), Transportation Research Journal, No. 58, from page 347 to page 357.
Peppard, J., & Rylander, A. (2001). Leveraging intellectual capital at APiON. Journal of intellectual capital, 2(3), 225-235.
Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive Advantage, New York Free Press. PorterCompetitive Advantage1985.
Seleim, A. A., & Khalil, O. E. (2011). Understanding the knowledge management-intellectual capital relationship: a two-way analysis. Journal of intellectual capital, 12(4), 586-614.
Sharabati, A.-A. A., Naji Jawad, S., & Bontis, N. (2010). Intellectual capital and business performance in the pharmaceutical sector of Jordan. Management decision, 48(1), 105-131.
Stock, G. N., & Tatikonda, M. V. (2000). A typology of project-level technology transfer processes. Journal of Operations Management, 18(6), 719-737.
Subramaniam, M., & Youndt, M. A. (2005). The influence of intellectual capital on the types of innovative capabilities. Academy of Management journal, 48(3), 450-463.
Turabi, M.R. (2009). The relationship between intellectual capital and the performance of Tehran Stock Exchange brokerage companies, under the guidance of: Mohammad Taghi Taghvifard, Allamah Tabatabaei University, Master of Business Administration.
Valizadeh, J., Sadeh, E., Javanmard, H., & Davodi, H. (2018). The effect of energy prices on energy consumption efficiency in the petrochemical industry in Iran. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 57(4), 2241-2256.
Vergauwen, P. G., & Van Alem, F. J. (2005). Annual report IC disclosures in the Netherlands, France and Germany. Journal of intellectual capital, 6(1), 89-104.
Wang, Z., Wang, N., & Liang, H. (2014). Knowledge sharing, intellectual capital and firm performance. Management decision, 52(2), 230-258.
Wu, S.-H., Lin, L.-Y., & Hsu, M.-Y. (2007). Intellectual capital, dynamic capabilities and innovative performance of organisations. International Journal of technology management, 39(3-4), 279-296.
Yaseen, S. G., Dajani, D., & Hasan, Y. (2016). The impact of intellectual capital on the competitive advantage: Applied study in Jordanian telecommunication companies. Computers in Human Behavior, 62, 168-175.
Youndt, M. A., & Snell, S. A. (2004). Human resource configurations, intellectual capital, and organizational performance. Journal of managerial issues, 16(3), 337-360.
Youndt, M. A., Subramaniam, M., & Snell, S. A. (2004). Intellectual capital profiles: An examination of investments and returns. Journal of management studies, 41(2), 335-361.