ENHANCING INNOVATION PERFORMANCE THROUGH PROCESS INNOVATION CAPABILITY, I.T INTEGRATION, AND FLEXIBILITY IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the contribution of process innovation capability, IT integration and flexibility to innovation performance in the Malaysian electrics and electronics (E&E) sector. This study adopted a quantitative approach. Questionnaires were distributed to Malaysian E&E manufacturers registered with the Federations of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) via email and postal mail. A total of 52 valid responses were obtained and analyzed using correlation analysis. A significant but weak relationship was found between IT integration and innovation performance. A significant and strong relationship was found between process innovation capability and innovation performance. The study is among the first to look specifically at Malaysia’s E&E sector. The findings are of interest to academics as well as to public and private sector practitioners in directing resources to integrating IT and increasing the process innovation capability to achieve enhanced innovation performance.