Social relationships, dynamic capacities and innovation: an empirical analysis of the hotel industry

Abstract

A basic premise in the literature is that social relationships allow their members to access new knowledge that favours innovation activities. However, empirical studies have mainly analysed these relationships in the manufacturing sector, while studies analysing them in the tourism industry setting have been particularly scarce. This paper examines the links between the external and internal social relationships of managers and innovation results, contemplating the mediator role of the dynamic capacities. The data obtained from 109 companies that manage hotel establishments in Spain show that external relationships and the capacity to detect changes in the environment determine the introduction of innovations in this sector.