THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL LEARNING CAPABILITY ON INNOVATION PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM THE BANKING SECTOR

Abstract

Technology management has emerged as a strategic managerial discipline that enables organizations to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions and technological developments, and even to proactively shape such transformations. In this context, the concept of technological learning and the capability to learn technologically have become increasingly critical research domains for sustaining competitive advantage, particularly in industries experiencing accelerated digitalization. In developing economies, firms often remain dependent on externally sourced technologies and knowledge due to constraints in their capacity to develop and commercialize advanced technologies; consequently, the effective management of technological learning across acquisition, internalization, and application phases becomes even more salient. Drawing on the dynamic capabilities perspective, this study examines the effects of technological learning capability on firm innovativeness by distinguishing between product and process innovativeness. The empirical analysis is based on survey data collected from 262 bank employees working in banks operating in and around Istanbul and Kocaeli. Multiple regression results indicate that technology acquisition capability and technology utilization capability exert moderate, positive, and statistically significant effects on both product and process innovativeness. Contrary to expectations, however, technology assimilation capability does not demonstrate a direct and significant effect on either dimension of innovativeness. Overall, the findings suggest that innovation performance in banking is strengthened not only by acquiring technologies but also—critically—by integrating them into organizational processes and deploying them effectively; accordingly, execution and implementation capacity should be treated as a strategic priority.