Deconstructing Lawson and Samson's concept of innovation capability: a critical assessment and a refinement

For almost 20 years, research on firm level innovation have relied upon [Lawson and Samson (2001). Developing innovation capability in organisations: A dynamic capabilities approach. International Journal of Innovation Management, 5(3), 377–400] concept of innovation capability (IC). Of note, these authors stated that this concept needs to be ‘refined, validated and tested using other research methods’ [Lawson and Samson (2001). Developing innovation capability in organisations: A dynamic capabilities approach. International Journal of Innovation Management, 5(3), 377–400], p. 396. To date, empirical studies heeding this call have been challenging to find. By researchers relying on this untested concept, they risk not attaining comprehensive insights into the firm level mechanisms underpinning the transformation idea and knowledge into innovations. This paper proposes a rethinking of the IC concept. The analysis is based on survey data of 69 firms involved in the Australian maritime industry using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results suggest that the IC concept might be refined from seven dimensions, initially conceptualised, to three dimensions. The three dimensions are renamed as institutionalising innovation, implementing innovation and stimulating innovation.