Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it aims to analyze the individual influence of different knowledge management practises (KMP) on firm performance. Second, it aims to analyze the mediating role of organizational learning (OL) between each KMP and performance. Design/methodology/approach A telephone-survey was applied in 2018 to the managers of 400 Spanish firms. The data retrieved was analyzed by using multiple regression analysis. Findings Knowledge generation (KG) and knowledge flow (KF) promote firm performance, while there is not a direct association between knowledge storage and performance. OL mediates the relationship between KG and performance, as well as between KF and performance. Research limitations/implications First, this research confirms that not all the KMP have a direct effect on firm performance, thus, future research would need to differentiate between different KMP. Second, this paper is pioneering in providing empirical evidence that OL mediates the KMP – performance relationship. Third, the empirical study was performed in a context non-researched yet by the literature considering KMP individually: Spain. Practical implications First, besides the results managers should focus their efforts in practises related to KG and application. Second, OL mediating suggests that managers should invest in managerial commitment to promote a shared culture, shared vision, open-mind to new ideas and a lot of dialogue. Originality/value This is the first study that investigates how KMP contribute to firm performance by incorporating the mediating impact of OL. The results will help organizations to identify the KMP improving the performance.

This study aims to explore how family firms pursue strategies that promote strategic flexibility and knowledge-management (KM) practices to respond to strategic-renewal goals. Specifically, based on a knowledge-based view of the firm, the following research question is proposed: Are there heterogeneous groups of family firms in terms of knowledge management, strategic flexibility and strategic renewal goals? To answer this question, an exploratory study using a two-step cluster analysis is developed. It reveals natural groupings from a sample of 288 small and medium-sized Spanish family enterprises (SMEs). The results obtained identified three distinctive clusters of family firms, namely proactive family firms, transitional or adaptive family firms, and rigid family firms. After two-step cluster analysis, we also conducted analysis of variance (ANOVA) to confirm that significant differences amongst the three clusters exist. After heterogeneity been confirmed, a further profile of the cluster solution was provided by using CEO and board characteristics, as well as the generational stage of the company. The findings offer some counterbalance for those studies that tend to study family businesses as a homogeneous entity, thus permitting researchers to access more information, providing rich explanations for renewal managerial decision-making purposes in family firm contexts.

resuMoA inovação está relacionada ao crescimento das economias e das empresas, e em um ambiente em mudança como o presente, é apresentado como uma ferramenta fundamental para a vantagem competitiva. Esta pesquisa visa analisar a relação entre a capacidade de inovação das empresas e a obtenção da mesma informação por meio da cooperação com concorrentes, fornecedores, universidades e outras instituições públicas (Hélice Tríplice). Primeiro, nós desenvolvemos uma revisão da literatura sobre conceitos relacionados e, em seguida, por meio do método de equações estruturais, um modelo para responder e aceitar a hipótese proposta que destaca a relação entre o desempenho inovador das empresas e informações obtidas a partir da Hélice Tríplice. A pesquisa é realizada com uma amostra de empresas espanholas pesquisadas pelo Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), durante os anos 2008-2010.PaLaVras-CHaVe | Inovação, hélice tríplice, universidade, empresa, governo. ABSTRACT Innovation is related to the growth of economies and companies, and in a changing

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