Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2019.1596826
The impact of engineers’ skills and problem-solving abilities on process innovation
Yasushi Ueki
orcid.org/0000-0002-2893-8864
; Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Jakarta, Indonesia
José Manuel Guaita Martínez
; Economics and Business Administration Department, Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
Abstract
This study examines the relationship among engineers’ basic skills, problem-finding and solving capabilities, and innovation outcomes, using questionnaire survey data for Lao P.D.R., Thailand and Vietnam for the period 2016 to 2017. We perform two-stage least squares (2S.L.S.) estimations, which use the variables for engineers’ basic skills and capabilities for finding and solving problems within the firm as instruments, and the indicators for capabilities for finding and solving problems of suppliers and customers as endogenous variables. The estimation results reveal the relationship between problem-finding and solving capabilities and process innovation. The findings from the empirical analyses suggest a possible upgrading strategy for firms to transform quality control management into innovative abilities. The estimation results also support the necessity of policy support for nurturing both engineers’ basic technological and managerial skills and capabilities for problem-finding and solving.
Keywords
Engineer skills; problem-solving; innovation; Southeast Asia
Hrčak ID:
229781
URI
Publication date:
9.2.2021.
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