A Knowledge-Based Innovation Capability in Saudi Organizational Context: A Conceptual Model

The Saudi Arab government has recognised the need for an alternative path to national development in the form of a knowledge-based economy. In order to achieve this goal, it is important to understand the socio-technical enablers of a knowledge-based economy initiative, particularly with regards to the phenomenon of knowledge-sharing process. One of the key drivers of a knowledge-based economy Is innovation. A must have core competency for the adopting organisation is the ability to manage their innovation capability. The aim of this study is to develop a conceptual model to understand what is required to achieve the organisational innovation capability, such as: socio-technical enablers (STF); diffusion of innovation (DOT) dimensions; knowledge-sharing processes (KSP); and organisational innovation capability (OIC). This study demonstrates the extent to which socio-technical enablers combine with the dimensions of the diffusion of innovation to result in processes of knowledge-sharing. Ultimately, successful organisational innovation capability will depend on the interrelation of these factors.