Interaction between knowledge management, intellectual capital and innovation in higher education institutions

Higher education institutions are essential generators and disseminators of knowledge; however, they must create conditions to lay the foundations supported by knowledge enablers and manage knowledge efficiently. In addition, intellectual capital and innovation are elements that help this process; if everything is correctly articulated, the academic staff and institution will promote better performance. This article analyzes how three knowledge enablers (leadership, culture, and organizational incentives) influence the knowledge management process. In turn, this process encourages the development of better intellectual capital and innovation in the teachers of Higher Education Institutions. A survey applied to 434 academics made it possible to collect information that, through structural equation models of partial least squares, allowed validation of the proposed hypotheses. The study results indicate that organizational culture and leadership significantly influence the knowledge management process. In addition, this process significantly influences intellectual capital and innovation. Finally, the vital link between the variables studied is demonstrated.