Executives’ knowledge management and emotional intelligence role: Dynamizing factor towards open innovation

Abstract

The main aim of this empirical research was to classify the profiles of executives of Spanish companies. We classified the executives’ profiles based on two key factors of innovation: knowledge management and emotional intelligence. The sample comprised study 241 executives of Spanish companies, a principal component analysis, a two-stage cluster analysis, and an ANOVA analysis conducted by taking innovation as a dependent variable. The theory of resources and capacities was the theoretical framework. We conclude that the differentiation of executives’ profiles is essential to avoid the loss of innovative potential and a consequent loss of competitive advantage in the Spanish business sector. This research contributes to identify a taxonomy of executives’ profiles— agile, laggard, soloist and cooperator. These groups present some different levels of knowledge management and emotional intelligence and differences in their ability to innovate.