Ebook: Non-technological innovations: market performance of exporting firms in South American emerging

Innovation plays a key role in the economic growth of companies, sectors and countries. Even though there
is great interest in researching innovation, there is little evidence on the influence of innovation on the
performance of exporting firms in emerging economies.
This study aims to analyze the effects of non-technological innovations (organizational and marketing
innovations) on the market performance of exporting firms. We collected data from firms in fast growing
South American emerging economies: Colombia, Peru and Chile, with a final sample of 299 completed
surveys. Hypotheses were tested with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Our results show that
organizational innovations (new or improved organizational methods) have more influence on market
performance than marketing innovations. Findings confirm the importance of innovative performance as a
mediator between organizational innovations and market performance.
Our study contributes to the strategic innovation management field, the design of public policy and the
strategy of exporting firms.
Keywords: Innovation, non-technological innovations, market performance, emerging economies, Latin
America