Human Systematic Innovation Helix: Knowledge Management, Emotional Intelligence and Entrepreneurial Competency

This study analyzes the relationship between the innovation capacity of Spanish companies through the ability to obtain their information through the integration of these three variables: knowledge management, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurial competency of Spanish executives. The questionnaires were distributed to executives of companies from different sectors of activity. The sample consists of 241 executives. The hypothesis was examined by structural equation modeling. Regarding the direct effects, the hypothesis testing result proves that the knowledge management of executives exerts a positive effect on Innovation, and, the entrepreneurial competency of executives exerts a positive effect on innovation. However, the influence of EI on innovation is not significant. The indirect effect shows that the integration of knowledge management, emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial competency of executives exert a positive statistical effect on Innovation at enterprises. This paper contributes with both, scientific and socio-economic impacts. Scientific impact, generating new knowledge that strengthens the value of executives as a catalyst for innovation; and, socio-economic impact, originating the human systematic innovation helix, a new socio-economic management tool to develop knowledge management capacity, socio-emotional abilities, and entrepreneurial competencies of executives, which acts as a lever to boost the results of innovation at companies.