The mediating effect of endogenous creativity on knowledge exploitation and firm performance in an emerging economy

The emerging economies are key factors in the future growth of world trade and the maintenance of global financial stability. Little is known about the way in which firms in emerging economies strategically manage the learning â creativity process to develop competitive advantage in both domestic and global markets. We extend the literature on learning and human capital by positing a model and examining 1) the mediating role of higherorder human capital in the relationship between learning facilitation and knowledge exploitation (KE); and 2) the mediating role of endogenous creativity in the KE â firm performance relationship. Qualitative method based on the sample in Chinaâs firms was adopted and the results indicate that all the hypothesized relationships are supported.