The effect of organizational learning, knowledge management and innovation on organizational performance: An application in service businesses

Today, acquiring and sharing new knowledge and skills, and gaining experience has become extremely important with rapidly changing technology. The ever growing competition and changing consumer expectations have made businesses constantly innovative and organizations that are open to learning. The significance of organizational learning, knowledge management and innovation emerges in achieving a sustainable competitive advantage which can also be addressed as the struggle for existence. In addition, many researchers believe that new knowledge, common value and experience are the main source of economic development and sustainable competitive advantage. On the basis of selecting the study subject; it is necessary to emphasize the importance of innovation for businesses in successfully achieving competitive advantage and adapting to developments and changes in order to survive in the competitive competition. As a result of the environmental changes and developments and in parallel to the vital importance of the subject in terms of organizations; it is observed that there has been a considerable increase in the number of studies on these concepts in the scientific world in the recent years. While reviewing the literature; it is observed that there are too many studies that examine the relationship between organizational learning and innovation, organizational learning and organizational performance, and innovation and organizational performance. Until now, doctoral studies related to organizational learning, knowledge management, innovation and organizational performance consist of studies related to two-way or three-way relations. The study will examine the concepts of organizational learning, knowledge management, innovation and organizational performance as a holistic model and will contribute to filling the gap in this field. Therefore this study will not only embody the subject but also is important in terms of directing the future studies. In the light of the foregoing; it can be said that the study will contribute to the deficiency in the literature and will be important in this respect. In addition, the results of the research will demonstrate the importance of organizational learning, knowledge management and innovation in enhancing organizational performance and it will remind the sensitivity of the subject to the managers and employees of service businesses. The road map that will be revealed by the research results gives a different importance to the study. This study has theoretical and application-oriented contribution to the literature. The theoretical contribution of the study consists of examining the effect of organizational learning, knowledge management and innovation on organizational performance in a holistic model, suggesting new mediator and regulator variable in these relationships and filling the gap in this field. The application-oriented contribution of the study includes the examination of the effect of organizational learning, knowledge management and innovation on organizational performance in a broader sense and testing these together for the first time in Turkey. Keywords: Organizational Learning, Knowledge Management, Innovation, Organizational Performance, Service Businesses.