Dear Katarzyna,,

Mediator is a variable (B) that is necessary for the relatiosnhip between A and B occurs (A --> B--> C). B can be a total mediator if the relationship between A and C only is significant if B exists, or B can be a partial mediator if the relationship between A and C is significant in the absence of B or in tis presence.

B is a moderator variable if there is an interaction between A and B ir order to affect C.  Moderation is synonymous of interaction. It is usuaaly represented as A (predictor or IV) x B (moderator variable).

A relationship is moderated when we can verify that it applies to some sample categories, but do not apply to others (Bryman, 1991). Baron and Kenny (1986) define “moderator variable” as a qualitative or quantitative variable that affects the direction and/or strength of the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable. We are in the presence of a moderating effect or interaction when the effect of the predictor or independent variable (X) on the dependent or criterion (Y) variable is affected by the presence of the moderator variable (Aguinis & Gottfredson, 2010; Baron & Kenny, 1986).

Aguinis, H. & Gottfredson, R. K. (2010). Best-practice recommendations for estimating interaction effects using moderated multiple regression. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31, 776-786. DOI: 10.1002/job.686

Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173-1182.

Good luck with your research!

Dear Katarzyna,

Please find attached that may be of help

Conference Paper Innovations and Other High Performance Work Practices for Or...

Dear Dr. Katarzyna Szczepańska-Woszczyna,

I have a proposal. In case if you accept we can do a publication together related to your given question. If you agree on the collaborative share of publication, I can view your approaches to the innovative and managerial competencies topics with other available works having the similar approaches, and further I can propose a model for Mediators and Moderators in relationship between innovation and managerial competencies. Further, we can make a moderation and go for publication. If you don't accept the offer, I can publish alone my way of representation on innovation and managerial competencies for mediators and moderators in terms of Composite Appraising Supportive Progress (CASP).

Hope for further cooperation

Warmest regards

Dr. Azniv Felix Petrosyan

PhD of Rural and Surveying Engineering at NTUA

@Azniv and @ Katarzyna,

I agree with Azniv that this sort of question needs much research and intellectual sessions to ponder about the mediator and moderator variables for innovation and managerial competences. I am currently working on such model. Please include me in the research proposal made by Azniv.

Khalil 

Dear Azniv Petrosyan, thank you for your interest and proposal; I accept it with pleasure;  Let's do it together; I'm ready for the cooperation;

Regards, Katarzyna 

I try to answer in a faster way suggesting you to investigate in Design management area, academically speaking! Other more empiric field of observation and other paths to investigate could be the R&D divisions of some actual innovative companies! 

Dear Dr. Katarzyna and Dr. Azniv Petrosyan

I also want to be a part of this publication you want. What every literature review materials regarding this topic you want I can find out and I can write and further guidelines we will share with each other. If you want me to be a part of this publication with you. I efforts are available for you any time and it will be pleasure for me to contribute something with in your publication. If you accept my request I will be really thankful to you for this favor. looking forward for your positive and kind response.

Regards

Bilal Khan

Dear Dr. Katarzyna and Dr. Azniv Petrosyan

I hope these papers help you in determining the mediating variables in relation to innovation and different other factors. I will try to find some other sources as soon as possible. they include the government as mediating variable in relation with innovation and some other variables too.

Morning, Katarzyna,

If I understood your question correct, you want to know which other variables might moderate or mediate the relationship between innovation and managerial comeptences.

First, the initial direction is important. Would you say that a firm's innovation impacts managerial comeptences or vice versa? I would rather support the vice wersa diraction: if managers develop certain competences, for example in building new products or developing new strategies (the latter applies to senior managers) then a firm can better innovate.

Second, you have to be more precise with the concept of interest: there are definitely different competences and there are definitely at least two types of innvation - incremental and radical. Different managerial competences will have different impact on different innovation capacities. For example, if managers develope a good dynamic managerial capability, they will probably be better in radical innovation (may be in both, depending of what conceptualization of dynamic capabilities you take - as "adapting"or also as "market changing"). If managers develop good competences in process optimization, then the incremental innovation might be influenced more.

Third, which goes in line what Lisete described, mediator - is an explanator of "why this relationship is working at all". For example, if you say that certain comeptences allow firm to develop a dynaic capability and the dynamic capability (DC) positively impacts innovation, then the DC is a mediator. The inclusion of this variable ni your model should make the influence of managerial competences on innovation not significant (full mediation) or less significant (partial mediation).

If you argue, that some factors may make the relationship between managerial competences and innpvation stronger or weaker, you talk about a moderator. For example, the strength of the corporate culture may influence the application of managerial competences, strengthening/weakening their impact. In this case you talk about moderation.

Actuall, you can take almost each paper which related to managerial competences or innovation and look for mediators or moderators. If you find, for example, a paper which describes a factor influencing innovation and if you find another paper which describes that manaerial competences influences this factor, then you have a good candidate for a mediation. Literature analysis is the first step which you should make. 

We have been recently working on a paper which proposed IT capabilities as a predictor for innovation (both types of it). IT Capability is a second order construct rooted in other thigs such as, for example, social capital. So if you find a paper (and I am sure you will) that uses certain managerial competences as a predictor for social capital creation, you could argue that social capital is a mediator for your investigated model (as soon as the paper is accepted, I can post it).

I have been also working on a paper which analyses the influence of environmental dynamics on efficiency of teams. My gut feeling says that environemtnal dynamics is a moderator for your proposed relationship. The higher the dynamic, the more impact of managerial competences on a firm's innovation capacities. The reason is that in a turbulent environment innovation is always needed and the managerial competences will receive more weight. Consequently, they might have a stronger impact on innovation.

I hope it helped!

Sicnerely and czesc!

Eugeniusz 

Managers' choice of vulnerable involvement in employees' communities of practitioners mediate the relationship between innovation and managerial competencies since managers who avoid it to conceal ignorance of local knowledge cannot successfully innovate. See:  

Dear Dr. Katarzyna Szczepańska-Woszczyna,

I am glad for the acceptance on the cooperation. 

If we go for implementation of Mediators and Moderators in relationship between innovation and managerial competencies as per Composite Appraising Supportive Progress (CASP) model, then  Composite Progressive Indicators system must be accomplished with Mediator and Moderator Variables with emphasis on innovation and managerial competencies within 18 existing categories of CASP. 

If your purpose is to define a model as interraltion of innovation and managerial competencies with mediator and moderator variables, then the case study will be based on the implementation of any region or definition of the model, then the paper will have different view. 

Dear Dr. Khalil Ahmed Arbi,

I do agree to proceed the paper with you as well, please let me know your directions and views on the topic.

Dear MSc Bilal Khan,

I do accept your invitation as well. 

Please find good articles on the followings:

1. Updated articles on innovation and managerial competencies;

2. Articles related to clear definitions on mediator and moderator variables;

3. Find articles with any reasonable relationship between mediator and moderator variables and Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) or Pressure-State-Response (PSR) concepts;

4. Write your opinion on the aforemetioned topics as per exisiting literature review.

Dear everyone if you are interested in further cooperation and discusiions we can either discuss here our further cooperations or I can be available at [email protected] or [email protected]

Waiting for your responces

Warmest regards

Dr. Azniv Felix Petrosyan

PhD of Rural and Surveying Engineering at NTUA

these articles may help you