How Do Technological Skills Improve Reverse Logistics? The Moderating Role of Top Management Support in Information Technology Use and Innovativeness

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of human resource management on reverse logistics (RL) in the context of high-tech firms. Using the resource-based view of the firm, we analyzedthe effect of employees’ technological skills on RL. The study also investigated whether top management support (TMS) for information technology (IT) and innovativeness moderate this relationship. We collected data from European high-tech firms from May to September 2010, obtaining 160 responses representing a 17.7% response rate. Multivariate regressions were used to assess all of the relations established. The results indicated that technological skills have direct and positive effects on RL in high tech-firms. The authors also report that both TMS for IT and innovativeness act as positive moderators in the relationship between technological skills and RL. This study suggests the importance of considering two important organizational variables that enhance the effect of technological skills on RL in high-tech firms. First, using TMS for IT not only provides tangible resources but also strongly supports employees’ technological development in RL. Second, a high level of firm innovativeness leads high-tech firms to create the right conditions to take advantage of their technological skills to improve their RL. Moreover, theresults indicate the contingent role of innovativeness and TMS for IT use in the relationship between technological skills and RL.