The Interplay of Competency Diversity and Resilience in High-tech Companies

Abstract

This study explores how competence diversity influences the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in high-technology industries, including mechatronics, aerospace, and automotive. Based on the theories of dynamic capabilities (Liu, Y., & Wang, J., 2024) and distributed innovation, the study demonstrates that companies with broader, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral competencies can better cope with external shocks, recover more rapidly, and respond effectively to changing industrial challenges. The findings indicate a growing need to move beyond linear innovation models, which conceptualise innovation as a unidirectional, internally driven process and adopt distributed competence-based approaches. At the centre of this research is the concept of cross-fertilisation, defined as a practice-driven form of cross-sectoral collaboration that enables the integration of different areas of knowledge to solve complex problems. This rethinking is particularly important for SMEs working in environments with high levels of technological uncertainty, where responsiveness, adaptability and innovation capacity are essential for competitiveness.

The study highlights persistent gaps in comprehending how enterprises can effectively manage diverse competence sets and regulate collaborative innovation processes. Moreover, the authors raise new issues about the trade-offs between competence extensions and the structural conditions necessary to ensure sustainable interdisciplinary cooperation. The results of this study highlight practical issues for improving sustainability and innovation performance in industrial sectors.