The Effect of Intellectual Capital and Digital Literacy on Business Performance Through Innovation Capability in Halal SMEs in Malang City
##plugins.themes.EpsilonTheme.article.main##
Muhammad Iqbal Fawwaz*
Heri Pratikto
Madziatul Chuiriyah
Enhancing the competitiveness of halal MSMEs in Malang City involves tapping into internal resources like intellectual capital and digital literacy, which have not been fully utilised. The hurdles in the way include managing human resources, internal processes, and client relationships, along with limited digital literacy that obstructs market reach and operational effectiveness. This research aims to examine the impact of Intellectual Capital and digital literacy on the performance of halal SMEs in Malang City, with innovation capability acting as an intermediary factor. The study follows a quantitative descriptive and explanatory approach using path analysis. Data was gathered through a Likert scale questionnaire from 222 halal SME participants associated with the Malang City Cooperative and SME Agency. Descriptive statistics and path analysis were carried out with the help of the most recent SPSS update. The research indicates that Halal SME actors in Malang City view intellectual capital, digital literacy, innovation capabilities, and business performance positively. Intellectual capital, digital literacy, and innovation capabilities are the key factors directly impacting business performance. Additionally, intellectual capital and digital literacy were found to indirectly enhance business performance through innovation capabilities as a mediator. The implications of these findings emphasize the importance of integrated development between knowledge management, technological literacy, and innovation capacity to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of Halal SMEs.
Abuseta, H., Iyiola, K., & Aljuhmani, H. Y. (2025). Digital Technologies and Business Model Innovation in Turbulent Markets: Unlocking the Power of Agility and Absorptive Capacity. Sustainability, 17(12), 5296. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125296
Aji, A. P. (2023). A New Recipe From My Facebook: How Digital Literacy Impacting Innovation Of Small Culinary Enterprises In Indonesia. Interaksi: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi, 12(1), 184–202. https://doi.org/10.14710/interaksi.12.1.182-200
Aljuboori, Z. M., Singh, H., Haddad, H., Al-Ramahi, N. M., & Ali, M. A. (2021). Intellectual capital and firm performance correlation: the mediation role of innovation capability in Malaysian manufacturing SMEs perspective. Sustainability, 14(1), 154. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010154
Bontis, N. (1998). Intellectual capital: an exploratory study that develops measures and models. Management Decision, 36(2), 63–76. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251749810204142
Busyeri, A. T., Rofaida, R., Hadijah, H. S., & Kurniawan, A. (2024). The Role Of Innovation Capability In Mediating The Effect Of Strategic Agility On Business Performance Of Smes In The Food And Beverage Sector In Cimahi. Dinasti International Journal of Education Management & Social Science, 5(6), 2317–2330.
Cabello-Medina, C., López-Cabrales, Á., & Valle-Cabrera, R. (2011). Leveraging the innovative performance of human capital through HRM and social capital in Spanish firms. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 22(04), 807–828. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2011.555125
Cahyani, E., Riani, A. L., Harsono, M., & Suyono, J. (2025). Influence of Intellectual Capital, Government Support and Entrepreneurial Leadership on Organisational Performance. Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 7(2), 456–468. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15476236
Chatterjee, S., Chaudhuri, R., Sakka, G., Grandhi, B., Galati, A., Siachou, E., & Vrontis, D. (2021). Adoption of social media marketing for sustainable business growth of SMEs in emerging economies: the moderating role of leadership support. Sustainability, 13(21), 12134. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112134
Fajri, D. A., & Aziz, A. L. (2020). The effect of intellectual capital on innovation capability. 2nd Annual International Conference on Business and Public Administration (AICoBPA 2019), 47–52. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.201116.009
Garg, A., & Gupta, P. K. (2020). Mandatory CSR expenditure and firm performance: Evidence from India. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 9(2), 235–249. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAJBS-06-2019-0114
Ghozali, I. (2018). Aplikasi Analisis Multivariate Dengan Program IBM SPSS 23. Update PLS Regresi. Edisi Delapan. In (Edisi 8). Semarang: Badan Penerbit Universitas Diponegoro.
Gilster, P. (1997). Digital Literacy. In New York: John Wiley & Son.
Guan, J., & Ma, N. (2003). Innovative capability and export performance of Chinese firms. Technovation, 23(9), 737–747. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-4972(02)00013-5
Hanaysha, J. R., Al-Shaikh, M. E., Joghee, S., & Alzoubi, H. M. (2022). Impact of innovation capabilities on business sustainability in small and medium enterprises. FIIB Business Review, 11(1), 67–78.
Inkinen, H. (2015). Review of empirical research on intellectual capital and firm performance. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 16(3), 518–565. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-01-2015-0002
Isa, M., Nurohman, Y. A., & Qurniawati, R. S. (2024). Innovation capabilities and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia. Acta Commercii-Independent Research Journal in the Management Sciences, 24(1), 1242. https://doi.org/10.4102/ac.v24i1.1242
Isfianadewi, D., Arrachman, F. S., & Alwani, D. R. (2019). Improving company performance through innovation capability and supply chain integration. Proceeding UII-ICABE, 335–345.
Jasin, M., Anisah, H. U., Ananda Fatimah, C. E., El Amny Azra, F., Suzanawaty, L., & Ruspendi Junaedi, I. W. (2024). The role of digital literacy and knowledge management on process innovation in SMEs. International Journal of Data & Network Science, 8(1), 337–344. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2023.9.020
Jayanti, D., & Romli, R. (2023). The Influence of Intellectual Capital on the Performance of UMKM Tempe Craftsmen in Sukabumi City. Journal of Economics, Finance and Accounting Studies, 5(1), 16–25. https://doi.org/10.32996/jefas.2023.5.1.2
Ji, S., & Zhuang, J. (2023). The impact path of digital literacy on farmers’ entrepreneurial performance: Based on survey data in Jiangsu province. Sustainability, 15(14), 11159. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411159
Kianto, A., Ritala, P., Spender, J.-C., & Vanhala, M. (2014). The interaction of intellectual capital assets and knowledge management practices in organizational value creation. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 15(3), 362–375. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-05-2014-0059
Kim, S. Y., & Tran, D. B. (2024). Intellectual capital and performance: evidence from SMEs in Vietnam. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, 16(4), 860–875. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJBA-08-2022-0343
Li, G., Luo, Z., Anwar, M., Lu, Y., Wang, X., & Liu, X. (2020). Intellectual capital and the efficiency of SMEs in the transition economy China; Do financial resources strengthen the routes? PloS One, 15(7), e0235462. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235462.r006
Liaqat, M. M., & Ullah, H. A. (2024). The Impact Of Transformational Leadership And Digital Literacy On Innovation Capability: Mediating Role Of Organizational Culture For Innovation. Gomal University Journal of Research, 40(2), 134–145. https://doi.org/10.51380/gujr-40-02-01
Liu, L., Zhang, J., Xu, J., & Wang, Y. (2022). Intellectual capital and financial performance of Chinese manufacturing SMEs: an analysis from the perspective of different industry types. Sustainability, 14(17), 10657. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710657
Muda, S., Rahman, M. R. C. A., Hamzah, N., & Saleh, N. M. (2020). Intellectual capital and SMEs’ business performance from an organisational lifecycle perspective. The South East Asian Journal of Management, 14(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.21002/seam.v14i1.11939
Mulyadi, R., & Basuki, B. (2024). Intellectual Capital, Innovation, and Performance of Indonesian MSMEs During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal, 18(4), 68–83. https://doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v18i4.05
Nurbaiti, A. D., & Sidiq, A. (2025). The Effects of Digital Literacy, Financial Literacy, and Financial Technology on Surakarta SMEs’ Sustainability Plans. Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Studies, 8(3), 1925–1934. https://doi.org/10.47191/jefms/v8-i3-50
Purwati, A. A., Budiyanto, B., Suhermin, S., & Hamzah, M. L. (2021). The effect of innovation capability on business performance: The role of social capital and entrepreneurial leadership on SMEs in Indonesia. Growing Science: Accounting, 7(2), 323–330. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ac.2020.11.021
Rahayu, N. E. (2022). Pengaruh Intellectual Capital Terhadap Kinerja Usaha Mikro, Kecil, dan Menengah di Kota Madiun. Prosiding National Seminar on Accounting, Finance, and Economics (NSAFE), 2(2), 91–99.
Rakib, M. (2024). Impact of digital literacy, business innovation, competitive advantage on the existence of SMEs: A quantitative study in Makassar City, Indonesia. Quality-Access to Success, 25(198), 277–283. https://doi.org/10.47750/QAS/25.198.30
Rochma, F., Larassaty, A. L., Qurratu’aini, N. I., & Sholikhah, A. (2025). The Mediating Role of Innovation Capability to Improve Knowledge Sharing on Smess Performancce. LITERACY: International Scientific Journals of Social, Education, Humanities, 4(1), 110–123. https://doi.org/10.56910/literacy.v3i3.2036
Sariwulan, T., Suparno, S., Disman, D., Ahman, E., & Suwatno, S. (2020). Entrepreneurial performance: The role of literacy and skills. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 7(11), 269–280. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no11.269
Sugiyono. (2017). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.
Sugiyono. (2021). Metode penelitian kuantitatif dan kualitatif dan R&D. Alfabeta Bandung.
Tatoi, C. A., & Senaji, T. A. (2017). Relationship Between Innovation Capability and Organizational Performance of Commercial Banks in Kenya. London: European International Jurnal of Science and Technology, 6(1), 27–48.
Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509–533.
Terziovski, M. (2010). Innovation practice and its performance implications in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector: a resource‐based view. Strategic Management Journal, 31(8), 892–902. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.841
Wendra, W., Sule, E. T., Joeliaty, J., & Azis, Y. (2019). Exploring Dynamic Capabilities, Intellectual Capital And Innovation Performance Relationship: Evidence From The Garment Manufacturing. Verslas: Teorıja Ir Praktıka / Busıness: Theory And Practıce, 20, 123–136. https://doi.org/10.3846/btp.2019.12
Widyanti, S., & Mahfudz, M. (2020). The effect of entrepreneurial orientation, use of information technology, and innovation capability on SMEs’ competitive advantage and performance: evidence from Indonesia. Diponegoro International Journal of Business, 3(2), 115–122. https://doi.org/10.14710/dijb.3.2.2020.115-122
Wulandari, A., Marcelino, D., Suryawardani, B., & Adithya, D. (2024). Digital Capability and Literacy for MSME Transformation: Perspectives of Digital and Business Performance. APMBA (Asia Pacific Management and Business Application), 13(2), 109–128. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.apmba.2024.013.02.2










