RECONCEPTUALIZING THE ABILITY – MOTIVATION – OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF ORGANIZATIONAL INNOVATION CAPABILITY IN VIETNAMESE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES

Abstract

This study examines the application of the Ability – Motivation - Opportunity framework as a learning structure to promote human resource development and build organizational innovation capability in small and medium-sized enterprises within a transitional economy. A survey of 412 middle and senior managers from three sectors, including engineering technology, agricultural processing, and trade and services in Vietnam, reveals that learning ability, intrinsic learning motivation, and social learning opportunity all exert positive effects on human resource development, with social learning opportunity emerging as the strongest predictor. Human resource development significantly influences organizational innovation capability, which in turn enhances business performance, although the effect remains modest. The findings highlight the mediating role of human resource development and suggest that enterprises should integrate learning ability, intrinsic motivation, and social opportunities in a cohesive manner, position human resource development as a strategic lever, and leverage informal learning approaches tailored to industry-specific characteristics.