The effect of board characteristics towards the financial performance in Malaysian public-listed companies: R&D intensity as mediating variable

• Main Author: Elengeswaran C.Ehambaranathan, Mr.
• Format: text::Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: R&D intensity as mediating variable

The main objective of this study is to examine the mediating effect of R&D intensity towards the relationship of board characteristics and financial performance in 45 active Malaysian listed companies in R&D. This study employs both Agency Theory and Resource Based View Theory. Agency Theory is employed to explain the relationship of board characteristics towards both R&D intensity and financial performance. Meanwhile, Resource Based View Theory is used to elucidate the effect of R&D intensity on financial performance. This study referred to the mediation model used by Baron & Kenny (1986) to confirm whether the R&D intensity has mediating effect towards the relationship of board characteristics and financial performance via hierarchical regression method. In this study, the samples are gathered from financial year 2017 to 2019. The results from the study revealed that board characteristics are interconnected to financial performance with the presence of R&D intensity. Thus, it is important for the companies to select their board members diligently and apply the standard practices or policies appropriately. This is because the right selection of board members would influence the governing practices being carried out in the organization. Summarily, this study contributes by highlighting the importance of corporate governance in applying innovation to enhance business profitability of Malaysian companies. Besides enriching the literature in this area, this research contributes to the policy makers and practitioners. The study aids the policy maker to determine the corporate requirement of diverse board composition for innovation and better financial performance. Furthermore, this study improves the practitioners’ knowledge on the role of R&D intensity in mediating the relationship between board characteristics and financial performance.