Assessing the Elements That Mediate the Impact of Innovation on Business Performance: Moderate Accreditation Ranking and Competitive Advantage

Vocational higher education is higher education that prepares for employment with specific applied skills that are approximately equivalent to a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, vocational training is described as the provision of formal courses in higher education, such as technology colleges and diploma programs. The existence of vocational higher education is expected to reduce unemployment. The goal of the study is to investigate how competitive advantage and the accreditation standing of private Vocational Higher Education Institutions (VHEI) affect the effects of product and marketing innovation on company success. This research methodology uses quantitative methods, using the Structural Equation Model Smart PLS version 14.1 technique. The research population was 118 private VHEIs in West Java Province, Indonesia, and the respondents were 126 leaders and representatives of private VHEIs. According to the research, competitive advantage is significantly boosted by both product and marketing innovation. Product and marketing innovation, which is monitored by private VHEI certification ranking and mediated by competitive advantage, have a major beneficial impact on corporate success.