How and Why Individuals Contribute to Organizational Absorptive Capacity

• At the organizational level absorptive capacity (ACAP) has been shown to lead to increased innovativeness, sales growth and competitive advantage. However, most studies adopt abstract firm level measures for absorptive capacity (e.g. R&D intensity) which provides little insight on how firms can work proactively to build ACAP. Therefore, recent literature calls for more in-depth research of the micro-foundations of ACAP at individual and team levels. This study seeks to contribute to such insights by focusing on the mechanisms that direct individual involvement in activities that contribute to ACAP. By means of multiple case studies with multi-national engineering firms we uncover key drivers, hinders and inhibitors toward individual contributions to absorption of new knowledge. Our results provide significant implications for literature as well as management practice.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Annan teknik -- Övrig annan teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Other Engineering and Technologies -- Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Entreprenörskap och innovation

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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