Exploring individual-level and group-level levers for inter-organizational knowledge transfer

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Merok Paulsen ◽  
Kjell Brynjulf Hjertø
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Organizational Knowledge ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Individual Autonomy ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – This purpose of this article is to contribute to the research on the role of individual and group-level autonomy and absorptive capacity for inter-organizational knowledge transfer. Design/methodology/approach – The study investigated a field sample of 274 individual participants in 82 groups who were taking part in a large-scale benchmarking project in the Norwegian public sector. Hypotheses were developed and tested by using multiple regression, structural equation modeling and hierarchical linear modeling and included an empirical test of moderator effects. Findings – The findings suggest that individual and group autonomy, along with individual experiences of absorptive capacity, supports complementarily inter-organizational knowledge transfer. Research limitations/implications – The study reinforces the idea that individual and group autonomy are enabling conditions for knowledge transfer from project settings to parent organizations. Absorptive capacity, in line with more recent theorizing, is conceived of and measured as an organizational meta-routine, and we recommend replication of this study in various multi-level settings using longitudinal designs. Practical implications – The study encourages managers to focus on distributing powers to individual facilitation and boundary-spanning roles and on creating cross-functional venues that promote the sharing of knowledge across different organizational units. The study also recommends that practitioners pay attention to the prominent role of autonomy at both the individual and group levels to support the dissemination of knowledge across boundaries. Originality/value – The study provides empirical evidence regarding the simultaneous role of individual autonomy, group autonomy and absorptive capacity that together provide the explanatory power required for knowledge transfer in inter-organizational settings.

Demystifying the role of internal dynamics in the path of innovative competitiveness: a serial mediation model of international joint ventures

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijita Aggarwal ◽  
Madhavi Kapoor
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Joint Ventures ◽  
International Joint Ventures ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Internal Dynamics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Competencies ◽  
International Joint

PurposeThe study proposes and evaluates a parsimonious research framework by integrating the major strategic theories related to an international firm's internal dynamics. This research's essence lies in the proposition that organizational competencies, knowledge resources and processes, absorptive capacity and innovativeness form the underlying base for sustainable competitive advantage in this dynamic world.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional explanatory research design is adopted. Using the quantitative data obtained from the sample of Indian international joint ventures (IJVs), partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is deployed to confirm the proposed relationships among the research constructs. Finally, qualitative interviews helped in triangulating the primary survey's results.FindingsA well-established relationship between knowledge transfer and innovation is negated by the Indian IJVs' data, which is delved deeper with cross-industry qualitative analysis. The novel hierarchical model with multiple mediations has nurtured quite exciting results for the business world with some significant theoretical and managerial implications.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has investigated the nexus between multi-dimensional organizational competencies, knowledge transfer, absorptive capacity and venture innovativeness in the context of Indian IJVs. It has emphasized the role of internal dynamics in cross-cultural joint ventures to attain sustainable competitiveness through strategic and technological efficiency.Originality/valueThe study has addressed the specific research gap of under-investigation of dynamic capabilities and sustainable competitiveness in international joint ventures. It has investigated a complex model of multiple mediations, yielding interesting quantitative results with qualitative insights; which is rare to match in literature.

Comprehending a knowledge framework as a source of dynamic capabilities in IJVs through PLS-SEM

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhavi Kapoor ◽  
Vijita Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
International Joint Ventures ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship among knowledge transfer enablers, knowledge transfer process, absorptive capacity and innovation performance in the context of Indian international joint ventures (IJVs). These elements are woven with the thread of dynamic capabilities theory (DCT) into an integrated framework. Design/methodology/approach Data analysis is conducted on a quantitative survey of 196 IJVs with partial least squares structural equation modeling as the statistical technique. Findings Co-learning strategy, collaborative trust culture, information technology-based resources and systems and organizational structural design are found to be significant knowledge transfer enablers. Absorptive capacity has a complementary partial mediation effect on the positive relationship between knowledge transfer and innovation performance of Indian IJVs. Research limitations/implications The study has pioneered in explicating the criticality of IJV’s internal dynamics to cope with the global market dynamism in a much needed Indian context. Practitioners must focus on building dynamic capabilities in IJVs to make them sustainably competitive, as proposed and evaluated by this study. Further, IJV managers need to strategize their resources, routines and structure dynamically to foster knowledge transfer and innovativeness. Originality/value The comprehensive model on DCT offered by this study is rare to match in literature with a completely new context, which is the need of the hour.

Intellectual capital and business performance: the role of dimensions of absorptive capacity

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Saad Ahmed ◽  
Jia Guozhu ◽  
Shujaat Mubarik ◽  
Mumtaz Khan ◽  
Essa Khan
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Realized Absorptive Capacity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the mediating role of potential and realized absorptive capacity in intellectual capital (IC) and business performance. It also investigates the direct impact of the components of IC on business performance. Design/methodology/approach Partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to assess the effect of IC dimensions on performance and to analyze the mediating role of absorptive capacity in this relationship. Data were collected from 192 managers using a survey questionnaire with Likert scale items. Findings The findings of the study show that potential absorptive capacity does not intervene in the relationship between the components of IC and those of business performance. However, realized absorptive capacity, measured as the transformation and exploitation of knowledge, played a positive mediating role in the relationship between the dimensions of IC and those of business performance. Social capital was also noted as a weak predictor of business performance, while human capital and organizational capital had a profound positive influence. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on IC by examining the role of realized and potential absorptive capacity in the relationship between IC components and firm performance. This research also helps practitioners recognize the importance of transformation and the exploitation of knowledge for business performance.

Knowledge transfer from business schools to business organizations: the roles absorptive capacity, learning motivation, acquired knowledge and job autonomy

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1240-1253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Dinh Tho
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Business Schools ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Learning Motivation ◽  
Job Autonomy ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Training

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of absorptive capacity, learning motivation and acquired knowledge on knowledge transfer from business schools to business organizations, as it has been realized that in-service training business students can serve as a channel as well as a source in this type of knowledge transfer. The study also examines the mixed moderating role of job autonomy in the relationship between acquired knowledge and knowledge transfer. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 344 in-service training business students in Vietnam was surveyed to collect data. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the measures, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. Findings The findings reveal that absorptive capacity positively affects acquired knowledge but it does not have an effect on knowledge transfer. Learning motivation, however, has positive effects on both acquired knowledge and knowledge transfer. The findings also indicate that acquired knowledge is a determinant of knowledge transfer. Finally, job autonomy plays the role of a mixed moderator in the relationship between acquired knowledge and knowledge transfer. Practical implications This study signals the participating parties –business schools, business organizations and in-service training business students –that absorptive capacity, learning motivation, acquired knowledge and job autonomy are critical to the transfer of knowledge from business schools to business organizations. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on university-to-industry knowledge transfer by providing empirical evidence for key determinants of knowledge transfer from business schools to business organizations through a new channel of knowledge transfer – in-service training business students.

scholarly journals Effects of absorptive capacity and innovation spillover on manufacturing flexibility

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Pinheiro ◽  
Luis Filipe Lages ◽  
Graça Miranda Silva ◽  
Alvaro Lopes Dias ◽  
Miguel T. Preto
Keyword(s):  
Market Orientation ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Manufacturing Flexibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Production Cycles ◽  
Exploratory Innovation ◽  
Positive Effect

PurposeShifting demand and ever-shorter production cycles pressure manufacturing flexibility. Although the literature has established the positive effect of the firm's absorptive capacity on manufacturing flexibility, the separate role of the innovation competencies of exploitation and exploration in such a relationship is still under-investigated. In this study, the authors examine how these competencies affect manufacturing flexibility.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use survey data from 370 manufacturing firms and analyze them using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB–SEM).FindingsThe results indicate that absorptive capacity has a strong, positive and direct effect on exploitative and exploratory innovation competencies, proactive and responsive market orientations, and manufacturing flexibility. The authors’ findings also demonstrate that the exploitative innovation competencies mediate the relation between responsive market orientation and manufacturing flexibility. Essentially, these exploitative innovation competencies produce a direct positive effect on manufacturing flexibility while simultaneously being a vehicle for absorptive capacity's indirect effects on it. An exploration innovation strategy does not significantly affect manufacturing flexibility.Originality/valueThis study contributes by combining key strategic features of firms with manufacturing flexibility, while providing new empirical evidence of the mediation of the exploitative innovation competencies in the relation between responsive market orientation and manufacturing flexibility.

Relationships among absorptive capacity, creativity and job performance: the moderating role of social media usage

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huseyin Ince ◽  
Salih Zeki Imamoglu ◽  
Hulya Turkcan
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Job Performance ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Moderating Role

PurposeThis paper investigates the impact of absorptive capacity (ACAP) on creativity and the effect of creativity on job performance. Further, the study investigates the moderating role of social media usage on the ACAP–creativity link and the creativity–job performance link. Accordingly, drawing on the ACAP perspective and social exchange theory (SET), the study develops a conceptual model and tests the proposed relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe paper empirically tests the developed model using 512 survey responses from research and development (R&D) employees. Data were factor analyzed, and path estimates were determined using structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results reveal that (1) individual ACAP is positively related to creativity; (2) creativity is positively associated with job performance and (3) social media usage positively moderates the relationship between individual ACAP and creativity.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the ACAP and creativity literature by establishing a comprehensive and empirically grounded framework that enlightens the relationships between ACAP, creativity, job performance and the moderating role of social media usage.

The nexus between entrepreneurial orientation and performance: enabling roles of absorptive capacity

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Raisal ◽  
Arun Kumar Tarofder ◽  
Aboobucker Ilmudeen
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeDeveloping countries’ economic growth very much depend on the successful performance of entrepreneurial-oriented firms. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is a valuable conjecturer of firm success. This study mainly focuses on analyzing the effect of EO on the firm performance (FP) with the mediating role of absorptive capacity (ACAP).Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypothetical model, we collected 226 valid responses from senior managers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The structural equation modeling technique is performed and research hypotheses are validated.FindingsThe findings show that the strong causal relations exit between EO, ACAP and FP. In brief, EO was found to be a predictor of ACAP, and ACAP has a strong positive impact on FP. Moreover, ACAP substantiated to be a mediator between EO and FP.Research limitations/implicationsA notable ramification of this finding is that for SMEs to enhance their performance via EO, the presence of ACAP as a mediator is essential.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can be used as a basis to consider EO to increase firms' level of ACAP and to enhance FP. As a whole, the findings offer pragmatic insights for SMEs and pertinent stakeholders.Originality/valueSo far, little is known about the interrelationship between EO, ACAP and FP. Importantly, the mediating role of ACAP between EO and FP has remained unexplored. This study fills this gap in the existing literature.

Managerial ties and open innovation: examining the role of absorptive capacity

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 2256-2276 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Muzamil Naqshbandi
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Managerial Ties ◽  
Realized Absorptive Capacity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and test an integrated model to examine the relationship between managerial ties and two types of open innovation (OI). It takes into account the mediating role of realized absorptive capacity and explains how a firm’s ability to recognize the value of new information, assimilate it and apply it to commercial ends can facilitate OI. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 259 middle and top managers working across different sectors in the United Arab Emirates. Findings Results obtained using structural equation modeling show that managerial ties facilitate both in-bound and out-bound OI. Results also establish the mediating role of realized absorptive capacity in these relationships. Research limitations/implications Use of cross-sectional data as was done in this study has been criticized for being inappropriate to test causal models. Besides the findings may not be generalizable to different industries/cultures/regions. Practical implications This study suggests that managerial ties act to support OI in firms thus giving the insight that managers should be appreciated to build ties with managers of other firms, universities and government officials. Doing so can help firms achieve better OI outcomes. Firms should arrange means of interaction of their managers with these external knowledge sources such as events and occasions where managers of different firms can interact with each other to foster strong ties among them. Originality/value The above findings contribute theoretically to OI and managerial ties literature while providing insights for practitioners on how to succeed or avoid failure in their OI initiatives. These insights are novel and are new to the OI and managerial ties theory.

scholarly journals How ability, motivation and opportunity influence travel agents performance: the moderating role of absorptive capacity

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mohamed Elbaz ◽  
Gomaa Mohamed Agag ◽  
Nasser Alhamar Alkathiri
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Frontline Employees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Travel Agents ◽  
Greater Cairo ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of the three dimensions of travel agents’ manager competencies – ability, motivation and opportunity seeking – on knowledge transfer and travel agents’ performance. In addition, the study investigates how employee’s absorptive capacity moderates the effects of managers’ competencies on knowledge received by the employees and moderates the effects of knowledge received by the employees on travel agents’ performance. Design/methodology/approach A positivist research philosophy was adopted with a quantitative approach, in which quantitative data were gathered based on questionnaires to tackle different stages of the study. To test the hypotheses, a self-administrated face-to-face survey of about 42 questions, launched on November 7, 2016, was used to compile response from top and medium management Category A travel agents operating in Egypt. Findings Based on a sample of 577 travel agents’ frontline employees, the results showed that the three dimensions of travel agents’ competencies have a positive effect on knowledge received by the employee. Findings further indicated that knowledge received by employee mediates the link between these three competencies and travel agents’ performance. The link between the competencies and knowledge received by the employee was found to be positively moderated by employee absorptive capacity. Moreover, these findings suggested that the relationship between knowledge received and travel agents’ performance is stronger when employees’ absorptive capacity is greater. Research limitations/implications This study is bound by certain limitations that also provide fertile grounds for further research. First, the study examined how an employee’s absorptive capacity moderates the effects of managers’ competencies on knowledge received by the employees and moderates the effects of knowledge received by the employees on travel agents’ performance. However, innovation as a dependent variable can be investigated. Second, one limitation is that the study is restricted to Category A travel agents only in Greater Cairo. Third, examining the antecedents of ability, motivation and opportunity seeking to transfer knowledge is also important. Practical implications It is important for travel agents, owners, managers and employees to acknowledge absorptive capacity as a critical component for organizations to sustain, grow and compete. Travel agents can also take steps to develop their employees’ absorptive capacity. Doing so would further enhance the success of knowledge, employees and travel agents’ performance. Also, travel agents’ top management has to ensure their employees’ absorbing knowledge, identifying and recognizing external knowledge, processing and understanding it, combining it with existing knowledge and applying the new knowledge to commercial ends. Hence, the development of absorptive capacity contributes to a travel agent’s achievement of competitive advantage. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by expanding the extant literature on knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity by investigating the influence of travel agents’ manager competencies – ability, motivation and opportunity seeking – for knowledge transfer in the Egyptian context. In addition, it investigates the direct effects of the three dimensions of travel agents’ manager competencies – ability, motivation and opportunity seeking – for knowledge transfer. Finally, the paper investigates how employee’s absorptive capacity moderates the effects of managers’ competencies on knowledge received by the employees and moderates the effects of knowledge received by the employees on travel agents’ performance

Absorptive capacity and disaster immunity: the mediating role of information quality and change management capability

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kiarash Sadeghi ◽  
Elisabeth Struckell ◽  
Divesh Ojha ◽  
David Nowicki
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Capability

Purpose Service organization supply chains provide a context that amplifies the complexity of interorganizational interdependencies and the need to build unique capabilities and innovative solutions, especially when confronted with man-made or natural disasters. Using the lens of complex adaptive systems (CAS), this study aims to investigate the role of absorptive capacity (AC), change management capability and information quality in improving a firm’s ability to cope with disasters – disaster immunity (DI). The study uniquely parses absorptive capacity into a three-variable, second-order construct (absorptive human resource management, absorptive complementary knowledge and absorptive infrastructure). Design/methodology/approach Using data collected from 264 US service firms in a supply chain context, this paper evaluates the research model using the structural equation modeling approach. Findings The second-order, three-dimensional framework for AC has far superior psychometric properties as compared to the previous unidimensional conceptualizations. Results show that AC influences a firm’s DI through change management capability and information quality – two DI enhancing resources. Originality/value The paper builds on previous conceptual discussions of absorptive capacity as a multidimensional construct by operationalizing AC as a latent variable with three dimensions (above). Moreover, this paper shows that AC, change management capability, information quality and DI are interrelated parts of a CAS.

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