ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY, INNOVATION, AND EXTERNAL SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE: THE BRAZILIAN POWER SECTOR

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
ÂNGELA F. VERSIANI ◽  
MARINA A. CRUZ ◽  
SÉRGIO F. L. REZENDE ◽  
JOSÉ M. CASTRO
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Power Sector ◽  
Industrial Firms ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
External Sources ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
External Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Validation Stage

ABSTRACT Purpose: This paper discusses the relationship between absorptive capacity, external sources of knowledge, and innovation in the context of the power sector. In doing so, we follow the theoretical debate over absorptive capacity dimensions. We focus on the statistical testing of Zahra and George’s (2002) absorptive capacity construct to identify whether their dimensions find support in reality. We consider that the external environment encompasses both scientific and industrial sources of knowledge, which influence absorptive capacity. Originality/value: Zahra and George’s (2002) model initiated the debate of the absorptive capacity dimensions, and it is disseminated in literature. However, it is poorly tested. There is still a research gap related to the empirical validation stage of the absorptive capacity construct itself. Our research tries to decrease this gap, testing Zahra and George’s (2002) absorptive capacity construct in a Brazilian company’s context. Design/methodology/approach: The research design was quantitative. A survey was applied to 402 industrial firms. We used multivariate sta tistical techniques and the structural models were tested by Partial Least Squares (PLS). Findings: Zahra and George’s (2002) construct of absorptive capacity was proved, and innovation, as well as the external sources types of knowledge, are related to it. The absorptive capacity is contingent on types of external knowledge.

Relatedness economies, absorptive capacity, and economic catch-up: firm-level evidence from China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Howell
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Knowledge Spillovers ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
Market Competitiveness ◽  
External Sources ◽  
Catch Up ◽  
External Sources Of Knowledge

Abstract This paper examines the effect of agglomeration economies on firm productivity and the role of absorptive capacity in China. Taking into account the transitioning economy context, I further exploit the gradual and spatially uneven implementation of market-oriented reforms to track the relative importance of firms’ absorptive capacity for economic catch-up. The three main results are as follows. First, firms exhibit higher productivity when located in an area with a denser network of related activities, particularly for firms with higher absorptive capacity. Second, the sources of the productivity gains are driven by externalities that arise from better access to inputs, similar workers and technological-related knowledge spillovers. Third, the role of absorptive capacity becomes more important for boosting productivity following more versus less intensive market-oriented economic reforms. These findings have important policy implications for transitioning economies and suggest that market reforms promote efficiency improvements related to performing actual R&D as well as encourage firms to seek out external sources of knowledge in order to attain market competitiveness.

The interaction between external and internal knowledge sources: an open innovation view

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 430-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nieves L. Díaz-Díaz ◽  
Petra de Saá Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Knowledge Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
External Sources ◽  
Internal Sources ◽  
External Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
Internal Knowledge

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the external sources of knowledge that better exploit internal knowledge in order to innovate. Design/methodology/approach – A balanced panel of 1,266 firms that respond to the Survey of Business Strategies for a five-year period was used, which represents a total of 6,330 observations. Findings – The influence of the absorptive capacity on new products is significant, with an inverted U-shaped relationship. The interaction between external sources of knowledge and firm ' s absorptive capacity has a negative effect on innovation up to a certain level (substitution effect), after which that interaction improves the innovation of firms, displaying a complementary effect. Practical implications – Firms with excess of internal sources of knowledge do not obtain better innovative results because overtime firms tend to inertia and need external sources of knowledge to obtain new knowledge. Firms must be conscious that the effect on innovation of using a strategy of external knowledge acquisition could be different depending on their internal knowledge base level. Thus, those firms that select their strategies to combine knowledge appropriately will have better results. Originality/value – This paper reveals that the positive effect of internal sources of knowledge on innovation decline after it reaches a high level because those firms with strong absorptive capacity may enter a state of organizational inertia that reduces their innovation. This research enhances the importance of identifying each of the external knowledge sources likely to be used, since their influence on innovation differs depending on the level of internal knowledge. Finally, this study is based on panel data models, which allows us to control unobservable heterogeneity improving earlier studies that had to rely on cross-sectional data.

scholarly journals Participation in Group Companies as a Source of External Knowledge in Obtaining and Making Profitable Radical Innovations

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7701
Author(s):  
Sara Alonso-Muñoz ◽  
Eva Pelechano-Barahona ◽  
Rocío González-Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Economic Return ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Radical Innovations ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
External Sources ◽  
External Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
A Company ◽  
Knowledge Absorption

In the context of potential absorptive capacity, the present work analyzes sources of knowledge through the adjustment between the typology of sources and innovative results. Different external sources can condition the later phases of knowledge absorption. In relation to external sources of knowledge, we enrich their treatment by considering other companies in the same group as deeper relationships. In addition, we analyzed the results regarding the generation of radical innovations with impact on income. The results show that company groups can reduce costs in the exchange of technological knowledge, not only to develop radical innovations but also to improve their economic performance. Furthermore, membership in a group allows a company to obtain a greater economic return when combined with assimilation resources.

Users’ Involvement in the Innovation Process through Web 2.0

2012 ◽  
pp. 222-255
Author(s):  
Sergio Ricardo Mazini ◽  
José Alcides Gobbo
Keyword(s):  
Web 2.0 ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
External Sources ◽  
External Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
Development Participation

Organizations are inserted into a competitive environment in which innovation is an essential factor in gaining temporary competitive advantages. The search for external sources of knowledge, which can contribute to the innovation process, has become a constant among the organizations. One of the actors involved in this search is users, who often play an important role in the development of new products. This chapter develops a framework for the analysis of users’ involvement in the innovation process through Web 2.0. The research method used a unique case study conducted in a Brazilian automotive company that developed a project of a concept car involving users through Web 2.0. The presented study case was analyzed according to the framework. The obtained result shows that users can contribute not only with idea generation, but also with involvement in the innovation process, depending on which steps of the New Product Development (NPD) process they take part in. Moreover, increasingly users’ development, participation, and collaboration are essential factors in this process.

Users' Involvement in the Innovation Process through Web 2.0

2014 ◽  
pp. 1363-1388
Author(s):  
Sergio Ricardo Mazini ◽  
José Alcides Gobbo Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Web 2.0 ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
External Sources ◽  
External Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
Development Participation

Organizations are inserted into a competitive environment in which innovation is an essential factor in gaining temporary competitive advantages. The search for external sources of knowledge, which can contribute to the innovation process, has become a constant among the organizations. One of the actors involved in this search is users, who often play an important role in the development of new products. This chapter develops a framework for the analysis of users' involvement in the innovation process through Web 2.0. The research method used a unique case study conducted in a Brazilian automotive company that developed a project of a concept car involving users through Web 2.0. The presented study case was analyzed according to the framework. The obtained result shows that users can contribute not only with idea generation, but also with involvement in the innovation process, depending on which steps of the New Product Development (NPD) process they take part in. Moreover, increasingly users' development, participation, and collaboration are essential factors in this process.

Impact of External Knowledge Inflow on Product and Process Innovation of Korean SMEs: Absorptive Capacity as a Mediator

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 219-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
So Won Jeong ◽  
Jae-Eun Chung ◽  
Jung-Sim Roh
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
Product And Process Innovation ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
The Relationship

We examine the role of external knowledge inflow in improving the product and process innovation of Korean exporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the textiles, apparel, and footwear industries. Building on the resource-based view (RBV), we investigate how five sources of knowledge inflow (suppliers, customers, competitors, universities, and government agencies) contribute to product and process innovation through absorptive capacity (AC) as a mechanism to explain the link between external knowledge inflow and innovation. Conducting a path analysis, we found that knowledge inflow from customers and government agencies had a positive effect on AC, subsequently enhancing product and process innovation. Additionally, knowledge inflow from universities and government agencies also affected process innovation and product innovation, respectively. We also demonstrated the mediating role of AC in the relationship between external knowledge inflow and innovation. Korean SMEs should thus invest in developing the knowledge sources of customers, universities, and government agencies to enhance AC and innovation.

Head Coaches’ Perceptions on the Roles, Selection, and Development of the Assistant Coach

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Rathwell ◽  
Gordon A. Bloom ◽  
Todd M. Loughead
Keyword(s):  
Head Coaches ◽  
Skill Sets ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Football Coaches ◽  
Assistant Coaches ◽  
Sources Of Knowledge ◽  
External Sources ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Assistant Coach ◽  
External Sources Of Knowledge

The purpose of the study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the characteristics head coaches looked for when hiring their head assistant coach, the main roles and responsibilities assigned to assistants, and the techniques and behaviors used to develop them. Data were obtained through interviews with six accomplished Canadian University head football coaches. Results indicated head coaches hired loyal assistants who possessed extensive football knowledge that complimented their own skill sets. Once hired, head coaches had their assistant coaches help them with recruiting, managing a major team unit, and developing athletes. They helped advance their assistants’ careers through personal mentorships which included exposure to external sources of knowledge such as football camps and coaching conferences. These results represent one of the first empirical accounts of head coaches’ perceptions on hiring and developing head assistant coaches.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document