The reification of absorptive capacity: A critical review and rejuvenation of the construct

• 成果类型: Review
• 署名作者: Lane, Peter J.; Koka, Balaji R.; Pathak, Seemantini
• 署名单位: University System Of New Hampshire; University of New Hampshire; Arizona State University; Arizona State University-Tempe
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0363-7425
• DOI: 10.5465/AMR.2006.22527456
• 发表日期: 2006
• 页码: 833-863
• 关键词: International joint ventures; research-and-development; Knowledge transfer; HIGH-TECHNOLOGY; ORGANIZATIONAL KNOWLEDGE; STRATEGIC ALLIANCES; INNOVATION; performance; product; firm

摘要

We conduct a detailed analysis of 289 absorptive capacity papers from 14 journals to assess how the construct has been utilized, examine the key papers in the field, and identify the substantive contributions to the broader literature using a thematic analysis. We argue that research in this area is fundamentally driven by five critical assumptions that we conclude have led to its reification and that this reification has led to stifling of research in this area. To address this, we propose a model of absorptive capacity processes, antecedents, and outcomes.