Innovations in a relational context: Mechanisms to connect learning processes of absorptive capacity

Desirée Knoppen, María Jesús Sáenz, David Johnston · 2011 · Management Learning

Summary. Companies build competitive advantage through relationships with other firms. This study examines how learning mechanisms within customer-supplier relationships create absorptive capacity and drive innovation. The research identifies that structural mechanisms alone are insufficient; cultural, psychological, and policy mechanisms also shape how firms learn and absorb knowledge across relationships. The findings provide propositions for understanding absorptive capacity development in relational contexts.

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Knoppen, D., Sáenz, M. J., & Johnston, D.. (2011). Innovations in a relational context: Mechanisms to connect learning processes of absorptive capacity. Management Learning. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507610389684

@article{knoppen-2011-innovations-relational-context-mechanisms-connect,
  title   = {Innovations in a relational context: Mechanisms to connect learning processes of absorptive capacity},
  author  = {Desirée Knoppen and María Jesús Sáenz and David Johnston},
  journal = {Management Learning},
  year    = {2011},
  doi     = {10.1177/1350507610389684},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507610389684}
}

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TI  - Innovations in a relational context: Mechanisms to connect learning processes of absorptive capacity
AU  - Desirée Knoppen
AU  - María Jesús Sáenz
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Details

DOI: 10.1177/1350507610389684
Countries: Spain, Canada
Regions: Europe, North America
Categories: innovation-networks, innovation-theory, general-innovation
Added: 2026-04-28