R&D/Returns Causality: Absorptive Capacity or Organizational IQ
Summary. This paper challenges the absorptive capacity theory by arguing that firms' ability to benefit from R&D spending reflects innate organizational capability rather than investment behavior. The author finds that when accounting for differences in firm quality, the interaction between a firm's own R&D and rivals' R&D becomes insignificant. Higher-performing firms invest more in R&D, but R&D spending itself does not improve a firm's capacity to learn from competitors' innovations.
Cite this article
Knott, A. M.. (2008). R&D/Returns Causality: Absorptive Capacity or Organizational IQ. Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1080.0933
Knott, Anne Marie. “R&D/Returns Causality: Absorptive Capacity or Organizational IQ.” Management Science, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1080.0933.
Knott, Anne Marie. 2008. “R&D/Returns Causality: Absorptive Capacity or Organizational IQ.” Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1080.0933.
@article{knott-2008-r-amp-d-returns-causality,
title = {R&D/Returns Causality: Absorptive Capacity or Organizational IQ},
author = {Anne Marie Knott},
journal = {Management Science},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1287/mnsc.1080.0933},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1080.0933}
}
TY - JOUR TI - R&D/Returns Causality: Absorptive Capacity or Organizational IQ AU - Anne Marie Knott JO - Management Science PY - 2008 DO - 10.1287/mnsc.1080.0933 UR - https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1080.0933 ER -
Details
- DOI
- 10.1287/mnsc.1080.0933
- Countries
- United States
- Regions
- North America
- Categories
- innovation-theory, general-innovation
- Added
- 2026-04-28