In Search of Precision in Absorptive Capacity Research: A Synthesis of the Literature and Consolidation of Findings

Yue Song, Devi R. Gnyawalị, Manish K. Srivastava, Elham Asgari · 2018 · Journal of Management

Summary. This paper clarifies what absorptive capacity means and how it affects firm performance. The authors identify three core dimensions: absorptive effort (knowledge investments), absorptive knowledge base (existing knowledge stock), and absorptive process (internal knowledge practices). Meta-analysis shows absorptive capacity significantly improves firm outcomes, with knowledge acquisition and innovation generation as key mechanisms. Effects vary depending on external knowledge conditions.

Read the original

Cite this article

Song, Y., Gnyawalị, D. R., Srivastava, M. K., & Asgari, E.. (2018). In Search of Precision in Absorptive Capacity Research: A Synthesis of the Literature and Consolidation of Findings. Journal of Management. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206318773861

@article{song-2018-search-precision-absorptive-capacity-research,
  title   = {In Search of Precision in Absorptive Capacity Research: A Synthesis of the Literature and Consolidation of Findings},
  author  = {Yue Song and Devi R. Gnyawalị and Manish K. Srivastava and Elham Asgari},
  journal = {Journal of Management},
  year    = {2018},
  doi     = {10.1177/0149206318773861},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206318773861}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - In Search of Precision in Absorptive Capacity Research: A Synthesis of the Literature and Consolidation of Findings
AU  - Yue Song
AU  - Devi R. Gnyawalị
AU  - Manish K. Srivastava
AU  - Elham Asgari
JO  - Journal of Management
PY  - 2018
DO  - 10.1177/0149206318773861
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206318773861
ER  -

Details

DOI: 10.1177/0149206318773861
Countries: United States
Regions: North America
Categories: innovation-theory, innovation-networks, general-innovation
Added: 2026-04-28