Absorptive Capacity: A Review, Reconceptualization, and Extension

Shaker A. Zahra, Gerard George · 2002 · Academy of Management Review

Summary. This paper reviews and reconceptualizes absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge. The authors distinguish between potential capacity (acquiring and assimilating knowledge) and realized capacity (transforming and exploiting knowledge). They develop a model showing how these two capacities differently affect competitive advantage under varying organizational conditions.

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Zahra, S. A., & George, G.. (2002). Absorptive Capacity: A Review, Reconceptualization, and Extension. Academy of Management Review. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2002.6587995

@article{zahra-2002-absorptive-capacity-review-reconceptualization-extension,
  title   = {Absorptive Capacity: A Review, Reconceptualization, and Extension},
  author  = {Shaker A. Zahra and Gerard George},
  journal = {Academy of Management Review},
  year    = {2002},
  doi     = {10.5465/amr.2002.6587995},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2002.6587995}
}

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AU  - Shaker A. Zahra
AU  - Gerard George
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Details

DOI: 10.5465/amr.2002.6587995
Countries: United States
Regions: North America
Categories: innovation-theory, general-innovation
Added: 2026-04-28