The capacity to innovate: a meta-analysis of absorptive capacity

Tengjian Zou, Gökhan Ertug, Gerard George · 2018 · Innovation

Summary. This meta-analysis of 241 studies confirms that absorptive capacity strongly predicts innovation and knowledge transfer, with effects on financial performance fully mediated through these outcomes. The research reveals that absorptive capacity benefits small firms but harms larger ones, and negatively affects mature firms while showing no significant impact on young firms. These findings challenge traditional assumptions about organizational innovation patterns and firm size and age dynamics.

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@article{zou-2018-capacity-innovate-meta-analysis-absorptive,
  title   = {The capacity to innovate: a meta-analysis of absorptive capacity},
  author  = {Tengjian Zou and Gökhan Ertug and Gerard George},
  journal = {Innovation},
  year    = {2018},
  doi     = {10.1080/14479338.2018.1428105},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1080/14479338.2018.1428105}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - The capacity to innovate: a meta-analysis of absorptive capacity
AU  - Tengjian Zou
AU  - Gökhan Ertug
AU  - Gerard George
JO  - Innovation
PY  - 2018
DO  - 10.1080/14479338.2018.1428105
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1080/14479338.2018.1428105
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.1080/14479338.2018.1428105

Categories

innovation-theory, general-innovation

Added

2026-04-28