The Impact of Absorptive Capacity on Innovation: The Mediating Role of Organizational Learning

Abstract

Although the relevant literature has already demonstrated the impact that absorptive capacity has on companies’ innovation capacity, we have found few studies that analyze the role of learning capability in this relationship. The main objective of this study was to examine the role of organizational learning in this relationship. For this purpose, a quantitative research approach was used. A total of 306 valid questionnaires were obtained from small and medium-sized Spanish companies in different sectors. The collected data were analyzed using the multivariate Partial Least Square (PLS) quantitative structural equation technique. According to the result, absorption capacity turns into innovation mainly when learning capacity is involved in this process. This study provides empirical evidence of this relationship and fills this gap. It can also help organizations understand and clarify what would be the most appropriate way in to manage knowledge to improve their innovation levels.

Stakeholder pressure and innovation capacity of SMEs in the COVID-19 pandemic: Mediating and multigroup analysis

“…Innovation enables firms to transfer learned knowledge and offer better solutions ( Sancho-Zamora et al, 2022 ; Maranville, 1992 ) to meet new societal needs and implement innovative ideas and decisions ( Cegarra-Navarro et al, 2016 ). Therefore, it is important for firms seeking to achieve technological leadership to develop new products and services ( Lumpkin and Dess, 1996 ; Rauch et al, 2009 ).…”

La orientación emprendedora como fuente de innovación para las empresas: un análisis aplicado

“…Además, las organizaciones con vínculos estrechos con partes interesadas relevantes para la innovación están en mejor posición para recibir e integrar nueva información (Kostopoulos et al, 2011;Yström et al, 2019). La creación de redes externas para facilitar los procesos internos de innovación en las organizaciones ofrece una respuesta factible a los retos empresariales (Chesbrough et al, 2006;Enkel et al, 2009;Chesbrough et al, 2018;Sancho-Zamora et al, 2022).…”

“…Según Yström et al (2019), el objetivo estratégico de los miembros de la red pasa de minimizar los costes de transacción a ampliar sus bases de conocimiento internas cuando se construyen redes de absorción para la adquisición y creación de conocimiento. La capacidad de absorción puede influir favorablemente en la adaptabilidad de las empresas al dinamismo del contexto, facilitando que las empresas mejoren su base de conocimientos y la apliquen a la creación de innovaciones (Cruz-Ros et al, 2021;Sancho-Zamora et al, 2022). La idea de capacidad de absorción organizativo en entornos interorganizativos engloba el uso eficiente por parte de las organizaciones de la información del entorno (Sun & Anderson, 2010;Gibb et al, 2017).…”

Innovation and organizational learning practices in tourism and hospitality sector: a gender-based perspective

“…An environment of team working boosts the openness that is necessary for learning. Such practices also encourage openness in different perspectives and a wide range of new ideas in workgroups (Sancho-Zamora et al , 2022). Furthermore, Otioma (2022) revealed a significant association between team orientation, organizational performance and innovativeness.…”