The Reification of Absorptive Capacity: A Critical Review and Rejuvenation of the Construct

Peter J. Lane; Balaji R. Koka; Seemantini Pathak

doi:10.5465/amr.2006.22527456

The Reification of Absorptive Capacity: A Critical Review and Rejuvenation of the Construct

Peter J. Lane, Balaji R. Koka, Seemantini Pathak

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We conduct a detailed analysis of 289 absorptive capacity papers from 14 journals to assess how the construct has been utilized, examine the key papers in the field, and identify the substantive contributions to the broader literature using a thematic analysis. We argue that research in this area is fundamentally driven by five critical assumptions that we conclude have led to its reification and that this reification has led to stifling of research in this area. To address this, we propose a model of absorptive capacity processes, antecedents, and outcomes.

Original language	American English
Journal	Academy of Management Review
Volume	31
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2006.22527456
State	Published - Oct 1 2006
Externally published	Yes

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Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Library and Information Science
Public Relations and Advertising
Business

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10.5465/amr.2006.22527456License: Unspecified

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abstract = " We conduct a detailed analysis of 289 absorptive capacity papers from 14 journals to assess how the construct has been utilized, examine the key papers in the field, and identify the substantive contributions to the broader literature using a thematic analysis. We argue that research in this area is fundamentally driven by five critical assumptions that we conclude have led to its reification and that this reification has led to stifling of research in this area. To address this, we propose a model of absorptive capacity processes, antecedents, and outcomes. ",

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AB - We conduct a detailed analysis of 289 absorptive capacity papers from 14 journals to assess how the construct has been utilized, examine the key papers in the field, and identify the substantive contributions to the broader literature using a thematic analysis. We argue that research in this area is fundamentally driven by five critical assumptions that we conclude have led to its reification and that this reification has led to stifling of research in this area. To address this, we propose a model of absorptive capacity processes, antecedents, and outcomes.

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The Reification of Absorptive Capacity: A Critical Review and Rejuvenation of the Construct

Abstract

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