Desorptive capacity

  • As competition is becoming increasingly knowledge-based, companies do not only have to develop the competence of managing knowledge internally but also need the competence of managing the acquisition and emission of knowledge in order to appropriately leverage its value. Regarding the external acquisition of knowledge, a consistent theoretical framework has been developed with the concept of absorptive capacity probably being the most important construct. In research into absorptive capacity, it is assumed either explicitly or by implication that the knowledge is applied internally. However, companies may also directly commercialize disembodied knowledge which is a growing phenomenon in practice. This trend is especially remarkable against the background of the imperfections of the markets for knowledge, which make such external commercialization of knowledge a difficult task. Accordingly, a company should build up an organizational capability to adequately manage the external knowledge commercialization process. Therefore, we develop the construct of desorptive capacity as a complementary concept to absorptive capacity in the area of external knowledge exploitation. The construct is defined, and it is shown that desorptive capacity is path-dependent. Moreover, it is highlighted how a firm may actively manage its desorptive capacity. Finally, the issue of operationalizing desorptive capacity is addressed, and implications of the theoretical analysis for research and practice are presented.

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Metadaten
Author:Ulrich Lichtenthaler, Eckhard Lichtenthaler, Holger Ernst
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:992-opus4-6189
Subtitle (English):a new perspective on the external commercialization of knowledge
Series (Serial Number):WHU-Forschungspapier (099)
Publisher:WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management
Place of publication:Vallendar
Document Type:Working Paper
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2018/04/01
Date of first Publication:2004/05/01
Release Date:2018/04/01
Tag:Wissensmanagement; Wissenstransfer
Knowledge management; Knowledge transfer
Page Number:41
Institutes:WHU Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group / Chair of Technology and Innovation Management
Licence (German):Copyright for this publication