Managing absorptive capacity: the role of leadership and organizational culture

Many organizations rely on external knowledge sources to remain innovative and competitive. However, despite employing similar strategies, some firms demonstrate higher levels of innovation than others ¿ a difference in performance that scholars associate with absorptive capacity. The construct is b...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ismail, Muhammad, Bello Pintado, Alejandro, García Marco, María Teresa
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad Pública de Navarra
Repositorio:Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra
OAI Identifier:oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/56578
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2454/56578
Access Level:acceso embargado
Palabra clave:Absorptive capacity
Potential absorptive capacity
Realized absorptive capacity
Organizational learning culture
Empowering leadership style
Innovation
Descripción
Sumario:Many organizations rely on external knowledge sources to remain innovative and competitive. However, despite employing similar strategies, some firms demonstrate higher levels of innovation than others ¿ a difference in performance that scholars associate with absorptive capacity. The construct is built upon two dimensions, Potential Absorptive Capacity (PAC) and Realized Absorptive Capacity (RAC). This study thus seeks to explore the impact of empowering leadership and organizational learning culture as antecedents of PAC and RAC. Further, it aims to test the mediating role of PAC in these relationships. To achieve this objective, a data sample collected from 97 Spanish manufacturing firms is tested through structural equation modelling using the partial least squares (PLS) approach. The results confirm the significance of segregating potential and realized knowledge to understand the impact of empowering leadership and organizational learning culture to enhance a firm¿s dynamic capability for achieving innovation, leading to theoretical and practical implications.