Title: Absorptive capacity for development of assistive technology: a study on businesses with social impact

Authors: Franklin Menezes Da Silva; Priscila Rezende Da Costa; Sergio Silva Braga Junior

Addresses: Programa de Mestrado e Doutorado em Administração, Universidade Nove de Julho; Rua Deputado Salvador Julianelli, s/n, 1° andar, Barra Funda, São Paulo, SP, Brazil ' Programa de Mestrado e Doutorado em Administração, Universidade Nove de Julho; Rua Deputado Salvador Julianelli, s/n, 1° andar, Barra Funda, São Paulo, SP, Brazil ' Programa de Pós-Graduação em Administração, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Campus Experimental de Tupã; Av. Domingos da Costa Lopes, 780, Jardim Itaipu, Tupã, SP, Brazil

Abstract: This study aims to analyse how absorptive capacity influences assistive technology development in businesses with social impact (BSI). The research performed was descriptive and qualitative, using the case study method. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews with managers of BSI expansion and alpha (fictitious names). The results highlight the characterisation of assistive technology development and the analysis of the properties of absorptive capacity (ACAP) in BSI. As a contribution for the advancement of knowledge, the study identified the descriptive properties of the ACAP construct in the development of assistive technology processes. The study makes a practical contribution as social business managers and public policy makers could use the research findings as support for decisions about the development and scalability of new assistive technologies.

Keywords: assistive technology; absorptive capacity; business with social impact; BSI.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2020.104812

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2020 Vol.21 No.2, pp.151 - 175

Received: 26 Jun 2017
Accepted: 25 Jun 2018

Published online: 03 Feb 2020 *

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