Title: International collaboration and knowledge creation: the moderating role of absorptive capacity

Authors: Mahmoud Ibrahim Fallatah

Addresses: College of Business, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The study extends previous research on the knowledge creation literature. It discusses the impact of international collaborative partnerships portfolio (ICPP) on knowledge creation at the division (group) level. I propose a contingency perspective by considering the moderating role of absorptive capacity. Using a sample from the academic industry (i.e., colleges), I find that for colleges from developing countries, collaborating with international partners is positively related to knowledge creation. Additionally, when collaborating with international partners, colleges from developing countries with higher absorptive capacity are more likely to create new knowledge than those with lower levels. The paper concludes with managerial implications and directions for future research.

Keywords: knowledge creation; absorptive capacity; international; collaboration; strategic alliances; Saudi Arabia.

DOI: 10.1504/MEJM.2020.108075

Middle East Journal of Management, 2020 Vol.7 No.4, pp.365 - 379

Received: 14 Nov 2018
Accepted: 21 Mar 2019
Published online: 02 Jul 2020 *

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