Title: Comparing the antecedents of absorptive capacity in exploitation and exploration alliances: the case of a software company

Authors: Pekka Salmi, Marko T. Torkkeli

Addresses: Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Prikaatintie 9, FI-45100 Kouvola, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Prikaatintie 9, FI-45100 Kouvola, Finland

Abstract: As the acquisition of valuable knowledge from other organisations has become an increasingly important motive for firms to engage in alliances, scholars have often discussed the role of absorptive capacity in interorganisational learning and performance. However, little is known about which antecedents of absorptive capacity are important in strategic alliances that have either an |exploitation| or |exploration| purpose. This paper contributes to understanding of this issue by developing a typology of different antecedents of absorptive capacity with respect to their relative importance in exploitation and exploration type alliances and by deriving testable propositions. Examining alliances of a software company specialising in decision management solutions provides initial case study evidence for the propositions.

Keywords: absorptive capacity; organisational learning; knowledge transfer; capability view; exploration; exploitation; cooperation; strategic alliances; knowledge acquisition; software industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2010.035445

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2010 Vol.3 No.4, pp.452 - 469

Published online: 30 Sep 2010 *

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