International organizational performance: The influence of congenital learning and realized absorptive capacity
Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
ISSN: 1462-6004
Article publication date: 16 May 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationships between congenital learning (CL) and realized absorptive capacity (RACAP) and tries to identify whether absorptive capacity impacts on international organizational performance (IOP) in today’s global business environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The research model and hypothesized relationships are empirically tested using the structural equation modelling approach, validated by factor analysis of 128 small medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK telecommunications sector.
Findings
The findings suggest that, in order to achieve higher levels of RACAP, managers need to create and support a CL process. Furthermore, if an SME does not achieve the required RACAP then IOP is likely to deteriorate.
Originality/value
SMEs need to provide and support a learning process, which is customized and based on three sub-processes: first, the framework for transferring knowledge; second, the framework for transforming knowledge; and third, an open organizational context. Based on these results, transferring and transforming are important sub-processes but are not sufficient for updating congenital knowledge.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The dates of this research were taken from a research programme supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education (REF: ECO2011-28641-C02-02), the R & D Project for Excellence. Andalusian Ministry of Education (REF: SEJ-6081), and the research programme supported by the Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología Región de Murcia (f SéNeCa 18709/EE/12).
Citation
Cegarra Navarro, J.G., Eldridge, S. and Wandosell, G. (2016), "International organizational performance: The influence of congenital learning and realized absorptive capacity", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 453-473. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-05-2014-0078
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited