Linking absorptive capacity, knowledge transfer and transactive memory
Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing
ISSN: 0885-8624
Article publication date: 14 October 2020
Issue publication date: 15 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to construct an argument in support of the idea that absorptive capacity may lead to improved transactive memory conditional to the effectiveness of knowledge transfer between team members.
Design/methodology/approach
The study reports on the results of data collected from 10 knowledge worker teams in a business-to-business context across various industries. The study tests a theoretical model to consider the relationship between the dimensions of absorptive capacity, knowledge transfer effectiveness and transactive memory systems.
Findings
At the individual level, the results suggest that knowledge acquisition and assimilation is associated with higher levels of knowledge transfer while unstructured knowledge transfer is associated with specialisation, credibility and coordination that drives transactive memory.
Originality/value
The results suggest that an alternative conceptualisation of the relationship between absorptive capacity, knowledge transfer effectiveness and transactive memory systems is indeed conceivable. This implies that transactive memory can benefit from increased absorptive capacity and enhanced knowledge transfer effectiveness and may point at an under-explored avenue of research.
Keywords
Citation
Human, G. (2021), "Linking absorptive capacity, knowledge transfer and transactive memory", Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. 36 No. 10, pp. 1740-1754. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-01-2020-0060
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited