Model of Absorptive Capacity and Implementation of New Technology for Rural Construction SMEs

Absorptive capacity has been acknowledged as a critical component for organisations to sustain, grow and compete in their markets. Many researchers have used the concept of absorptive capacity in their analysis at different levels: individual, organisation, industry and country. However, most of the studies focus on very large organisations with sophisticated structures and strong R&D orientation. Very few studies address the theory of absorptive capacity in the context of SME organisations. This paper presents part of the findings of research that investigated absorptive capacity in the context of Malaysian rural construction SMEs. The aim of this paper is to prescribe a model of absorptive capacity for rural construction SMEs. The model is based on validation drawn from five case studies of construction SMEs operating in the rural area in Malaysia. The developed model serves two functions: Firstly, to help rural construction SMEs to understand the issues and process related to absorptive capacity and the implementation, and use of, new technology; secondly, to provide a mechanism for policy makers to transfer new technology to rural contractors. This research contributes to the body of knowledge of absorptive capacity by highlighting issues related to absorptive capacity and implementation of new technology in the context of rural SMEs. Keywords: Absorptive Capacity, Malaysia, Rural Construction, Small and medium sized enterprise (SME)

Reexamining the Impact of System Use on Job Performance from the Perspective of Adaptive System Use

Prior research with regard to the relationship between system use and job performance has been inconsistent. Some research found that system use has significant impact on job performance, as anticipated; other research does not confirm such a relationship. In this paper, we try to bridge this inconsistency by attributing this inconsistency to the simply conceptualized and measured system use construct. Subsequently, we introduce a “richer” conceptualization of system use, namely adaptive system use, and we examine its relationship with job performance. We suggest that adaptive system use accounts for a significant part of the impact of system use on job performance. Using a sample of 274 MS Office users, we were able to confirm that adaptive system use has significant impact on task productivity, management control, and task innovation. This research has implications for both research and practice

Toward an Integrative Research Framework for New Venture Legitimacy Judgement Formation

 Legitimacy is a critical resource for new ventures. Yet, our review of the literature indicates that the process through which new venture legitimacy judgments are bestowed by stakeholders is under-theorized. Additionally, the consequences of the legitimacy judgment for the stakeholder have not been adequately incorporated in prior research frameworks. We employ the absorptive capacity construct to address these limitations and propose an integrative research framework that includes the stakeholder in the legitimacy judgment formation process, and paves the way for empirical testing of these underlying processes

Promoting Organizational Innovation among Agricultural Extension Experts: The Role for Knowledge Management

Recently, innovation has become a very important issue, as it provides a strategic advantage for organizations to outperform competition and remain agile in the environment. Additionally, knowledge management is considered to be a strong support for innovation. However, few studies examine the role of human resource management in fostering knowledge capability which leads more innovation in the organizations. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of knowledge management components in organizational innovation among agricultural extension experts in Khuzestan Province. The statistical population of this study consisted of all agricultural extension experts in Khuzestan Province (N=328). Using Bartlett’s et al. (2001) sampling table, 130 of them were selected as a sample using the proportionate stratified random sampling method (n=130). The instrument of gathering data was a questionnaire that validity was confirmed by the panel of experts and its reliability was established by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient (α>0.70). The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that knowledge management components (knowledge creation, knowledge acquisition, knowledge storage and knowledge sharing and application) had positive significant effect on organizational innovation among agricultural extension experts in Khuzestan Province. The results emphasize the importance of knowledge management components to the success of innovation process in agricultural extension system

Innovation Capability Performance through Potential and Realized Absorptive Capacity: an Empirical Study in the West Java Mini Market

This study explores how potential and realized absorptive capacity affects innovation capability. This study aims to empirically examine the path relationship between potential absorptive capacity, realized absorptive capacity, and innovation capability in mini market in West Java, thus enhance our understanding of the mechanism between absorptive capacity and innovation capability. The authors have conducted a survey among employees with a valid response from 597 respondents. Multiple regression was used to assess the research model. The results provide evidence to show that potential and realized absorptive capacity are positively related to innovation capability, but in different proportions, and potential absorptive capacity affects positively to realize absorptive capacity. This study will contribute in an acceptable way to highlight the effects and role of both the potential absorptive capacity and the realized absorptive capacity in their role as independent variables and the results of this in innovation capability in turn as a dependent variable.Keywords: potential absorptive capacity realized absorptive capacity innovation capabilit

Understanding the complex and dynamic nature of e-health systems assimilation: a system dynamics modelling approach

2018 Conference paper presented at Strathmore University, Nairobi Kenya. Thematic area (Health, Healthcare Management and Research Ethics)Technology assimilation process allows organisations and individuals to integrate technologies into their user practices in a non-routine post-adoptive manner that enhances organisational outcomes. However, previous research in technology implementation shows an assimilation gap between organisational adoption and the full deployment of these technologies within work practices. Healthcare institutions suffer from low technology assimilation often associated with slow uptake on e-health systems. Technology assimilation is a dynamic and complex process and yet previous studies seem incognisant of this understanding and have mainly used variance models to conceptualise and study technology usage. Such studies have thus failed to acknowledge the impact of elements of feedback loops, delays and non-linearity inherent in technology assimilation on the use of technologies. This paper highlights the complex dynamic nature of technology assimilation process within a healthcare setting and proposes system dynamics as a complementary approach to model e-health systems assimilation. System dynamics is an approach used by researchers to gain decision insights into complex dynamic systems by inferring system behaviour from the structure of the system.1.Faculty of Information Technology; Strathmore University 2.School of Computing and Informatics; Mount Kenya Universit

LA CAPACIDAD DE ABSORCIÓN E INNOVACIÓN EN EMPRESAS DE PEQUEÑO PORTE

Neste estudo o objetivo foi analisar a capacidade de absorção de conhecimento de pequenas empresas para inovar em produtos e serviços. Uma forma de a empresa obter vantagem competitiva e garantir sustentabilidade é por meio da inovação, que por sua vez encontra na capacidade de absorção rotinas que facilitam a aquisição, a assimilação, a transformação e a explotação do conhecimento, dimensões sugeridas por Zahra e George (2002). A metodologia de pesquisa utilizada foi qualitativa com entrevistas semiestruturadas gravadas com os empreendedores e colaboradores das empresas. Os resultados demonstram que essas empresas buscam conhecimento no ambiente externo para aplicar em seu processo produtivo, demonstrando o uso das quatro dimensões propostas por Zahra e George (2002); e destacam a importância dos fatores complementares conhecimento prévio, eventos ativadores e integração social na capacidade de absorção das pequenas empresas estudadas.This study analyzes the absorption capacity of small businesses in Florianópolis, in their efforts to generate innovation. A way for the company to gain competitive advantage and ensure sustainability is through innovation, which in turn, lies in the capacity to absorb routines that facilitate the acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation of knowledge – dimensions proposed by Zahra and George (2002). The research methodology used was qualitative, with semi-structured interviews recorded with the entrepreneurs and collaborators of the companies. The results show that these companies are seeking knowledge in the external environment which they can then apply to their production processes, demonstrating the use of the four dimensions proposed by Zahra and George (2002), and they highlight the importance of complementary factors such as prior knowledge, triggering events, and social integration in the absorption capacity of the small businesses studied.En este estudio el objetivo fue analizar la capacidad de absorción de conocimiento de pequeñas empresas para innovar en productos y servicios. Una de las formas que la empresa tiene para obtener ventaja competitiva es garantizar sostenibilidad por medio de la innovación, que a su vez encuentra en la capacidad de absorción, rutinas que facilitan la adquisición, la asimilación, la transformación y la explotación del conocimiento, dimensiones sugeridas por Zahra y George (2002). La metodología de investigación utilizada fue cualitativa, con entrevistas semiestructuradas grabadas con los emprendedores y colaboradores de las empresas. Los resultados demuestran que esas empresas buscan conocimiento en el ambiente externo para aplicarlo en su proceso productivo, demostrando el uso de las cuatro dimensiones propuestas por Zahra y George (2002). También destacan la importancia de los factores complementarios de conocimiento previo, eventos activadores e integración social en la capacidad de absorción de las pequeñas empresas estudiadas

Information technology-enabled explorative learning and competitive performance in industrial service SMEs: a configurational analysis

This is the author accepted manuscriptPurpose: As purveyors of knowledge-based and high value-added services to the manufacturing sector, industrial service small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must develop the information technology (IT) capabilities that, in combination with other non-IT capabilities, enable their capacity for organizational learning (OL) and for explorative learning in particular. In this context, this study aims to identify the different causal configurations that account for the nonlinear complex interplay of IT capabilities for exploration and strategic capabilities for explorative learning as they affect these firms’ competitive performance. Design/methodology/approach: Survey data obtained from 92 industrial service SMEs were analyzed with a configurational approach, using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Findings: As it allows for equifinality, the fsQCA analysis identified two sets of causal configurations that characterize the sampled firms’ explorative learning capability as it relates to competitive performance. In the first set, two configurations were equally associated with high innovation performance, whereas in the second set, four configurations were equally associated with high productivity. Originality/value: By viewing explorative learning as a dynamic capability that is enabled by the firm’s IT and strategic capabilities, the study contributes to OL theory by providing a more concrete or “operational” grounding, which allows for a greater practical applicability of this theory. By taking both the configurational and capability-based views of the OL-IT-performance causal framework, the authors provide an empirical basis for unraveling, explaining and understanding the complex non-linear relationships embedded within this framework