Absorptive capacity, strategic flexibility, and business model innovation: Empirical evidence from Italian SMEs

Ivan Miroshnychenko, Andreas Strobl, Kurt Matzler and Alfredo De Massis

Journal of Business Research, 2021, vol. 130, issue C, 670-682

Abstract: Recognizing that business model innovation (BMI) is a constant source of value creation in the digital economy, we examine the nexus between absorptive capacity and strategic flexibility, and their effects on BMI. We argue that to increase strategic flexibility and innovate their business model, firms need to develop their potential absorptive capacity (acquisition and assimilation of knowledge) as well as their realized absorptive capacity (transformation and exploitation of knowledge). While potential absorptive capacity drives both BMI and strategic flexibility, realized absorptive capacity increases a firm’s strategic flexibility. Our analysis of 282 Italian small- and medium-sized firms also shows a relationship between realized absorptive capacity and BMI, but only under conditions of environmental uncertainty.

Keywords: Business model innovation; Absorptive capacity; Strategic flexibility; SMEs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:130:y:2021:i:c:p:670-682

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.02.015

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