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Augmenting Absorptive Capacity Learning Processes for Innovation: Insights for effective leadership within global pharmaceutical companies

Zadeh, Mohammad Rezaei, Hackney, Ray, Zeng, Jing (2021) Augmenting Absorptive Capacity Learning Processes for Innovation: Insights for effective leadership within global pharmaceutical companies. European Management Review, . ISSN 1740-4754. E-ISSN 1740-4762. (doi:10.1111/emre.12477) (KAR id:88926)

Abstract

Absorptive capacity (AC), which comprises exploratory, transformative, and exploitative learning processes, enables organizations to exploit external knowledge for adopting innovation. Despite extensive research into AC, leadership styles have received little attention. This paper discusses the results of a study undertaken in three pharmaceutical organizations that augments AC theory relating to top- and middle-level management behaviour. The findings suggest that the influence of transformational and transactional leadership styles varies between the AC learning processes within and across organizations. We also explored CEOs’ knowledge, trust in middle management, and intention towards sharing knowledge, which facilitate the learning processes. The research has implications for the enhancement of opportunities to enable successful innovations based on the recognition of leadership styles and managers’ roles. We report several novel contributions that are of value to academics and practitioners.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/emre.12477
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5351 Business
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Department of Leadership and Management
Depositing User: Maggie Zeng
Date Deposited: 01 Jul 2021 10:17 UTC
Last Modified: 01 Aug 2023 23:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/88926 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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