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Digital product development team external knowledge processes and ambidexterity: a multi-mediation analysis of the absorptive capacity framework

Trihadi Pudiawan Erhan (Department of Management in the Faculty of Business, Universitas Multimedia Nusantara, Tangerang, Indonesia and Department of Marketing in the Business School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia)
Arnold Japutra (Department of Marketing in the Business School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia and Department of Management in the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia)
Sebastiaan Van Doorn (Department of Marketing in the Business School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia)

Journal of Knowledge Management

ISSN: 1367-3270

Article publication date: 26 June 2024

187

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the mechanisms of absorptive capacity (ACAP) in the specific context of digital product development teams. More precisely, it explores the process of internalizing and utilizing external knowledge from sources outside the team to promote the development of innovative ambidexterity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs the ACAP framework and directs specific attention to the concept of knowledge assimilation, encompassing comprehension, documentation and dissemination. Seventy-five employees of one of Indonesia’s largest commercial banks were surveyed about two initiatives they participated in. To this end, 12 research hypotheses are formulated, tested and analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Knowledge comprehension, documentation and dissemination are found to mediate between knowledge acquisition and knowledge exploitation. At the same time, the relationship between knowledge acquisition and knowledge transformation is mediated by knowledge comprehension and dissemination, but not documentation. The authors also found that knowledge transformation positively mediates between knowledge comprehension and dissemination on the one hand and ambidexterity on the other hand. Importantly, knowledge exploitation negatively mediates between knowledge comprehension and documentation on the one hand and ambidexterity on the other hand.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering nuanced insights into the interplay of knowledge assimilation processes within ACAP, particularly in the context of digital product development. The identification of mediating factors and their impacts on ambidexterity provides valuable implications for both theory and practice in this domain.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LP DP) Indonesia for providing full funding for this research, as well as Universitas Multimedia Nusantar for their support.

Citation

Erhan, T.P., Japutra, A. and Van Doorn, S. (2024), "Digital product development team external knowledge processes and ambidexterity: a multi-mediation analysis of the absorptive capacity framework", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-10-2023-0963

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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