Agent-based modelling of individual absorptive capacity for effective knowledge transfer

Abstract

The importance of knowledge for organizational success is widely recognized, leading managers to leverage knowledge actively. Within knowledge transfer, the Absorptive Capacity (ACAP) of Knowledge Recipients (KR) emerges as an unresolved barrier. ACAP is the dynamic capability to absorb knowledge and surpass the aggregation of individual ACAP within an organization. However, more research is needed on individual-level ACAP and its implications for bridging the gap between individual and organizational knowledge transfer. To address this gap, this study employs Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) as a simulation method to replicate individual ACAP within an organization, facilitating the examination of knowledge transfer dynamics. ABM allows for the detailed analysis of interactions between individual KRs and the organizational environment, revealing how uninterrupted time and other factors influence knowledge absorption. The implications of the study are that ABM provides specific insights into how individual ACAP affects organizational learning and performance, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted time for KR to achieve optimal knowledge exploitation and highlighting the need for organizational practices and policies that foster environments conducive to knowledge absorption.