IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/abaman/v22y2023i3d10.1057_s41291-022-00198-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How employees respond to client feedback on their creative work: a microfoundations approach to absorptive capacity

Author

Listed:
  • Cheng-Hua Tzeng

    (Fudan University School of Management)

Abstract

To understand how employees respond to client feedback on their creative work, we conducted a case study of a Chinese advertisement agency. Adopting a microfoundations approach to absorptive capacity, we found that in responding to the client’s coercive feedback-giving moves, the account manager engaged in defending feedback-screening moves. As for creative workers, who responded to client feedback by resistance-oriented feedback-receiving moves, the account manager resorted to acceptance-induced feedback-transferring moves. We contribute by revealing interorganizational power dynamics and internal resistance in absorptive capacity processes, the role of feedback mediator, and the effect of feedback communications on a firm’s absorptive capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng-Hua Tzeng, 2023. "How employees respond to client feedback on their creative work: a microfoundations approach to absorptive capacity," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(3), pages 1155-1184, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:22:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1057_s41291-022-00198-y
    DOI: 10.1057/s41291-022-00198-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41291-022-00198-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41291-022-00198-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arie Y. Lewin & Silvia Massini & Carine Peeters, 2011. "Microfoundations of Internal and External Absorptive Capacity Routines," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(1), pages 81-98, February.
    2. Jonas Lechermeier & Martin Fassnacht, 2018. "How do performance feedback characteristics influence recipients’ reactions? A state-of-the-art review on feedback source, timing, and valence effects," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 68(2), pages 145-193, April.
    3. Cheng-Hua Tzeng, 2021. "Executing absorptive capacity: a case study of spillover utilization by a domestic firm in China’s hotel industry," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(3), pages 409-434, July.
    4. Robert A. Burgelman & Steven W. Floyd & Tomi Laamanen & Saku Mantere & Eero Vaara & Richard Whittington, 2018. "Strategy processes and practices : Dialogues and intersections," Post-Print hal-02312126, HAL.
    5. Yuan, Ruizhi & Luo, Jun & Liu, Martin J. & Yu, Jiang, 2022. "Understanding organizational resilience in a platform-based sharing business: The role of absorptive capacity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 85-99.
    6. Quy Huy & Christoph Zott, 2019. "Exploring the affective underpinnings of dynamic managerial capabilities: How managers' emotion regulation behaviors mobilize resources for their firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 28-54, January.
    7. Ya-Ru Chen & Randall S. Peterson & Damon J. Phillips & Joel M. Podolny & Cecilia L. Ridgeway, 2012. "Introduction to the Special Issue: Bringing Status to the Table—Attaining, Maintaining, and Experiencing Status in Organizations and Markets," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(2), pages 299-307, April.
    8. Fiona K. Yao & Song Chang, 2017. "Do Individual Employees' Learning Goal Orientation and Civic Virtue Matter? A Micro-Foundations Perspective on Firm Absorptive Capacity," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(10), pages 2041-2060, October.
    9. Henk W. Volberda & Nicolai J. Foss & Marjorie A. Lyles, 2010. "PERSPECTIVE---Absorbing the Concept of Absorptive Capacity: How to Realize Its Potential in the Organization Field," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 931-951, August.
    10. Wesley M. Cohen & Daniel A. Levinthal, 1994. "Fortune Favors the Prepared Firm," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 40(2), pages 227-251, February.
    11. Apriliyanti, Indri Dwi & Alon, Ilan, 2017. "Bibliometric analysis of absorptive capacity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 896-907.
    12. Robert A. Burgelman & Steven W. Floyd & Tomi Laamanen & Saku Mantere & Eero Vaara & Richard Whittington, 2018. "Strategy processes and practices: Dialogues and intersections," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(3), pages 531-558, March.
    13. Dana B Minbaeva & Torben Pedersen & Ingmar Björkman & Carl F Fey, 2014. "A retrospective on: MNC knowledge transfer, subsidiary absorptive capacity, and HRM," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(1), pages 52-62, January.
    14. Peter J. Lane & Michael Lubatkin, 1998. "Relative absorptive capacity and interorganizational learning," Post-Print hal-02311860, HAL.
    15. Zhang, Xiaomeng & Zhou, Jing & Kwan, Ho Kwong, 2017. "Configuring challenge and hindrance contexts for introversion and creativity: Joint effects of task complexity and guanxi management," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 54-68.
    16. Xie, Xuemei & Wang, Hongwei & García, Javier Sendra, 2021. "How does customer involvement in service innovation motivate service innovation performance? The roles of relationship learning and knowledge absorptive capacity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 630-643.
    17. Ryan Raffaelli & Mary Ann Glynn & Michael Tushman, 2019. "Frame flexibility: The role of cognitive and emotional framing in innovation adoption by incumbent firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(7), pages 1013-1039, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Emre Yildiz, H. & Murtic, Adis & Klofsten, Magnus & Zander, Udo & Richtnér, Anders, 2021. "Individual and contextual determinants of innovation performance: A micro-foundations perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    2. Yildiz, H. Emre & Murtic, Adis & Zander, Udo, 2024. "Re-conceptualizing absorptive capacity: The importance of teams as a meso-level context," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    3. H. Emre Yildiz & Adis Murtic & Udo Zander & Anders Richtnér, 2019. "What Fosters Individual-Level Absorptive Capacity in MNCs? An Extended Motivation–Ability–Opportunity Framework," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 93-129, February.
    4. Lívia Lopes Barakat & Torben Pedersen & Marcio Amaral-Baptista & Sherban Leornardo Cretoiu & Paulo Bento, 2022. "Too Much of Two Good Things: Explicating the Limited Complementarity Between Drivers of MNC Headquarters’ Absorptive Capacity," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 393-426, June.
    5. Ritter-Hayashi, Daniela & Knoben, Joris & Vermeulen, Patrick A.M., 2021. "Temporary employment: Curse or blessing for a firm's absorptive capacity?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    6. Khan, Zaheer & Lew, Yong Kyu & Marinova, Svetla, 2019. "Exploitative and exploratory innovations in emerging economies: The role of realized absorptive capacity and learning intent," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 499-512.
    7. Martinkenaite, Ieva & Breunig, Karl Joachim, 2016. "The emergence of absorptive capacity through micro–macro level interactions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 700-708.
    8. Weidner, Nadia & Som, Oliver & Horvat, Djerdj, 2023. "An integrated conceptual framework for analysing heterogeneous configurations of absorptive capacity in manufacturing firms with the DUI innovation mode," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    9. Bárbara Larrañeta & José Luis Galán González & Rocio Aguilar, 2017. "Early efforts to develop absorptive capacity and their performance implications: differences among corporate and independent ventures," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 485-509, June.
    10. Arie Y Lewin & Silvia Massini & Carine Peeters, 2020. "Absorptive capacity, socially enabling mechanisms, and the role of learning from trial and error experiments: A tribute to Dan Levinthal’s contribution to international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(9), pages 1568-1579, December.
    11. Latukha, M. & Veselova, A. & Selivanovskikh, L. & Artukh, E. & Mitskevich, E., 2016. "Re-thinking the role of talent management in a firm’s performance: Talent management practices and absorptive capacity," Working Papers 6442, Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University.
    12. Nay Chi Khin Khin Oo & Sirisuhk Rakthin, 2022. "Integrative Review of Absorptive Capacity’s Role in Fostering Organizational Resilience and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, October.
    13. Wang, Liwen & Zhao, Jane Zheng & Zhou, Kevin Zheng, 2018. "How do incentives motivate absorptive capacity development? The mediating role of employee learning and relational contingencies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 226-237.
    14. Zhou, Abby Jingzi & Fey, Carl & Yildiz, H. Emre, 2020. "Fostering integration through HRM practices: An empirical examination of absorptive capacity and knowledge transfer in cross-border M&As," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    15. Yuan, Ruizhi & Luo, Jun & Liu, Martin J. & Yu, Jiang, 2022. "Understanding organizational resilience in a platform-based sharing business: The role of absorptive capacity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 85-99.
    16. Said Shabban Abdo & David Edgar & Gamal Kamel, 2021. "Moderating Effects of Transforming High-Potential Local Employees for Reverse Adaptation, through the Lens of Absorptive Capacity: The Case of Hi Tech in Egypt," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(6), pages 171-171, July.
    17. Johann Piet Hausberg & Peter S. H. Leeflang, 2019. "Absorbing Integration: Empirical Evidence On The Mediating Role Of Absorptive Capacity Between Functional-/Cross-Functional Integration And Innovation Performance," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(06), pages 1-37, August.
    18. Apriliyanti, Indri Dwi & Alon, Ilan, 2017. "Bibliometric analysis of absorptive capacity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 896-907.
    19. Laura Pütz & Sabrina Schell & Arndt Werner, 2023. "Openness to knowledge: does corporate social responsibility mediate the relationship between familiness and absorptive capacity?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1449-1482, April.
    20. D׳Souza, Derrick E. & Kulkarni, Shailesh S., 2015. "A framework and model for absorptive capacity in a dynamic multi-firm environment," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 50-62.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:22:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1057_s41291-022-00198-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.