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Whether It is I or We to Praise for Absorptive Capacity: Data from Estonian Medicine

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  • Mait Rungi

    (Tallinn University of Technology)

Abstract

Absorptive capacity (ACAP) is a key determinant of how capable an organization is in an innovation landscape. It is not known whether individual- or group-level behavior affects ACAP the most, but since ACAP is largely a mental process, a significant impact from both is presumed. Individual-level personality traits and group-level organizational culture have been widely studied in the literature, but not together, and research has focused mainly on country, educational, and industrial contexts, with little attention paid to the field of medicine. This paper uses a quantitative survey in one Estonian hospital to understand the influence of individual-level personality traits and group-level organizational culture on ACAP, with the sample being made up of participants of change-management training. Results indicate that individual-level traits influence ACAP more than group-level organizational culture. Additionally, the hospital’s organizational culture proved to be efficiency-oriented, or mercenary, not fragmented, as expected, i.e., it is task-oriented, not person-oriented. Potential and realized ACAP require different profiles, which makes it hard for the same individuals demonstrate both; diversity is necessary. Potential ACAP is influenced significantly more by traits and organizational culture than realized ACAP. From an organizational-learning point of view, organization–person fit is therefore, of little relevance, since individual traits’ impact on ACAP is clearly higher than that of organizational culture. Hospitals can use these findings for personnel selection and in implementing organizational change, innovation, and training.

Suggested Citation

  • Mait Rungi, 2019. "Whether It is I or We to Praise for Absorptive Capacity: Data from Estonian Medicine," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 10(4), pages 1536-1557, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:10:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s13132-019-00615-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s13132-019-00615-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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