Competitive absorptive capacity: Antecedents and performance implications.

摘要

Competitive intelligence has been defined as competitor insights that are based on secondary and primary data (Jaworski, MacInnis and Kohli 2002). The majority of U.S. based companies regularly use competitive intelligence (Lavelle 2001; Outward Insights 2005). However, many companies realize no or limited benefits from competitive intelligence (Clark and Montgomery1996; Outward Insights 2005). In spite of its widespread usage, few academic studies have examined competitive intelligence.;Competitive intelligence may be of little use without the capabilities to value, assimilate and apply it. This study adapts the absorptive capacity (Cohen and Levinthal 1990) theoretical perspective to the competitive intelligence context with the competitive absorptive capacity construct. Competitive absorptive capacity is defined as the capabilities to recognize the value of new competitor information, assimilate that information, and effectively apply it to commercial ends. This study develops the competitive absorptive capacity construct and a scale to measure it.;This study empirically examines the antecedents and consequences of competitive absorptive capacity. A market environment characterized by competitive intensity will influence a firm to engage in competitive intelligence generation. Competitive intelligence generation, a learning orientation, and prior related knowledge are antecedents to competitive absorptive capacity. Competitive absorptive capacity has a significant positive relationship with innovation.;Innovation, with the notable exception of radical innovation has a significant positive relationship with relative advantage. Finally, the studies results indicate that competitive advantage has a significant positive relationship with a subjective business unit performance measure which, in turn, has a significant positive relationship with an objective measure of firm performance.