Relationship between absorptive capacity and innovation capacity in firms: An empirical analysis using PLS-SEM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/dm20261286Keywords:
Absorptive Capacity, Innovation, Strategy, SME, PLS-SEMAbstract
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute a fundamental part of any country's economic structure, representing self-employment initiatives that generate jobs and contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, due to the high level of competition they face, they experience limited growth and a low adoption rate of innovations, which in many cases leads to their short-term demise. Hence the importance of their capacity to absorb external knowledge, which allows them to adapt to changes in the environment and create innovations that enable them to compete in today's turbulent economic and financial market. In this context, the present study focuses on analyzing the relationship between the absorptive capacity and the innovation capacity of SMEs in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico. The method applied was PLS-SEM structural equation modeling, with a statistical sample of 151 companies. The results suggest that SMEs prioritize the assimilation and transformation of knowledge to foster innovation, particularly in their innovative performance, innovation culture, process innovation, and service innovation. The study's contributions include the theory of dynamic capabilities for organizations, as well as sufficient empirical evidence to demonstrate the correlation between absorption and innovation that streamlines the design of business strategies.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ana Karen Romero Sainz, Deyanira Bernal Domínguez , Heilder Octavio Angulo Trujillo , María del Carmen Monarres Alderete (Author)
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