Processes in Interorganizational Relationships to Develop Absorptive Capacity in Startups

ABSTRACT Objective: one of the factors related to dynamic capabilities is the absorptive capacity and until now, empirical work on capabilities has been conducted mainly with large companies and little is known about how they occur in startups. In this context, the aim of this work is to provide an understanding of how absorptive capacity occurs in startups, which maintains interorganizational relationships with large companies. Methods: the research used a qualitative multiple case study design and the investigation of seven startups constituted the study corpus. The data were analyzed using statistical analysis, content analysis, and business process analysis. Results: the interrelationship between startups and large companies in acceleration programs enhances the development of capabilities for startups because it facilitates access and assimilation of knowledge. On the other hand, knowledge transformation and exploitation help the modification of the structure, processes, and resources of startups to serve the large company, and the development of new products and services to the market occurs modestly and incrementally. Conclusions: the study highlights how the formal actions of corporate accelerator programs by large firms contribute to the development of absorptive capacity in startups.

摘要
研究目标：动态能力的相关影响因素之一为吸收能力（absorptive capacity）。截至目前，有关企业能力的实证研究主要以大型企业为研究主体，学界对初创企业的动态能力形成机制仍知之甚少。在此研究背景下，本研究旨在厘清与大型企业存在组织间关系的初创企业的吸收能力形成路径。
研究方法：本研究采用质性多案例研究设计，选取7家初创企业作为研究对象构建研究样本集。研究数据通过统计分析、内容分析与业务流程分析方法开展解读与编码。
研究结果：初创企业与大型企业在企业加速器项目中的互动关系，可助力初创企业获取并同化外部知识，进而推动其自身能力发展。另一方面，知识转化与利用环节能够帮助初创企业调整自身结构、流程与资源，以匹配大型企业的合作需求；但其面向市场的新产品与服务开发则呈现出渐进式且规模有限的特征。
研究结论：本研究揭示了大型企业发起的企业加速器项目的正式举措，如何有效促进初创企业吸收能力的提升。