Enkel, E. and S. Heil (2014). "Preparing for distant collaboration: Antecedents to potential absorptive capacity in cross-industry innovation." Technovation 34(4): 242-260.

Format: Peer-reviewed journal article

Type: Research non-experimental

Experience level of reader: Fundamental

Annotation: Novel ideas are created at the intersections between different knowledge bases. Firms seek new knowledge as a means to a competitive advantage. Organizational ambidexterity is a research concept describing firms which pursue explorative endeavors while simultaneously exploiting existing knowledge. Collaborative innovation helps businesses find value in operating with ambidexterity. Absorbing knowledge is critical aspect of research and development collaborations.

Setting(s) to which the reported activities/findings are relevant: Federal lab, Government, Large business, Small business, University.

Knowledge user(s) to whom the piece of literature may be relevant: Brokers, Clinicians, Manufacturers, Policy makers, Researchers.

Knowledge user level addressed by the literature: Fundamental

This article uses the Commercial Devices and Services version of the NtK Model

• Explorative research provides greater opportunities but requires more resources and presents higher risk to businesses.
  Case study analysis
  Occurrences within model: NtK 1.4, 3.2, 3.7
• Organizations are limited with their capability to locate and process external knowledge, particularly when the innovation opportunities are well beyond their existing cognitive comfort zone.
  Case study analysis
  Occurrences within model: NtK steps 3.6, 3.8

• Heterogeneous knowledge among partners produces more new, novel ideas and radical progress than redundant areas of expertise.
  Case study analysis
  Occurrences within model: NtK 3.1, 3.6
• Coordinating certain aspects of quests for external knowledge will dramatically improve success. Those are cross-functional interfaces, participation in decision making, and job rotation.
  Case study analysis
  Occurrences within model: NtK 3.3
• Using analogies to describe problems, solutions, theories, etc. is an effective means to help participants from different industries understand and discuss new concepts.
  Case study analysis
  Occurrences within model: NtK 3.9
• Discoveries are often made by problem-solving thinkers whose original area of expertise is far from the original problem.
  Case study analysis
  Occurrences within model: KTA 3.A NtK 3.1, 3.9, 4.1

Using distant, not obvious analogies works better to model and simulate novel ideas or new applications of existing knowledge.
Case study analysis
Occurrences within model: NtK 1.3, 3.3

• Comparing patents after a partnership is a means of retroactively measuring cognitive dissonance or proximity among partners.
  Case study analysis
  Occurrences within model: KTA 7.F, NtK 9.3
• Employ metaroutines externally to identify sources of new knowledge. These subtasks include mining literature, learning from external partners, and initiating informal interactions with others.
  Case study analysis
  Occurrences within model: NtK 3.1, 4.1,
• Internal metaroutines for idea generation include working sessions and using an integrated knowledge management system.
  Case study analysis
  Occurrences within model: NtK 2.2, 3.8