Dimensions of Absorptive Capacity Across Multiple Generations in Organizational Context

This paper aims to review organizational research on 'absorptive capacity' and 'generations' and elicit the necessity for the systematic study of dimensions of absorptive capacity across generations. It also discusses on the need for such a study in the Indian organizational context. The paper elaborates on the construct 'absorptive capacity' and its relation to organizational learning. It also brings forth various studies on 'generations' specific to organizations. Further, it presents a preliminary conceptual model depicting the relationship among various variables related to the study. The paper posits that, organizational research on 'generations' has been pursued with respect to various attributes. It also delineates that studying 'generations' vis- a' -vis absorptive capacity not only makes it intuitive but also assumes importance. This is reasoned out with depiction of inherent inter relationship among knowledge, organizational learning and absorptive capacity. Thus, the paper presents a coherent case for study of absorptive capacity with respect to 'generations' in organizational context in general and specifically in Indian organizational environment. The paper limits to outline the need for the study of absorptive capacity in the framework of 'generations' in organizational context. It doesn't explain the challenges of operationalizing and testing these theoretical concepts in any specific organizational context. The paper offers insights on the necessity of generational study on absorptive capacity in organizational context and also a preliminary conceptual model of the study.