IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/techno/v146y2025ics0166497225001294.html

Enhancing performance through CSR absorptive capacity: Understanding the role of technological and organizational innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Martos-Pedrero, Antonio
  • Jiménez-Castillo, David
  • Ferrón-Vílchez, Vera

Abstract

In today's business environment, companies must acquire and apply corporate social responsibility (CSR) knowledge to meet evolving market demands. Given its importance, further research is needed to understand the impact of developing these capabilities on performance, particularly the mechanisms through which this influence occurs. To address this gap, this study examines the concept of CSR absorptive capacity (CSR-ACAP) from a dual perspective, encompassing both potential and realized ACAP. We aim to assess the direct influence of CSR-ACAP on performance and to elucidate the role of organizational and technological innovation in this relationship. Using structural equation modeling on data from 107 Spanish agrifood firms, we found a direct link between both potential and realized CSR-ACAP and performance. Beyond the novelty of focusing ACAP analysis on CSR knowledge to demonstrate these relationships, this research reveals that firms that strengthen their CSR-ACAP are more likely to innovate, with both technological and organizational innovation serving as effective pathways for translating CSR knowledge into improved performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Martos-Pedrero, Antonio & Jiménez-Castillo, David & Ferrón-Vílchez, Vera, 2025. "Enhancing performance through CSR absorptive capacity: Understanding the role of technological and organizational innovation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:techno:v:146:y:2025:i:c:s0166497225001294
    DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103297
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166497225001294
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103297?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fariborz Damanpour & Shanthi Gopalakrishnan, 2001. "The Dynamics of the Adoption of Product and Process Innovations in Organizations," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1), pages 45-65, January.
    2. Scaringella, Laurent & Burtschell, François, 2017. "The challenges of radical innovation in Iran: Knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity highlights — Evidence from a joint venture in the construction sector," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 151-169.
    3. Azar, Goudarz & Ciabuschi, Francesco, 2017. "Organizational innovation, technological innovation, and export performance: The effects of innovation radicalness and extensiveness," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 324-336.
    4. Keunjae Lee & Sang-Mok Kang, 2007. "Innovation Types and Productivity Growth: Evidence from Korean Manufacturing Firms," Global Economic Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(4), pages 343-359.
    5. Meindert Flikkema & Paul Jansen & Lidewey Van Der Sluis, 2007. "Identifying Neo-Schumpeterian Innovation in Service Firms: A Conceptual Essay with a Novel Classification," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(7), pages 541-558.
    6. Xie, Xuemei & Zou, Hailiang & Qi, Guoyou, 2018. "Knowledge absorptive capacity and innovation performance in high-tech companies: A multi-mediating analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 289-297.
    7. Michael Polder & George van Leeuwen & Pierre Mohnen & Wladimir Raymond, 2010. "Product, Process and Organizational Innovation: Drivers, Complementarity and Productivity Effects," DRUID Working Papers 10-24, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies.
    8. Jansen, J.J.P. & van den Bosch, F.A.J. & Volberda, H.W., 2005. "Managing Potential and Realized Absorptive Capacity: How do Organizational Antecedents matter?," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2005-025-STR, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    9. Fariborz Damanpour & Richard M. Walker & Claudia N. Avellaneda, 2009. "Combinative Effects of Innovation Types and Organizational Performance: A Longitudinal Study of Service Organizations," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(4), pages 650-675, June.
    10. Riikkinen, Rilana & Kauppi, Katri & Salmi, Asta, 2017. "Learning Sustainability? Absorptive capacities as drivers of sustainability in MNCs’ purchasing," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1075-1087.
    11. Gebauer, Heiko & Worch, Hagen & Truffer, Bernhard, 2012. "Absorptive capacity, learning processes and combinative capabilities as determinants of strategic innovation," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 57-73.
    12. Sonia Cruz-Ros & Diana L. Guerrero-Sánchez & Maria-Jose Miquel-Romero, 2021. "Absorptive capacity and its impact on innovation and performance: findings from SEM and fsQCA," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 235-249, February.
    13. Lam, Alice, 2004. "Organizational Innovation," MPRA Paper 11539, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Gunday, Gurhan & Ulusoy, Gunduz & Kilic, Kemal & Alpkan, Lutfihak, 2011. "Effects of innovation types on firm performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(2), pages 662-676, October.
    15. Xiaoyu Qu & Adnan Khan & Salman Yahya & Abaid Ullah Zafar & Mohsin Shahzad, 2022. "Green core competencies to prompt green absorptive capacity and bolster green innovation: the moderating role of organization’s green culture," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 65(3), pages 536-561, January.
    16. Antonio Juan Briones Peñalver & Juan Andrés Bernal Conesa & Carmen de Nieves Nieto, 2018. "Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility in Spanish Agribusiness and Its Influence on Innovation and Performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(2), pages 182-193, March.
    17. Vahter, Priit & Vadi, Maaja, 2024. "The relationship of technological and organizational innovation with firm performance: Opening the black box of dynamic complementarities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    18. Mohsin Shahzad & Ying Qu & Saif Ur Rehman & Abaid Ullah Zafar & Xiangan Ding & Jawad Abbas, 2020. "Impact of knowledge absorptive capacity on corporate sustainability with mediating role of CSR: analysis from the Asian context," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 63(2), pages 148-174, January.
    19. David J. Teece, 2007. "Explicating dynamic capabilities: the nature and microfoundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(13), pages 1319-1350, December.
    20. Ester Martínez-Ros, 2019. "Revisiting product and process innovations," International Journal of Business Environment, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(3), pages 270-280.
    21. Prajogo, Daniel I., 2016. "The strategic fit between innovation strategies and business environment in delivering business performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(P2), pages 241-249.
    22. Gabriel Cepeda Carrión & Christian Nitzl & José L. Roldán, 2017. "Mediation Analyses in Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling: Guidelines and Empirical Examples," Springer Books, in: Hengky Latan & Richard Noonan (ed.), Partial Least Squares Path Modeling, chapter 0, pages 173-195, Springer.
    23. Imran Shafique & Masood Nawaz Kalyar & Nadia Mehwish, 2021. "Organizational ambidexterity, green entrepreneurial orientation, and environmental performance in SMEs context: Examining the moderating role of perceived CSR," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 446-456, January.
    24. Fosfuri, Andrea & Tribø, Josep A., 2008. "Exploring the antecedents of potential absorptive capacity and its impact on innovation performance," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 173-187, April.
    25. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    26. Kostopoulos, Konstantinos & Papalexandris, Alexandros & Papachroni, Margarita & Ioannou, George, 2011. "Absorptive capacity, innovation, and financial performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(12), pages 1335-1343.
    27. Laura Pütz & Sabrina Schell & Arndt Werner, 2023. "Openness to knowledge: does corporate social responsibility mediate the relationship between familiness and absorptive capacity?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1449-1482, April.
    28. Subramanian, A. & Nilakanta, S., 1996. "Organizational innovativeness: Exploring the relationship between organizational determinants of innovation, types of innovations, and measures of organizational performance," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 631-647, December.
    29. Zhi Tang & Clyde Eiríkur Hull & Sandra Rothenberg, 2012. "How Corporate Social Responsibility Engagement Strategy Moderates the CSR–Financial Performance Relationship," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(7), pages 1274-1303, November.
    30. Michael Lenox & Andrew King, 2004. "Prospects for developing absorptive capacity through internal information provision," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 331-345, April.
    31. Shmueli, Galit & Ray, Soumya & Velasquez Estrada, Juan Manuel & Chatla, Suneel Babu, 2016. "The elephant in the room: Predictive performance of PLS models," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 4552-4564.
    32. Xinshu Zhao & John G. Lynch & Qimei Chen, 2010. "Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and Truths about Mediation Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(2), pages 197-206, August.
    33. Paul T. M. Ingenbleek & Domenico Dentoni, 2016. "Learning from Stakeholder Pressure and Embeddedness: The Roles of Absorptive Capacity in the Corporate Social Responsibility of Dutch Agribusinesses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-18, October.
    34. Garcia-Perez, Alexeis & Cegarra-Navarro, Juan Gabriel & Sallos, Mark Paul & Martinez-Caro, Eva & Chinnaswamy, Anitha, 2023. "Resilience in healthcare systems: Cyber security and digital transformation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    35. Syed Shah Alam & Abul Bashar Bhuiyan & Fauzi Mohd Jani & Che Aniza Che Wel, 2016. "The impact of innovation on growth and performance of processed food SMEs in Malaysia," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 20(1/2), pages 61-79.
    36. Cegarra-Navarro, Juan-Gabriel & Reverte, Carmelo & Gómez-Melero, Eduardo & Wensley, Anthony K.P., 2016. "Linking social and economic responsibilities with financial performance: The role of innovation," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 530-539.
    37. Reinartz, Werner & Haenlein, Michael & Henseler, Jörg, 2009. "An empirical comparison of the efficacy of covariance-based and variance-based SEM," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 332-344.
    38. Freije, Inmaculada & de la Calle, Alberto & Ugarte, José V., 2022. "Role of supply chain integration in the product innovation capability of servitized manufacturing companies," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Antonio Martos‐Pedrero & David Jiménez‐Castillo & Vera Ferrón‐Vílchez & Francisco Joaquín Cortés‐García, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and export performance under stakeholder view: The mediation of innovation and the moderation of the legal form," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 248-266, January.
    2. Hammady Ahmed DINE RABEH, 2013. "Firm Resources’ Entanglement Determines ITS Absorptive Capacity: A Review Towards A New Reconceptualization," Working Papers 270, Laboratoire de Recherche sur l'Industrie et l'Innovation. ULCO / Research Unit on Industry and Innovation.
    3. Arranz, N. & Arroyabe, M.F. & Li, Jun & de Arroyabe, J.C. Fernandez, 2019. "An integrated model of organisational innovation and firm performance: Generation, persistence and complementarity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 270-282.
    4. Khosravi, Pouria & Newton, Cameron & Rezvani, Azadeh, 2019. "Management innovation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of past decades of research," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 694-707.
    5. FeCheng Ma & Farhan Khan & Kashif Ullah Khan & Si XiangYun, 2021. "Investigating the Impact of Information Technology, Absorptive Capacity, and Dynamic Capabilities on Firm Performance: An Empirical Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, November.
    6. Rangus, Kaja & Slavec, Alenka, 2017. "The interplay of decentralization, employee involvement and absorptive capacity on firms' innovation and business performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 195-203.
    7. Zheng, Lu & Ulrich, Klaus & Sendra-García, Javier, 2021. "Qualitative comparative analysis: Configurational paths to innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 83-93.
    8. Monferrer, Diego & Moliner, Miguel Ángel & Irún, Beatriz & Estrada, Marta, 2021. "Network market and entrepreneurial orientations as facilitators of international performance in born globals. The mediating role of ambidextrous dynamic capabilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 430-443.
    9. Kostopoulos, Konstantinos & Papalexandris, Alexandros & Papachroni, Margarita & Ioannou, George, 2011. "Absorptive capacity, innovation, and financial performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(12), pages 1335-1343.
    10. Ferreira, Jorge & Coelho, Arnaldo & Moutinho, Luiz, 2020. "Dynamic capabilities, creativity and innovation capability and their impact on competitive advantage and firm performance: The moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 92.
    11. Turner, Karynne L. & Monti, Alberto & Annosi, Maria Carmela, 2021. "Disentangling the effects of organizational controls on innovation," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 57-69.
    12. André van Stel & Lorraine Uhlaner & Haibo Zhou & Valerie Duplat, 2012. "Disentangling the effects of organizational capabilities, innovation and firm size on SME sales growth," Scales Research Reports H201211, EIM Business and Policy Research.
    13. Rafael Sancho-Zamora & Isidro Peña-García & Santiago Gutiérrez-Broncano & Felipe Hernández-Perlines, 2021. "Moderating Effect of Proactivity on Firm Absorptive Capacity and Performance: Empirical Evidence from Spanish Firms," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(17), pages 1-15, August.
    14. Linh Nguyen Phuong & Khanh Cao Tuan & Nhuan Nguyen Duc & Uyen Nguyen Thi, 2022. "The Impact of Absorption Capability, Innovation Capability, and Branding Capability on Firm Performance—An Empirical Study on Vietnamese Retail Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, May.
    15. Omrane, Amina, 2022. "The main determinants and effects of product innovation: An exploratory study on the pastry companies of the region of Sfax (in Tunisia)," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    16. Henk W. Volberda & Nicolai J. Foss & Marjorie A. Lyles, 2010. "PERSPECTIVE---Absorbing the Concept of Absorptive Capacity: How to Realize Its Potential in the Organization Field," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 931-951, August.
    17. Marlenne G. Velazquez-Cazares & Anna M. Gil-Lafuente & Ernesto Leon-Castro & Fabio Blanco-Mesa, 2021. "Innovation capabilities measurement using fuzzy methodologies: a Colombian SMEs case," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 384-413, December.
    18. Daspit, Joshua J. & Long, Rebecca G. & Pearson, Allison W., 2019. "How familiness affects innovation outcomes via absorptive capacity: A dynamic capability perspective of the family firm," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 133-143.
    19. Camisón, César & Forés, Beatriz, 2010. "Knowledge absorptive capacity: New insights for its conceptualization and measurement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(7), pages 707-715, July.
    20. Lewandowska Małgorzata Stefania, 2015. "Capturing Absorptive Capacity: Concepts, Determinants, Measurement Modes and Role in Open Innovation," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 45(1), pages 32-56, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:techno:v:146:y:2025:i:c:s0166497225001294. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01664972 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.