New venture technology sourcing: Exploring the effect of absorptive capacity, learning attitude and past performance

Abstract

SummaryBased on the literature on learning and technological alliances, this paper explores the relationship between the learning attitude, performance and absorptive capacity with companies’ ways of sourcing for technologies. Using a sample of 110 high-tech ventures, the statistical results show a clear link between the span of technology access modes and the learning attitude and absorptive capacity. This behaviour in our sample leads also to a better performance, especially in term of foreign expansion, product innovation and speed of new products commercialization. Suggestions for managers on how to improve their technology access processes are given at the end of the text.