Simulation of Absorptive Capacity Impact on the Performance of Project Networks Learning

In this paper, a multi-agent simulation model is developed for inter-organizational learning to evaluate the impact of absorptive capacity on learning performance. One of the most important problems on project networks is to understand which innovation has the most benefit on learning and how much it could effect on learning in interorganizational project networks. On the other hand, the ability of a firm to recognize the value of new, external information, assimilate it, and apply it to commercial ends is critical to its innovative capabilities. This capability called a firm's absorptive capacity and it is largely a function of the firm's level of prior related knowledge. It is evaluated which duration will be suitable to repeat innovation not to exceed the limit of absorptive capacity and demonstrate that the duration of innovation due to technological changes in project networks can result on relationally unstable network relationships and productive implementation of networks. These findings are critical to developing a comprehensive understanding of innovation on the learning process in inter-organizational project networks.