Firm's Knowledge Base and its impact on absorptive capacity in Low-tech SMEs/ La base de conocimiento y su impacto en la capacidad de absorción de pymes de baja tecnología/ A base de conhecimento e seu impacto na capacidade de absorcao de PMEs de baixa tecnologia

This paper examines the effects of the firm's knowledge base on the absorptive capacity (ACAP) in low-tech SMEs, emphasizing on the mediating role of organizational antecedents. For this purpose, an econometrical approach known as structural equation modeling was undertaken based on data collected from a survey applied to 96 firms belonging to agro-industrial and logistics service sectors from the department of Atlantico, Colombia. Results suggest that knowledge base is not sufficient to generate significant impacts on the firm's ACAP, in fact, it requires the mediation of organizational antecedents. In particular, the deployment of internal communication networks (socialization skills) to capitalize employee's capabilities in benefit of the firm's absorptive capacity.