Abstract
Research on absorptive capacity (AC) has proliferated in the last thirty years. This umbrella review integrates the findings of the literature reviews on AC since 1989. Our sample includes 16 reviews which have attempted to address issues in conceptualization and operationalization, relationships between AC and other theories, or other relevant factors (antecedents, outcomes, and contextual factors). Interestingly, despite the integrative character of literature reviews, we found that the existing reviews of AC add to the conceptual ambiguity of absorptive capacity rather than synthesizing and integrating findings to offer a more comprehensive picture of what absorptive capacity is and how our academic knowledge has evolved over time on this concept. Building on this finding, we argue that it is time to tackle the persisting issues in the multidimensionality, multilevel nature, and in understanding the process of absorptive capacity. However, we may need to go back to the drawing board to integrate prior findings and allow progress in tackling the persisting issues.