Capacidade Absortiva no Setor Público: Análise da Produção Científica

Vitoria Dal Ri Pagani; Gabriela Silveira Gonçalves Fiates

doi:10.5020/2318-0722.2025.31.e16102

Authors

Vitoria Dal Ri Pagani Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7861-0840
Gabriela Silveira Gonçalves Fiates Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6533-7139

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5020/2318-0722.2025.31.e16102

Keywords:

absorptive capacity, public sector, literature review, scientific production

Abstract

This study analyzes the scientific literature on absorptive capacity (ACAP) in the public sector and aims to examine how this construct, originally developed in the context of private firms, has been adapted to public management, as well as to identify its distinctive characteristics and the principal research gaps. Unlike the private sector, public management operates under nonmarket logics and institutional constraints, posing challenges to the direct application of theoretical models originally designed to explain competitive advantage. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining bibliometric analysis with a systematized literature review, an appropriate strategy for examining an emerging field of research. Data were collected from three databases (SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science) and included empirical studies published between 1990 and 2025. A total of 205 studies were initially retrieved. After duplicate removal and the application of eligibility criteria, 17 articles were included in the final analysis. The findings indicate that ACAP has been increasingly applied in the public sector, particularly in relation to innovation, organizational performance, and the adoption of information systems. In this context, however, ACAP is used not to achieve competitive advantage but rather to improve public service delivery and support decision-making. The analysis also reveals a concentration of research on the early stages of the absorptive process — knowledge acquisition and assimilation — with comparatively less attention devoted to knowledge transformation and exploitation. Furthermore, the literature is characterized by the predominance of theoretical models adapted from the private sector, with limited progress toward developing conceptual approaches that are more responsive to the institutional specificities of public organizations. As its primary theoretical contribution, this study provides a critical synthesis of the field and highlights the need for theoretical models that are better aligned with the institutional dynamics of the public sector.

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Translations of this article

Absorptive Capacity in the Public Sector: An Analysis of Scientific Production (English)

Author Biographies

Vitoria Dal Ri Pagani, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

PhD in Law from UERJ. PhD Candidate in Administration at UFSC. Holds an MSc in Law and an MSc in Administration from Federal University of Santa Catarina. Specialist in Civil Law, Notarial and Registry Law (2016), and Civil Procedure (2018). Earned a Bachelor of Laws from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (2014), including a study-abroad period at Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD), Italy. Received the University Laureate Award (Academic Merit) for achieving the highest cumulative grade point average in the graduating class.

Gabriela Silveira Gonçalves Fiates, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Santa Catarina (1991), as well as an MSc (1995) and a PhD (2001) in Production Engineering from the same institution. Served as a Professor and Researcher at University of Southern Santa Catarina for 13 years, where they coordinated the Master's Program in Administration from 2006 to 2011. Currently, they are an Associate Professor I in the Department of Administration/CSE at Federal University of Santa Catarina, where they teach undergraduate courses and supervise research in the Graduate Program in Administration. They also served as Editor of Revista Ciências da Administração from August 2016 to August 2019. Their research focuses on innovation, particularly strategies for organizational change and innovation, organizational learning, and entrepreneurship. They coordinate NUPEI (Núcleo de Pesquisa em Empreendedorismo Inovador) and serve as a reviewer for several academic journals, including RAC Eletrônica, RAUSP – Revista de Administração, RAE – Revista de Administração de Empresas, and O&S – Organizações & Sociedade.

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