Absorptive Capacity, Knowledge Acquisition Intensity, and Productivity: Insights from Ghana’s Service Industry

Abstract

This study examines the association between knowledge acquisition intensity and organizational productivity among service firms in Accra, Ghana, within the frameworks of the knowledge-based view and absorptive capacity theory. Using survey data from telecommunications, banking, ICT, and logistics firms, the analysis explores three hypotheses: that (H1) knowledge acquisition intensity is positively associated with productivity; (H2) the effects differ across acquisition sources—regulatory directives, customer feedback, competitor monitoring, and experiential learning; and (H3) firm characteristics such as size and tenure moderate this relationship. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Spearman’s correlations, and multiple-regression and moderation models, reveal statistically significant associations between acquisition intensity and higher productivity across six performance indicators (p < .001). Regression results further indicate that regulatory and experiential sources exert the strongest influence, while moderation analysis confirms that larger and older firms experience amplified productivity benefits. The study acknowledges limitations related to cross-sectional design, recall bias, and common method variance, mitigated through procedural and statistical controls. Overall, the findings extend the knowledge-based view by demonstrating that in a regulatory-intensive African context, compliance-driven knowledge acquisition is strongly associated with organizational productivity, conditioned by firm capacity and maturity. Implications are drawn for managers and policymakers on diversifying knowledge sources and transforming regulatory learning into innovation and performance outcomes..