Innovative technologies absorption process: The case of the sts timing company operating on the mass sports events market

Abstract

Innovative technologies absorption from the surroundings is a highly structured process, very difficult to implement and requiring full commitment at all stages. Its effectiveness is conditioned by having specialized intra-organizational absorptive capacities. This theoretical and empirical article attempts to determine, based on the subject literature, the entire structure of technology absorption process and verify its comprehensive implementation in business practice, specifically based on the availability of data obtained from the STS Timing company. The company is a key player on the Polish market of mass sports events and specialises in measuring time in sporting competitions. The main empirical goal of the article is to identify the course of the process of absorbing innovative technology and assess its effectiveness in the STS Timing company. The author uses the case analysis method and proves that there are companies on the sporting events market that are able to perform a compiled process of absorbing technological innovation. Methodically and perfectly cope with emerging problems based on the experience and broad interdisciplinary knowledge possessed. As indicated by the results of the study, STS Timing can be considered as an exemplary company. When equipping itself with innovative technologies, the company professionally and consistently carried out in detail separate and logically related stages of the absorption process, forming a coherent and integrated whole. In the stage of technology acquisition, it identified and assessed its technological needs, assessed various technology sources and donors, selected the form of transfer, selected sources of financing, established relationships with selected technology donors, negotiated with them and finally determined the terms of the transfer. In the stage of assimilation of acquired technologies, STS Timing not only successfully acquired the knowledge necessary for their exploitation, but also adapted them to their specific needs arising from a wide range of measurement services provided and improved them, so that it stayed independent of their manufacturers and effectively built lasting technological advantage over competitors. And finally, in the stage of final targeted use of the technologies purchased and improved, STS Timing ensured their efficient and effective operation focused on generating the desired effects. Thus, it successfully completed the absorption processes of innovative technologies.