This paper aims to develop the concept of team absorptive capacity as collective intelligence based on learning domains.
This study took a novel approach, using the learning domains as a microfoundation, to determine how absorptive capacity manifests in teams. This approach emerged from the critical analysis of published research on collective intelligence, absorptive capacity and learning domains.
The study results show that collective intelligence results from the absorptive capacity of teams based on the domains of cognition, emotion and action. Individuals have their absorptive capacity and, through learning and teaching, develop their knowledge as a team, evolving collective intelligence.
This study contributes to academics by offering a transfer from individual to team absorptive capacity. This transfer revealed another role of collective intelligence: the team outcomes of absorptive capacity. The potential impact of this finding is intriguing and warrants further empirical studies.
The discussion about the team absorptive capacity began with an analysis of the articles by Cohen and Levinthal (1990) on organizational absorptive capacity. The gap found is in the lack of definition of the team absorptive capacity, which was sought to find an answer to in this study.
