Motivation synergy, knowledge absorptive capacity and NPD project performance in multinational automobiles in Thailand

Employee motivation is crucial in technology intensive firms, particularly when individuals must utilize existing knowledge and apply past experience to enhance new product development (NPD). This research investigates the roles of project team's motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic) on knowledge absorptive capacity (realize and potential) and NPD project performance (short and long run) relations. We use data obtained from returned questionnaire survey from NPD project leaders in multinational automobiles viewed as technology intensive firms in Thailand to analyze the relationships. Hierarchical regression analysis results suggest that intrinsic motivation can accelerate the influence of project team's potential knowledge absorptive capacity on the long-run NPD project success and that extrinsic motivation demonstrates its role in service of intrinsic motivation moderating the influence of intrinsic motivation with NPD project outcomes. In doing so, we contribute to technology management literature suggesting the condition under which performance impact of knowledge absorptive capacity can be enhanced. Implications for these results are discussed.