## 3 Research Framework  
### Research Methodology  
The research was conducted to identify the knowledge absorption capacity level enabling an upgrade to a higher maturity level. The organizational maturity model that was used as the basis for the research questions and goals formulation was composed of five levels (Ignoring, Defining, Adapting, Managing, and Integrated, based on the approach presented in ISO standards) and referred to three areas: management, material flow, and information flow (Table 1). Material (physical) and information flow, together with financial flow are basic components of business, thus their analysis and assessment seems to be important for management in all its perspectives and dimensions. They are widely used in performance models, i.e., GSCF (Global Supply Chain Forum), SASC (Strategic Audit Supply Chain), WCL (World Class Logistics), ALSOG (Association Francoise pour Logistique), AFNOR (Association Francoise de Normalisation), SCM/SME (Supply Chain Management/Small and Medium Enterprise), SCOR (Supply Chain Operation Reference-Model), APICS (American Production and Inventory Control Society), ECR (Efficient Customer Response), EFQM (Excellence model by European Foundation for Quality Management) [39], hence the flow logic is widely accepted. This is why the authors decided to consider material and information flow in their maturity model. Nevertheless, the financial flow was replaced with a management aspect, as logistics solutions are generally not dedicated for financial flow, whereas in many cases they are of a wider range than physical or information flows striving for integration and synergy. Moreover, management methods cover the important aspects of business strategic management, human resources management, and others; integrating them with material and information flows into corporate management. For these cases, the management aspect was selected as one of the maturity model dimensions. The model refers to the organization and the solutions are within Logistics 4.0. The assessment of maturity level is based on analysis of Logistics 4.0 dimensions. The aspects to be assessed include the need and the level of integration of internal processes, and, when applicable, the supply chain, and number and scope of advanced solutions improving material and information flows. In the research, the authors focused not on a particular level but on transitions between maturity levels of Logistics 4.0. The absorption capacity was described in four levels (a detailed description of the levels is provided in Section 2.3.). Characterizing the knowledge absorption capacity in an \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Aspect** & **Ignoring** & **Defining** & **Adopting** & **Managing** & **Integrated** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{**Management**} & not aware of the need for integration & see the need for integration but do not know how to manage it & integration is initiated & integration at most levels & full integration resulting in synergy \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{**Material Flow**} & do not know about about about advanced solutions improving material flows & know about advanced solutions improving material flows are implemented & many advanced solutions improving material flows are implemented & all possible advanced solutions improving material flows are are implemented \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{**Information flow**} & do not know about about advanced solutions improving information flows but do not use them & know about advanced solutions implementing implemented & many advanced solutions solutions improving information flows are flows are implemented & all possible advanced solutions improving information flows are flows are implemented \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Logistics 4.0 maturity model (based on [29]). organization by defining its levels is synonymous with the fact that reaching a given level requires prior achievement of all lower levels.