ACTIVATING CROSS-BOUNDARY KNOWLEDGE: THE ROLE OF SIMMELIAN TIES IN THE GENERATION OF INNOVATIONS

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Tortoriello, Marco; Krackhardt, David
• 署名单位: Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon University
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0001-4273
• DOI: 10.5465/AMJ.2010.48037420
• 发表日期: 2010
• 页码: 167-181
• 关键词: ABSORPTIVE-CAPACITY; Structural holes; social networks; performance; TRANSFORMATION; INFORMATION

摘要

In this article, we study the conditions under which having ties that span organizational boundaries (bridging ties) are conducive to the generation of innovations. Whereas previous research has shown that bridging ties have a positive impact on innovative performance, our analysis of 276 R&D scientists and engineers reveals that there are no advantages associated with bridging per se. In contrast, our findings suggest that the advantages traditionally associated with bridging ties are contingent upon the nature of the ties forming the bridge-specifically, whether these bridging ties are Simmelian.