Knowledge-based innovation: Emergence and embedding of new practice areas in management consulting firms

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Anand, N.; Gardner, Heidi K.; Morris, Tim
• 署名单位: Imperial College London; University of London; London Business School; University of Oxford
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0001-4273
• 发表日期: 2007
• 页码: 406-428
• 关键词: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT; PROCESS MODEL; law firms; communities; IDENTITY; COMMODIFICATION; ORGANIZATION

摘要

How do innovative knowledge-based structures emerge and become embedded in organizations? We drew on theories of knowledge-intensive firms, communities of practice, and professional service firms to analyze multiple cases of new practice area creation in management consulting firms. Our qualitative analysis identified four critical generative elements: socialized agency, differentiated expertise, defensible turf, and organizational support. We demonstrate that these elements must be combined in specific pathways for knowledge-based innovative structures to emerge and embed. These pathways emerge from practitioner networks, markets for knowledge-based services, and professional firms' hierarchies. Our findings have important implications for studying innovation in the knowledge-based economy.