Network structure and knowledge transfer: The effects of cohesion and range
Network structure and knowledge transfer: The effects of cohesion and range
复制标题
DOI：
10.2307/3556658
复制
发表时间：
2003-06-01
影响因子：
10.4
通讯作者：
McEvily, B
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Reagans, R;McEvily, B
这项研究考虑了非正式网络的不同特征如何影响知识转移。作为对先前强调非正式网络的二元关系强度组成部分的研究的补充，我们重点关注网络结构如何影响知识转移过程。我们认为，围绕关系的社会凝聚力会影响个人投入时间、精力和努力与他人分享知识的意愿和动机。我们进一步认为，与不同知识库联系在一起的网络范围提高了一个人向异质受众传达复杂想法的能力。我们还研究了基于吸收能力的知识转移解释，它强调共同知识的作用，以及关系嵌入性，它强调联系强度的重要性。我们使用合同研发公司的数据研究了知识转移的网络效应。结果表明，社会凝聚力和网络范围都有助于知识转移，其效果超出了两个人之间联系强度的影响。我们讨论了这些发现对有效知识转移、社会资本和信息传播研究的影响。
This research considers how different features of informal networks affect knowledge transfer. As a complement to previous research that has emphasized the dyadic tie strength component of informal networks, we focus on how network structure influences the knowledge transfer process. We propose that social cohesion around a relationship affects the willingness and motivation of individuals to invest time, energy, and effort in sharing knowledge with others. We further argue that the network range, ties to different knowledge pools, increases a person's ability to convey complex ideas to heterogeneous audiences. We also examine explanations for knowledge transfer based on absorptive capacity, which emphasizes the role of common knowledge, and relational embeddedness, which stresses the importance of tie strength. We investigate the network effect on knowledge transfer using data from a contract R&D firm. The results indicate that both social cohesion and network range ease knowledge transfer, over and above the effect for the strength of the tie between two people. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on effective knowledge transfer, social capital, and information diffusion.