Network Structures in Corporate Research and Development: A Multilevel Approach

应用多层次的视角，该项目调查了组织和创新研究领域的两个核心问题。专注于组织内的研究和发展（RD）的项目首先检查网络内生过程和组织特征决定了员工之间和RD单位之间的复杂的协作结构。特别注意的是在不同组织层次的网络之间出现的相互依存关系。因此，考虑三种不同类型的网络：（1）员工之间的非正式合作关系（微观层面），（2）连接研发单位的正式结构（宏观层面），以及（3）两个层面的联系（中间层）由可能多个研发单位的员工成员组成。第二，该项目旨在阐明合作网络对个体员工及其研发单位基于创新的绩效的影响。由于网络结构和基于性能的变量是在多个分析层次上进行评估的，因此我们能够分析微观和宏观层次之间的因果关系。本研究设计为实证研究。为了测试研究问题，打算在两个组织中收集数据。数据将通过应用关系数据的随机模型以及专为多层次统计分析设计的基于回归的技术进行分析。通过研究这两个研究问题，该项目从多层次的角度扩展了我们对组织创新过程的认识，从而为理论发展做出了重大贡献。在组织理论方面，该项目旨在填补我们对非正式组织结构的决定因素和后果的知识中的现有空白，特别是在多层次相互依存关系方面。迄今为止，几乎没有任何研究已经解决了在不同的组织层次的合作结构和绩效的相互作用。从管理的角度来看，我们的研究问题的检查是相关的，因为产生创新确保许多组织的生存和成功，因此可以被视为一个关键的竞争优势。企业可以利用关于组织内合作的具体形式的好处的知识来提高其基于创新的绩效。

Applying a multilevel perspective the project investigates two central questions in the areas of organization and innovation research. Focusing on intra-organizational research and development (RD) the project first examines which network-endogenous processes and organizational characteristics determine the complex collaborative structures between employees and between RD-units. Specific attention is paid to interdependencies emerging between networks at different organizational levels. Therefore, three different kinds of networks are considered: (1) informal collaborative relationships between employees (micro level), (2) formal structures connecting RD units (macro level), and (3) ties relating the two levels (meso level) consisting of the memberships of employees in possibly multiple RD units.Second, the project seeks to shed light on the consequences of collaborative networks for innovation-based performance of the individual employees and their RD-units. Because network structures and performance-based variables are assessed at multiple levels of analysis, we are able to analyze the causal relationships between the micro and macro levels. The project is designed as confirmatory-empirical study. To test the research questions it is intended to gather data in two organizations. Data will be analyzed by applying stochastic models for relational data as well as regression-based techniques particularly designed for multilevel statistical analyses.By examining the two research questions the project enables a fundamental extension of our knowledge of organizational innovation processes by a multilevel perspective thereby contributing substantially to theory development. With respect to organization theory, the project seeks to fill existing gaps in our knowledge on the determinants and consequences of informal organizational structures, especially with respect to multilevel interdependencies. To date, hardly any studies have addressed the interplay of collaborative structures and performance at different organizational levels. From a managerial perspective the examination of our research questions is relevant because generating innovations secures the survival and success of many organizations and thus can be seen as a key competitive advantage. Knowledge about the benefits of specific forms of intra-organizational collaboration can be utilized by firms to enhance their innovation-based performance.