Networks for Innovation – But What Networks and What Innovation?

Abstract

Innovation is a social and interactive process in which collaboration and exchange of knowledge and information play crucial roles. Two conflicting hypotheses have been raised in previous research: Burt's structural hole hypothesis and the density hypothesis. In brief, the former of these hypotheses builds upon arguments for open network structures in the acquisition of innovation; the latter one builds upon arguments for closed network structures for innovation. To shed some light on this state of confusion, this paper tests these two conflicting hypotheses on two separate measures of innovation in a service industry setting. One innovation measure is more incremental in nature and regards the implementation of employees' ideas. The other innovation measure is more radical in nature and regards new services. Findings suggest that social network measures are, indeed, powerful predictors of innovation and, further, that the impact of these are likely to be radically different depending upon the type and measure of innovation. Consequently, this paper recommends caution when studying the impact of social network measures upon innovation, and that more fine-grained measurements in particular are needed rather than focusing upon inter-relationships of an overly general and superficial nature.

Good Nordic management practices

“…In addition, two studies have combined several methods for data collection, where the first study was based on surveys combined with document reviews (Hemphälä & Magnusson 2012), and the second study was based on interviews, document reviews and workshops. In all three evaluation studies data was collected by interviews (Björk & Magnusson 2009;Din et al 2013;Grundén 2009), except from one study which also included document reviews (Björk & Magnusson 2009).…”

Agentes em rede e inovações em pequenas empresas tradicionais: Direito, tradição e carisma de empreender

“…Buscando superar as limitações próprias, as empresas esforçam-se para integrar em redes de inovação (Corsaro Et Al., 2012;Doh;Kim, 2014;Hemphälä;Magnusson, 2012;Hoffmann;Amal;Mais, 2011;Vaan, 2014;Vitoreli;Gobbo Junior, 2013;Zheng;Li;Wu, 2013). Como consequência, as redes tornaram-se um foco central na literatura que trata das estratégias de inovação.…”

“…Como consequência, as redes tornaram-se um foco central na literatura que trata das estratégias de inovação. Tem sido sugerido, recentemente, que as redes são uma importante fonte de vantagem competitiva para as empresas (Corsaro Et Al., 2012;Hemphälä;Magnusson, 2012;Zheng;Li;Wu, 2013).…”

Innovation Labs: Leveraging Openness for Radical Innovation?

“…The organisational literature on openness in innovation and invention has, as we survey below, developed through the concepts of open innovation (Chesbrough et al, 2006), open science (David, 1998) and open government (Janssen et al, 2012). It has recently turned its attention to more precise questions around when openness is and is not useful for problem-solving purposes (Felin & Zenger, 2014;Hemphälä & Magnusson, 2012) and which stages of the innovation process should be opened up or kept closed (Laursen & Salter, 2014). But even in light of this expanded vocabulary and range of perspectives, the innovation labs analysed in this paper add several contrasting elements, for instance through issuing open calls for participation in handson, continued innovation processes (as opposed to asking users to address well-defined, relatively simple tasks in a one-off fashion).…”