Social Capital and Knowledge Creation: Diminishing Returns of the Number and Strength of Exchange Relationships

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between social capital and knowledge creation at the individual level. Our limited theory of knowledge creation encompasses the number and strength of the relationships that a person maintains. Hypothesis tests in a sample of biomedical research scientists strongly supported predictions. As relationships increased in number, returns to knowledge creation diminished. Increased interactions with a single other showed a similar effect. The strength of interpersonal relations had a higher marginal effect on knowledge creation than the number of relations.

A Network-based view of regional growth

“…Keller (2002) where complementarities between knowledge sources result in each additional connection having greater importance. However, it is more likely that the redundancy of knowledge will actually lead to diminishing returns for individual organisations (γ < 1) (McFadyen and Cannella, 2004;Goerzen and Beamish, 2005). However, as a form of regional system there may also be increasing returns from connections (υ > 1), where the region as a whole performs more strongly as knowledge circulates at a faster rate, allowing the faster diffusion of innovation (Breschi and Lissoni, 2001).…”

“…network capital building, is a mechanism for ensuring that value is captured rather than lost through interorganisational networks (Lichtenthaler, 2005;Teece, 1998). Similarly, the superiority of knowledge In general, the search for superior knowledge means there is an increasing focus on the dynamic nature of networks and their changeability, heightening the importance of indirect ties and the need for the on-going reconfiguration of networks (Gargiulo and Benassi 2000;McFadyen and Cannella 2004;Levine 2005;Bathelt and Turi, 2011). As Gulati (1999) argues, networks are dynamic and change over time, which suggests that networks require diversity in the types of investments made.…”

Entrepreneurial Cognition

“…In contrast, scholars have focused less on the ways new knowledge is generated (McFadyen and Cannella 2004). One significant exception is work on how an individual's interpersonal relationships can contribute to knowledge creation (e.g., McFadyen and Cannella 2004;. Despite these recent studies, however, we know little about how members of an organization create new knowledge that is actionable based on their own experiences.…”

“…While there has been increased research on knowledge at the level of the organization, this stream of work has mainly concentrated on transfer and acquisition of knowledge from sources outside the firm (Ahuja 2000;Hansen 1999). In contrast, scholars have focused less on the ways new knowledge is generated (McFadyen and Cannella 2004). One significant exception is work on how an individual's interpersonal relationships can contribute to knowledge creation (e.g., McFadyen and Cannella 2004;.…”

The influence of co-authorship on article impact in OR/MS/OM and the exchange of knowledge with Finance in the twenty-first century

“…Thus, various citation exchange measures employed here are designed to capture knowledge dissemination and creation (McFadyen and Cannella 2004).…”