Value of Strong Ties to Disconnected Others: Examining Knowledge Creation in Biomedicine

Abstract

K nowledge creation requires the combination and exchange of diverse and overlapping knowledge inputs as individuals interact with exchange partners to create new knowledge. In this study, we examine knowledge creation among university research scientists as a function of their professional (ego) networks-those others with whom they collaborate for the purpose of creating new knowledge. We propose that knowledge creation relies, in part, on two attributes of a researcher's professional network structure-average tie strength and ego network density-and we provide insights into how these attributes jointly affect knowledge creation. Our study of over 7,300 scientific publications by 177 research scientists working with more than 14,000 others over an 11-year period provides evidence that the relationship between a research scientist's professional network and knowledge creation depends on both ego network density and average tie strength. Our evidence suggests that both attributes affect knowledge creation. Moreover, average tie strength interacts with density to affect knowledge creation such that researchers who maintain mostly strong ties with research collaborators who themselves comprise a sparse network have the highest levels of new knowledge creation.

Antecedents and outcomes of breadth and depth of absorptive capacity: An empirical study

“…Previous research has also found that weak tie sources transfer and secure codified knowledge efficiently and easily (Hansen, 1999). For example, a knowledge worker that has mostly weak tie sources with direct exchange partners would have few obligations to those partners (McFadyen, Semadeni, & Cannella, 2009). Furthermore, Perry-Smith (2006) finds a positive link between the number of weak tie acquaintances in scientists' networks and creativity.…”

“…Strong tie sources contain much overlapping, but less diverse, knowledge (McFadyen, Semadeni, & Cannella, 2009). Research has established several benefits of strong tie sources relevant to knowledge transfer, acquisition, and creation.…”

The Impact of Cultural Diversity on the Academic Performance: A Study on Turkish Universities

“…Diversity facilitates the integration of different specialties, it contributes to the successful development of a project and shortens the development time of a new product (Cummings, 2004;Eisenhardt & Tabrizi, 1995;Griffin & Hauser, 1992;Pinto, Pinto, & Prescott, 1993). For this reason, academicians with different abilities, skills, experience and knowledge should work together in a cohesive team (McFadyen, Semadeni, & Cannella, 2009). It is believed that the performance will increase through the internal and external sharing of information within the groups with diversities (Monge, Rothman, Eisenberg, Miller, & Kirste, 1985).…”

Paradox of Choice in Alliance Formation: A Network Embeddedness Approach

“…This is because the prior alliance experience and common partners provide the firms with easy access to information about potential partners and give them some control over the partners' opportunistic behaviors through emotional intimacy and reputational referrals (Shipilov, Rowley, & Aharonson, 2006;Uzzi, 1996). Accordingly, several prior studies have found that two firms that have prior partnerships or many common partners are likely to form a new alliance (Gulati, 1995;Uzzi, 1996) and that such alliances tend to produce strong gains (Capaldo, 2007;McFadyen, Semadeni, & Cannella, 2009;Rowley, Behrens, & Krackhardt, 2000).…”