On the role and interrelationship of spatial, social and cognitive proximity: personal knowledge relationships of R&D workers in the Cambridge Information Technology Cluster
On the role and interrelationship of spatial, social and cognitive proximity: personal knowledge relationships of R&D workers in the Cambridge Information Technology Cluster
Although the importance of proximity has been highlighted, it remains an open question which types and levels of proximity are critical for knowledge networks. This paper addresses this issue by examining the role of spatial, social and cognitive proximity of personal knowledge relationships in the Cambridge information technology cluster. It is shown that distinguishing between sub-dimensions of cognitive proximity can clarify the 'proximity paradox'. Moreover, the results highlight that local relationships enable access to cognitively more diverse knowledge than non-local ones. Finally, the paper provides empirical evidence of a compensation mechanism: distance in one dimension is compensated by proximity in at least one other dimension. However, similarity in terms of technical language cannot be easily substituted.
1169-1182
Huber, Franz
2ddb1e89-a096-434b-88e0-10da081b5ef6
2012
Huber, Franz
2ddb1e89-a096-434b-88e0-10da081b5ef6
Huber, Franz
(2012)
On the role and interrelationship of spatial, social and cognitive proximity: personal knowledge relationships of R&D workers in the Cambridge Information Technology Cluster.
Regional Studies, 46 (9), .
(doi:10.1080/00343404.2011.569539).
Abstract
Although the importance of proximity has been highlighted, it remains an open question which types and levels of proximity are critical for knowledge networks. This paper addresses this issue by examining the role of spatial, social and cognitive proximity of personal knowledge relationships in the Cambridge information technology cluster. It is shown that distinguishing between sub-dimensions of cognitive proximity can clarify the 'proximity paradox'. Moreover, the results highlight that local relationships enable access to cognitively more diverse knowledge than non-local ones. Finally, the paper provides empirical evidence of a compensation mechanism: distance in one dimension is compensated by proximity in at least one other dimension. However, similarity in terms of technical language cannot be easily substituted.
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e-pub ahead of print date: 27 June 2011
Published date: 2012
Organisations:
Strategy, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
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Local EPrints ID: 201619
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/201619
ISSN: 0034-3404
PURE UUID: b2351f84-43f6-4270-95f7-6d61f337a752
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Date deposited: 31 Oct 2011 16:27
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:22
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