Knowledge-sourcing of R&D workers in different job positions: contextualising external personal knowledge networks
Knowledge-sourcing of R&D workers in different job positions: contextualising external personal knowledge networks
This paper systematically examines the role of external personal knowledge networks vis-à-vis alternative sources of work-related knowledge. Specific hypotheses on whether the importance of external personal networks vary for job positions, knowledge functions and sources of competitiveness are examined. The study is based on a survey and interviews with 105 R&D workers in 46 Information Technology (IT) firms in the Greater Cambridge Region (UK).
The results show that alternative sources of knowledge are considerably more important than external personal networks. Specifically, the results confirm the hypothesis that the lower the job position, the less important are external personal networks. The most frequent type of knowledge that is uniquely available through personal networks concerns business knowledge of senior managers rather than technological knowledge. Furthermore, the analysis supports the view that external personal networks are most important for exploratory keeping up-to-date than for problem solving. Finally, the paper shows that external personal networks are more important for firms whose competitiveness is primarily driven by being cutting-edge in technology.
Overall, the results suggest that academic theorising and R&D management/policy on external personal networks needs to be more context-sensitive and would benefit from differentiating between job positions, knowledge functions and types of firm competitiveness.
knowledge sourcing, personal networks, knowledge networks, interorganizational networks, clusters, r&d
167-179
Huber, Franz
2ddb1e89-a096-434b-88e0-10da081b5ef6
2013
Huber, Franz
2ddb1e89-a096-434b-88e0-10da081b5ef6
Huber, Franz
(2013)
Knowledge-sourcing of R&D workers in different job positions: contextualising external personal knowledge networks.
Research Policy, 42 (1), .
(doi:10.1016/j.respol.2012.05.010).
Abstract
This paper systematically examines the role of external personal knowledge networks vis-à-vis alternative sources of work-related knowledge. Specific hypotheses on whether the importance of external personal networks vary for job positions, knowledge functions and sources of competitiveness are examined. The study is based on a survey and interviews with 105 R&D workers in 46 Information Technology (IT) firms in the Greater Cambridge Region (UK).
The results show that alternative sources of knowledge are considerably more important than external personal networks. Specifically, the results confirm the hypothesis that the lower the job position, the less important are external personal networks. The most frequent type of knowledge that is uniquely available through personal networks concerns business knowledge of senior managers rather than technological knowledge. Furthermore, the analysis supports the view that external personal networks are most important for exploratory keeping up-to-date than for problem solving. Finally, the paper shows that external personal networks are more important for firms whose competitiveness is primarily driven by being cutting-edge in technology.
Overall, the results suggest that academic theorising and R&D management/policy on external personal networks needs to be more context-sensitive and would benefit from differentiating between job positions, knowledge functions and types of firm competitiveness.
Text
Huber_forthcoming_Knowledge-sourcing_of_R&D_workers_in_different_job_positions.pdf
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Published date: 2013
Keywords:
knowledge sourcing, personal networks, knowledge networks, interorganizational networks, clusters, r&d
Organisations:
Strategy, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 338896
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/338896
ISSN: 0048-7333
PURE UUID: 94bb4927-c0d2-4c3c-a44d-05af01241005
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Date deposited: 17 May 2012 15:41
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 11:06
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