Network Structure and Knowledge Transfer: The Effects of Cohesion and Range

Item

Title

Network Structure and Knowledge Transfer: The Effects of Cohesion and Range

Abstract/Description

This research considers how different features of informal networks affect knowledge transfer. As a complement to previous research that has emphasized the dyadic tie strength component of informal networks, we focus on how network structure influences the knowledge transfer process. We propose that social cohesion around a relationship affects the willingness and motivation of individuals to invest time, energy, and effort in sharing knowledge with others. We further argue that the network range, ties to different knowledge pools, increases a person's ability to convey complex ideas to heterogeneous audiences. We also examine explanations for knowledge transfer based on absorptive capacity, which emphasizes the role of common knowledge, and relational embeddedness, which stresses the importance of tie strength. We investigate the network effect on knowledge transfer using data from a contract R&D firm. The results indicate that both social cohesion and network range ease knowledge transfer, over and above the effect for the strength of the tie between two people. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on effective knowledge transfer, social capital, and information diffusion.

Author/creator

Reagans, Ray

McEvily, Bill

Date

2003

In publication

Administrative Science Quarterly

Volume

48

Issue

2

Pages

240-267

Language

en

ISSN

0001-8392

DOI

10.2307/3556658

URL

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2307/3556658

Item sets

OB Citations - Conceptualizing, Measuring, and Evaluating Improvement Networks

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