Mapping Innovation Networks

1998 ◽  
Vol 02 (02) ◽  
pp. 223-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Conway ◽  
Fred Steward
Keyword(s):  
Small Firm ◽  
Boundary Spanning ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Innovation Networks ◽  
Network Configuration ◽  
Systematic Method ◽  
Firm Innovation ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
Discrete Innovation ◽  
Network Mapping

This paper outlines a detailed and systematic method for revealing and mapping out the network mobilised in the development of a discrete innovation. This is termed a focal action-set. Important to the utility of this approach has been the development of a set of conventions for the graphical expression of the network and its components: actors, links and flows. It is argued that the network graphic provides a powerful, though under-utilised, tool for the representation of relational data. It may be employed, for example, to reveal variations in network configuration and to highlight key networking or boundary-spanning actors. The network mapping approach is illustrated through three cases of small firm innovation drawn from a wider investigation of award-winning technological innovations. A comparison between the network maps show a variation in the key boundary-spanning interactions, which is related to the organisational background of the entrepreneurial actor.

scholarly journals Innovative search, capability reconfiguration and firm innovation performance in the process of technological leapfrogging

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Hu ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Tao Feng ◽  
Yuxin Duan
Keyword(s):  
Local Search ◽  
Boundary Spanning ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Firm Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Search ◽  
Enterprise Innovation ◽  
Technological Leapfrogging ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Search Capability

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate three issues: how does an innovative search (local search and boundary-spanning search) impact firm innovation performance of latecomers; how does capability reconfiguration (capability evolution and capability substitution) mediates the relationship between innovative search and firm innovation performance; and how does the technological leapfrogging process (initial stage, following stage, synchronization stage and leading stage) moderate the relationship between capability reconfiguration and firm innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach A “resource-capability-performance” theoretical framework was developed to explore the relationships between local/boundary-spanning search, capability reconfiguration and firm innovation performance. The data were collected by sending out surveys to managers and employees in various industries in mainland China. These hypotheses were tested using structural equation models and hierarchical regressions. Findings The results showed that: innovative search has a direct causal relationship to capability reconfiguration; local search and boundary-spanning search are conducive to improve the innovation performance of latecomers; the impact of local search and boundary-spanning search on innovation performance is realized through the completion of mediating role of capability reconfiguration; there are differences in the path of local search and boundary-spanning search affecting the capability reconfiguration of enterprise innovation performance; and the relationship between innovative search, capability reconfiguration and enterprise innovation performance evolves with the enterprise in different stages of technological leapfrogging. Originality/value This study explores the relationship and the path of innovative search to firm innovation performance and analyzes the path difference between local search and boundary-spinning search, which enriches the research of organizational search and enterprise innovation. This paper reveals the whole path of innovative search affecting innovation performance, discusses the important role of capability reconfiguration and makes incremental contributions to dynamic capability theory. It studies the evolution of innovative search on innovation performance under the background of technological leapfrogging, which provides a new perspective for the study of organizational search and capability-based theory.

The politics of firm networks: How large firm power limits small firm innovation

Geoforum ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Christopherson ◽  
Jennifer Clark
Keyword(s):  
Small Firm ◽  
Large Firm ◽  
Firm Innovation ◽  
Firm Power ◽  
Power Limits ◽  
Firm Networks

The best spatial scale of firm innovation networks: Evidence from Shanghai high‐tech firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 696-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianzhong Cao ◽  
Gang Zeng ◽  
Tangwei Teng ◽  
Yuefang Si
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scale ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Innovation Networks ◽  
Firm Innovation

Innovation Through Boundary Spanning

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 90-110
Author(s):  
Shu Han ◽  
Avimanyu Datta ◽  
K. D. Joshi ◽  
Lei Chi
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Firm Growth ◽  
Boundary Spanning ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Firm Innovation ◽  
Sustained Competitive Advantage ◽  
Geographical Regions

Innovation is considered the engine for firm growth. Especially innovations, through recombining seemingly unrelated knowledge streams, can have groundbreaking impact and lead to sustained competitive advantage. To generate such innovation, firms often need to go beyond their existing technological or geographical boundaries to identify and integrate novel knowledge elements. This article refers to firms' knowledge activities of drawing upon distant knowledge (i.e., knowledge from dissimilar technological domains or distant geographical regions) to create novel technological solutions, as innovation through boundary spanning. Aiming to investigate the roles of information technology (IT) in facilitating innovation through boundary spanning, we collected data from the pharmaceutical industry over a six-year period to test the research model. The data analysis results indicate that IT supports boundary-spanning activities in firm innovation and different IT-enabled knowledge capabilities affect boundary-spanning innovation differently.

Building and Managing Great Teams: An Evidence-Based Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gergana Todorova
Keyword(s):  
Team Performance ◽  
Boundary Spanning ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Innovation Networks ◽  
Entrepreneurial Teams ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Team Motivation ◽  
New Business ◽  
Shared Ownership ◽  
Performance Literature

Efforts to initiate new startups rely heavily on teams and networks. Research demonstrates that 95 percent of the individuals trying to start a business involved others in helping build the new business. This article provides an overview of the team performance literature that can be used when making managerial decisions about building and managing successful entrepreneurial teams. I integrate and review prior research in three areas that have been disconnected previously: 1) innovation networks and teams; 2) team boundary spanning and internal processes; and 3) shared ownership and team motivation. The integration and review in this article provide new insights towards an evidence-based approach on managing entrepreneurial teams,

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document