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Inventor’s ego network change and invention impact: The moderating role of knowledge networks

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  • Lin, Runhui
  • Ji, Ze
  • Xie, Qiqi
  • Li, Wenchang

Abstract

Prior research on social networks and innovation demonstrated that ego networks contribute to innovation. However, how changes in inventors’ ego network composition affect their invention impact remains unclear. From the perspective of knowledge recombination, we investigate the aforementioned relationship and further explore whether it varies with the combinatorial opportunities, and combinatorial potential of new knowledge elements acquired by the focal inventor and his/her knowledge diversity. We validated our hypotheses using patent data from Huawei filed in China from 2004 to 2013. Our findings suggest that an inventor’s ego network change has a positive effect on the inventor’s invention impact. Furthermore, the combinatorial potential of new knowledge elements weakens the aforementioned relationship, whereas the combinatorial opportunities of new knowledge elements and the focal inventor’s knowledge diversity strengthen it.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin, Runhui & Ji, Ze & Xie, Qiqi & Li, Wenchang, 2024. "Inventor’s ego network change and invention impact: The moderating role of knowledge networks," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:185:y:2024:i:c:s0148296324004314
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114927
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