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Being a Catalyst of Innovation: The Role of Knowledge Diversity and Network Closure

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  • Marco Tortoriello

    (IESE Business School, University of Navarra, 28023 Madrid, Spain)

  • Bill McEvily

    (Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E6, Canada)

  • David Krackhardt

    (Heinz College, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213)

Abstract

Whereas recent research on organizational innovation suggests that there is an ecology of roles supporting the innovation process, the majority of network research has concentrated on the role of inventors. In this paper, we contribute to research on organizational innovation by studying the social structural conditions conducive to individuals supporting, facilitating, and promoting the innovativeness of their colleagues—a role we refer to as catalysts of innovation . We consider an individual’s network position and the type of knowledge available to her through her network as key enabling conditions. We argue that the unique configuration of having access to diverse knowledge through a closed network enables individuals to act as innovation catalysts. Based on a study of 276 researchers in the research and development division of a large multinational high-tech company, we find strong support for our prediction and demonstrate that catalysts make important contributions to the innovative outputs of other researchers in terms of their colleagues’ patent applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Tortoriello & Bill McEvily & David Krackhardt, 2015. "Being a Catalyst of Innovation: The Role of Knowledge Diversity and Network Closure," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(2), pages 423-438, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:26:y:2015:i:2:p:423-438
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2014.0942
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Yuan Ma & Qiang Zhang & Qiyue Yin, 2019. "Influence of Environmental Management on Green Process Innovation: Comparison of Multiple Mediating Effects Based on Routine Replication," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Kuk, George & Schaarschmidt, Mario & Homscheid, Dirk, 2024. "All of the same breed? A networking perspective of private-collective innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    4. Harry Jeong & Seunggu Lee & Kwangsoo Shin, 2021. "Development of Food Packaging through TRIZ and the Possibility of Open Innovation," JOItmC, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-16, October.
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    7. Gu, Wentao & Yuan, Wenyu, 2024. "Research on the influence of chain shareholder network on enterprise green innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).

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