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Dilemma in Individual Collaboration for Invention: Should We be Similar or Diverse in Knowledge?

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  • Huo, Dong
  • Motohashi, Kazuyuki

Abstract

This study integrates theories relevant to collaborative knowledge creation and provides evidence to discover effects of knowledge diversity on collaborative knowledge creation. The analysis uses a sample comprising 38,500 granted U.S. utility patents involving two collaborating inventors, from application year 1991 to 2005. Interindividual knowledge diversity is thought to affect collaborative knowledge creation in three dimensions: increasing probability of excellent ideas, increasing probability of disagreements, and lowering knowledge assimilation. Furthermore, these impacts are conditional on two proposed moderators: technology scope and affiliation scope. Empirical evidence supports the positive effect of knowledge diversity weakening as the scope of technology broadens. The effect also differs depending upon whether the collaboration occurs between organizations, within one organization, or outside any organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Huo, Dong & Motohashi, Kazuyuki, 2014. "Dilemma in Individual Collaboration for Invention: Should We be Similar or Diverse in Knowledge?," MPRA Paper 56185, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:56185
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    invention; collaboration; knowledge diversity; knowledge quality; technology scope; affiliation scope;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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