Creating and sharing knowledge during the unfolding of innovation streams: a social network perspective

Abstract

This research aims to acquire a deeper understanding of how team membership can be orchestrated and how social relationships can evolve to enable both knowledge creation and sharing during the unfolding of innovation streams. Innovation streams are defined as patterns of innovation involving both explorative and exploitative projects. We collected data on an innovation stream in the semiconductor industry and performed both a qualitative analysis using the 'event structure analysis' (ESA) method and a social network analysis. The innovation stream included launches of six different products. This research shows that social structures need to evolve to address the successive development of explorative and exploitative innovations. First, whereas, new relationships with clients are enhancing disruptive innovation at the beginning of the project, it is established relationships that enable exploitative innovations. Next, the renewal of peripheral members enables the generation of new innovations. Similarly, a high network centrality damages the exploration of new technologies and markets.