Toward a more Efficient Knowledge Network in Innovation Ecosystems: A Simulated Study on Knowledge Management

Houxing Tang,Jiuling Xiao,Lei Xiao,Zhenzhong Ma

doi:10.3390/su12166328

Abstract

Knowledge management has become increasingly important in the era of knowledge economy. This study explores what is an optimal knowledge network for more efficient knowledge diffusion among strategic partners in order to provide insights on sustainable enterprises and a more knowledge-efficient innovation ecosystem. Based on simulated analyses of the efficiency of knowledge network models, including regular network, random network, and small world network, this study shows that a random knowledge network is more efficient for knowledge diffusion when a mixture knowledge trade rule is used. This study thus helps identify which knowledge networks facilitate knowledge exchange among collaborative partners for sustainable knowledge management. Management practitioners and policymakers can use the findings to design more appropriate knowledge exchange networks to improve the efficiency of knowledge diffusion in an innovation ecosystem.

Highlights

Knowledge and knowledge management have become a new driving force of economic development in the era of knowledge economy [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
In this study we searched for an optimal knowledge network for knowledge diffusion in networked firms among strategic partners
Our study shows that the efficiency of knowledge diffusion increases along with the increase in the degree of randomness if both the barter trade rule and the gift trade rule are used

Summary

Introduction

Knowledge and knowledge management have become a new driving force of economic development in the era of knowledge economy [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. It has been widely accepted that knowledge networks in an ecosystem affect the diffusion of new ideas and practices and further innovation performance [13,19,20,21]. Cowan and Jonard [20] and other scholars used the “barter trade” rule to explore the impact of knowledge networks on knowledge diffusion efficiency. They compared the knowledge diffusion efficiency of different knowledge networks and claimed that a small world network is the optimal structure for knowledge diffusion, which has been widely accepted in many studies on knowledge management and innovation research [11,20,23,24,25]

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Results

Conclusion