Complexity, networks and knowledge flow
By: Olav Sorenson, Jan W. Rivkin, Lee Fleming
Edition: Rev.
Series: Working paper / Division of Research, Harvard Business School -- 04-027; Working paper (Harvard Business School. Division of Research) -- 04-027
Publisher: Division of Research, Harvard Business School
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 41
Description: Because knowledge plays an important role in the creation of wealth, economic actors may attempt to skew the flow of knowledge in their favor. We ask, when will an actor socially close to the source of some knowledge have the greatest advantage over distant actors in receiving and building on the knowledge? Marrying a social network perspective with a view of knowledge transfrer as a search process we argue that the value of social proximity to the knowledge source depends crucially on the nature of the knowledge at hand. Simple knowledge diffuses equally to close and distant actors because distant recipients with poor connections to the source of the knowledge can compensate for their limited access by means of unaided local search. Complex knowledge resists diffusion even within the social circles in which it originated.
Notes: "Rev. 11/05."

"Current version: November 29, 2005"--Added t.p.

Includes bibliographical references.