Sub-theme 14: (SWG) Organizational Network Research: Networks in Social and Technological Innovation

Convenors:
Terry L. Amburgey
University of Toronto, Canada
Jörg Raab
Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Barak S. Aharonson
Tel-Aviv University, Israel

Call for Papers



In a world characterized by globalization and rapid technological and social change the management of creativity and innovation is crucial for both producers and consumers. Recent research highlights the ever increasing importance of social networks in fostering creativity and the generation of technological and social innovation and their conversion of knowledge into commercial products and services.

One important form of social network is the web of inter-organizational relationships that are created in many sectors of economic life. In some cases these whole networks are consciously designed and in other cases they emerge from the collective action of numbers of organizations pursuing individual interests. Examples of important issues in this domain include learning alliances and alliance portfolios; exploration and exploitation of knowledge; and the role of network position on knowledge production among others.

Another important form of social network is the web of inter-personal relations within and across organizations. Examples of important topics in this domain include the role of internal networks and absorptive capacity; crowd sourcing; and the role of inter-personal relationships in inter-organizational networks.

We seek papers that explore how networks relate to creativity and the generation of technology and (social) innovation at the organization, team, or individual level. We are especially interested in contributions that include two or more levels in the analysis.

We especially encourage the submission of papers that fall into four general areas:

  • Insights into the implications of network characteristics and network evolution on the creation of new knowledge and creativity
  • Insights into the implications of network characteristics and network evolution on the diffusion of knowledge and (social) innovations
  • Ways by which networks can be leveraged to foster creativity and (social) innovations
  • The relationship between a network and technology life cycle, the emergence and obsolescence of creativity within an industry or societal sector


In addition, network dynamics and processes are the continuing, primary foci of the EGOS Standing Working Group (SWG) 14. As a consequence, we continue to encourage the submission of papers to this sub-theme 14 that fall into the following four general areas:

  • Studies that shed more light on the underlying processes of causal relationships between structural characteristics and outcomes of inter-organizational relations and networks
  • Studies that examine the actions of individuals and organizations in inter-organizational relations and networks over time
  • Studies that analyze and explain processes and patterns of inter-organizational relations and networks or use them to explain various outcomes
  • Studies that describe and analyze the dynamic evolution and change of networks and their antecedents

 

We welcome contributions that tackle these and related issues from a variety of empirical perspectives. We are also open for innovative conceptual contributions.

 

Terry L. Amburgey is Professor of Strategic Management at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Canada. His research interests include inter-organizational networks, organizational ecology, and quantitative methods. He has published articles in journals such as the 'Academy of Management Journal', 'Administrative Science Quarterly' and 'Strategic Management Journal'.
Jörg Raab is Assistant Professor of Policy and Organization at the Department of Organization Studies, Tilburg, The Netherlands. His research focuses on inter-organizational networks, public organizations, and dark networks as organizational problems. He has published in numerous edited volumes and in journals such as the 'Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory', 'Journal of Management Inquiry' and 'Organization Studies'.
Barak S. Aharonson is Assistant Professor at the Strategic Management Department at Recanati Graduate School of Business, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. His research focuses on inter-organizational networks, organizational ecology and patterns of technological competition and cooperation among firms and their influence on a firm's performance. He has published articles in journals such as 'Research Policy', 'Strategic Organization' and 'Industrial and Corporate Change'.