Re-Inventing the Wheel: Knowledge Integration in Fast-changing Environments

Stefano Brusoni () and Lorenzo Cassi

No 209, KITeS Working Papers from KITeS, Centre for Knowledge, Internationalization and Technology Studies, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to look at knowledge integration as an organizational capability which leaves traces in intra-organizational networks. To do so, this paper develops a methodology to identify and capture with quantitative data the key characteristics of those organizations that integrate knowledge to solve complex problems. We rely on a two year long project which has gathered extensive qualitative evidence on the micro-level processes which led to the introduction of a radical process innovation in tire manufacturing, i.e. a robotized, modular production process. On this strength, we compare the strategies of two of the world’s leading firms (Michelin and Pirelli) engaged in the effort of developing this breakthrough technology in the 1990s. We look at the evolving structure of their intraorganizational co-inventors’ networks in order to explain the different outcomes of their strategies.

Keywords: knowledge integration; social network analysis; tire industry. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L23 L6 O32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: pages 29
Date: 2007-12, Revised 2007-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse and nep-ppm
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