Social network evolution in creative process of CNPD teams: a case study of Chinese companies

Wei Zhang (), Yongli Li (), Wenyao Zhang () and Shengli Dai ()
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Wei Zhang: Central China Normal University
Yongli Li: Northeastern University
Wenyao Zhang: Harbin Institute of Technology
Shengli Dai: Central China Normal University

Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, 2019, vol. 53, issue 1, No 8, 143-181

Abstract: Abstract The existing theories about how social networks affect creativity mostly focus on a certain stage in the organizational life of an idea, for instance, ideas generation, commercialization of ideas, and a previous assumption refers that multiple attributes of social networks of creative team are static. It is not possible to resolve such a realistic and important issue that how dynamic evolution of social networks affects the creative process at the fuzzy front-end of complex new product development (CNPD) of research and development (R&D) teams. This paper studies six R&D teams of CNPD from three new high-tech enterprises, in terms of network transaction content-heterogeneity/homogeneity of task knowledge, network relationship strength—weak tie/strong tie, and network structure—core–periphery as three major dimensions of social networks. It analyzes their dynamic evolution in the creative process and its influence on three sub-processes named idea generation, idea screening, and idea development. We find that in R&D teams network transaction content-heterogeneity of task knowledge, weak-tie network relationship, and discrete network structure are conducive to idea generation; homogeneity of task knowledge, strong-tie network relationship, and centralized network structure are good for idea screening; homogeneity of task knowledge in the network is maintained while new knowledge is obtained actively from the outside; internal network relationship is dominated by strong tie while weak tie is connected with the outside; both diffused and balanced network structures are beneficial to idea development.

Keywords: Social network; Knowledge heterogeneity; Ties; Core–periphery; Creative process; Complex new product development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s11135-018-0740-7

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