网络动态与创新：结构洞与封闭网络之间的结构转型

Network Dynamics and Innovation: Network Structure Transitions Between Structure Holes and Closure Networks

摘要:

现有研究多从静态视角分别考察结构洞与封闭网络对组织创新绩效的独立影响,但此类研究忽视了企业在不同网络结构之间进行动态配置的过程。本文基于注意力基础观,将网络结构转型视为一种注意力再分配过程,探讨企业在结构洞与封闭网络之间的转型程度如何影响其创新绩效。企业可用于信息处理与决策的认知资源有限,无法同时关注网络中的全部信息。然而,企业需要在不同网络结构之间进行有选择的注意力配置,因此企业会在不同创新阶段于结构洞与封闭网络之间进行战略性切换,从而形成一种“双元”的网络转型模式。具体而言,探索式创新依赖异质知识获取,因此企业需在结构洞与封闭网络间持续转型以维持多元知识接入并促进探索;而利用式创新依赖知识深化,频繁转型则会削弱关系强度并阻碍学习,从而产生负面影响。基于对784家美国生物制药企业自1998年起15年专利合作序列的纵向分析,并采用最优匹配方法,研究发现,高转型程度显著提升探索式创新,但抑制利用式创新。此外,合作伙伴的网络特征也对上述关系具有调节作用。本文从动态网络构型与注意力配置的视角,拓展了网络与创新研究。

Abstract:

While existing studies examine how structural holes or closure networks independently affect organizational innovation performance, this body of work remains constrained by static and singular perspectives. The temporal dynamics of network structure transitions in R&D collaborations are examined. It is argued that organizations strategically transition between structural hole and closure networks across different phases of the innovation process, thereby forming an ambidextrous network transition pattern. Drawing on longitudinal network data from 784 U.S. biopharmaceutical firms and patent collaboration sequences spanning 15 years from 1998 onward, optimal matching analysis is employed to identify network transition patterns. The findings indicate that firms exhibiting a higher degree of transition between structural hole and closure networks achieve greater exploratory innovation but at the expense of exploitative innovation. Furthermore, the moderating roles of two partner network characteristics-tie stability and network status-are examined. By adopting a dynamic configurational perspective on network evolution, this research extends the literature on interorganizational networks and innovation while offering practical implications for managing collaborative innovation.