Assistant Professor, Department of Organization and Management, College of Business,San José State University. wang_c@cob.sjsu.edu
Professor Chunlei Wang is an assistant professor in the college of business at San Jose State University. His research interests include social networks, institutional theories, knowledge economy, and technology and innovation. He got a Ph. D degree in Sociology from Stanford University.
“Collaboration networks, knowledge portfolio, and creativity: a study on absorptive capacity”
In a knowledge economy, absorptive capacity, the ability to appreciate, acquire, assimilate, and produce new knowledge elements, is important for a firm to survive and prosper. A firm’s absorptive capacity is more likely dependent upon its researchers to acquire and produce new knowledge. A question of theoretical relevance ensues: why are some researchers more likely to acquire and produce new knowledge than others?
In this paper, we explore how a researcher’s network structure and knowledge portfolio influence his/her likelihood to get involved with innovative projects which incorporate new knowledge elements. Using data from a semiconductor firm in the Silicon Valley, we test a set of hypotheses. The findings shed light on the theories of social networks and absorptive capacity.
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