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Network embeddedness and mobile inventors' creativity: role of the cognitive dimension

Zeqian Wang (College of Management, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, China)
Chengjun Wang (College of Management, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, China)
Xiaoming Sun (College of Management, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, China)
Tao Feng (College of Management, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, China)

Management Decision

ISSN: 0025-1747

Article publication date: 9 September 2024

94

Abstract

Purpose

The role of inventors' creativity is crucial for technological innovation within enterprises. The mobility of inventors among different enterprises is a primary source for companies to acquire external knowledge. The mechanism of “learning-by-hiring” is widely recognized by companies. Therefore, it is important to determine how to allocate network resources to enhance the creativity of inventors when companies hire mobile inventors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study suggests an analytical framework that analyzes alterations in tie strength and structural holes resulting from the network embeddedness of mobile inventors as well as the effect of the interaction between these two variables on changes in inventor’s creativity after the mobility. In addition, this paper examines the moderating impact of cognitive richness of mobile inventors and cognitive distance between mobile inventors and new employers on the correlation between network embeddedness and creativity.

Findings

This study found that: (1) The increase of tie strength has a significant boost in creativity. (2) Increasing structural holes can significantly improve the creativity of mobile inventors. (3) When both the tie strength and the structural holes increase, the creativity of the mobile inventors significantly increases. (4) It is important to note that when there is a greater cognitive distance, stronger tie strength promotes the creativity of mobile inventors. Additionally, cognitive richness plays a significant role in moderating the relationship between changes in structural holes and the creativity of mobile inventors.

Originality/value

These findings provide theoretical guidance for firms to effectively manage mobile inventors and optimize collaborative networks within organizations.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the [National Natural Science Foundation of China] under Grant [number 71872141] and the [National Natural Science Foundation of China] under Grant [number 72072140].

Citation

Wang, Z., Wang, C., Sun, X. and Feng, T. (2024), "Network embeddedness and mobile inventors' creativity: role of the cognitive dimension", Management Decision, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-05-2023-0696

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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