Back Issues 11-20

DOES CREATIVITY LEAD TO INNOVATION? THE SOCIAL NETWORK EFFECT ON IDEA GENERATION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION

Sung Namkung (Primary author)

Visiting Assistant Professor,

University of District of Columbia

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ravi Chinta

Professor

University of District of Columbia

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The paper examines the interplay between individual creativity and firm innovation through social network perspectives. Exploring the process of idea generation through to its implementation, the study argues that individuals’ position in their social networks affects both new idea generation and implementation of new ideas. The study investigates this network effect using data from an architecture firm in Finland. The results indicate that brokerage position enhances generating new ideas, while closure will spur the implementation of the ideas. The study addresses the new research direction of how and when individuals’ network positions - brokerage and closure, affect creativity and innovation, respectively. 

Keywords: Social networks, Network positions, Creativity, and Innovation, Knowledge Firm