Digitising the R&D social network: revisiting the technological gatekeeper

Abstract

This paper examines how the digitisation of the social network, and the resulting interplay between its online and offline components, has impacted the role of the technological gatekeeper in research and development (R&D) settings. Previous studies have firmly established the technological gatekeeper to be a key node in the innovation process -acquiring, translating and disseminating novel information throughout the R&D social network. Drawing on social network analysis and interview evidence from a software R&D group, we find that the gatekeeper role has undergone a division of labour. Theoretically, we contribute to the body of knowledge by developing an updated technological gatekeeper conceptual framework. For practitioners, we identify the competencies exhibited by the small number of communication specialists who are largely responsible for diffusing novel information. We then advise practitioners how to maximise the contribution of these 'stars' to the information flow network.

Developing new categories of knowledge acquisition, translation and dissemination by technological gatekeepers

“…The proactive category was most closely aligned with the extant literature on technological gatekeepers within organisations (Allan, 1977;Allen & Cohen, 1969;Allen and Katz, 1986;Katz et al, 1995;Tushman & Katz, 1980;Tushman and Scanlan, 1981a,b;Whelan et al, 2009;Whelan, Collings, et al, 2010;Whelan, Teigland, et al, 2010;Whelan et al, 2013). For proactive knowledge acquisition the case company, like Nochur and Allen (1992) designated particular people for this activity.…”

“…Developed by Allen and Cohen (1969) the technological gatekeeper concept was subject to initial research (Allan, 1977;Allen & Reilly, 1973;Katz, Tushman, & Allen, 1995;Nochur & Allen, 1992;Tushman & Katz, 1980;Tushman & Scanlan, 1981a) with the role then being re-examined due to developments in information and communication technologies (Whelan et al, 2009;Whelan, Collings, et al, 2010) and the digitisation of social networks (Allen, James, & Gamlen, 2007;Whelan et al, 2013). Research on gatekeepers focused both initially (Allen & Cohen, 1969;Tushman & Scanlan, 1981a) and more recently (Allen et al, 2007;Whelan, Collings, et al, 2010;Whelan et al, 2013) on research and development groups.…”

“…Research on gatekeepers focused both initially (Allen & Cohen, 1969;Tushman & Scanlan, 1981a) and more recently (Allen et al, 2007;Whelan, Collings, et al, 2010;Whelan et al, 2013) on research and development groups. Later studies expanded the concept, applying it to other contexts such as universities (Petruzzelli, 2008;Petruzzelli, Carbonara, & Rotolo, 2010) EU funded networks (Cassi, Corrocher, Malerba, & Vonortas, 2008), industrial districts (Albino, Garavelli, & Schiuma, 1999;Morrison, 2008), regional networks (Graff, 2011) as well as search engine companies (Vogl & Barrett, 2010) and medicine (Calrsen & Norheim, 2003;Shumsky & Pinker, 2003).…”

“…Emmitt (2001) argues that technological gatekeepers are needed due to increasing information overload. A consequence of the digitisation of the R&D social network is that the gatekeeper role has been split into specialised roles (Whelan et al, 2013). Recent research (Whelan, Collings, et al, 2010) has found that identifying relevant from non-relevant information has become both complex and time-consuming, resulting in specialisation by those they term 'external stars' who acquire knowledge for their own use but lack the skills to effectively disseminate it.…”

“…It builds on recent work (Whelan, Donnellan, & Golden, 2009;Whelan, Collings, et al, 2010;Whelan, Teigland, Donnellan, & Golden, 2010;Whelan, Golden, & Donnellan, 2013) that examined how the gatekeeper role has changed due to new information and communication technologies, particularly when access to the internet has brought about the ability for all individuals to become gatekeepers within their specialised knowledge domain (Teigland & Wasko, 2003). Indeed Whelan, Collings, et al (2010:401) argue that "we still have a limited understanding of how the role and tasks of the gatekeeper are changing due to the ability of every professional in an R&D group to quickly and easily access external information through web-based channels".…”