Exploring the Mechanisms through which Strong Ties Impact upon the Development of Ideas in SME Contexts

Abstract

Present theories highlight the varied roles played by weak and strong ties in idea generation, and development, respectively, but the mechanisms through which ties operate to influence the creative process remain uncertain. Investigating this issue across a range of SMEs, this paper demonstrates that strong ties influence idea development through three mechanisms; endorsement and validation, developing cognizance, and encouraging constructive dissent. These mechanisms positively impact idea development by creating organizational spaces that are primed to critically receive ideas, energize knowledge sharing by better transacting resources across network connections, and drive divergent thinking by disordering, but not fracturing, social spaces.

Network embeddedness and manufacturing SMEs’ green innovation performance: the moderating role of resource orchestration capability

“…, 2016) and habitual exchange of knowledge (Zheng and Yang, 2015) within networks, thus nurturing a reservoir of high-quality knowledge conducive to innovation (Shi et al. , 2020; Rost, 2011; Perkins, 2019; Yu and Xing, 2019; Xing et al. , 2022; Di Fatta et al.…”

“…However, Krackhardt (1992) advocates for the advantages of "strong ties," asserting that they can facilitate mutual trust between firms (Tortoriello et al, 2012;Zhao et al, 2021), overcoming barriers in the innovation knowledge absorption process (Sarkar et al, 2001;Jiang et al, 2015;Wang, 2016). Additionally, strong ties foster the development of mutual norms (Lavie, 2007;Zhou and Jin, 2021;Del Giudice et al, 2016) and habitual exchange of knowledge (Zheng and Yang, 2015) within networks, thus nurturing a reservoir of high-quality knowledge conducive to innovation (Shi et al, 2020;Rost, 2011;Perkins, 2019;Yu and Xing, 2019;Xing et al, 2022;Di Fatta et al, 2018).…”

“…The relationship embeddedness perspective focuses on directly connected individuals, with some arguing that weak ties are more advantageous due to the heterogeneity and widespread resources they bring (Chiambaretto et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2017Wang et al, , 2023. However, others contend that strong ties can yield better results, fostering trust, mutual commitment, and rich emotional resources, thereby reducing opportunistic behavior (Zhao et al, 2021;Perkins, 2019;Radziwon and Bogers, 2019). The structure embeddedness perspective is concerned with the spatial structure formed by connections, with scholars represented by Burt (1992) arguing that structural holes promote corporate innovation through information and control advantages (Soda et al, 2021;Zang, 2018;Yang et al, 2010;Kumar and Zaheer, 2019;Lan et al, 2020;Thatchenkery and Katila, 2021).…”

“…However, others contend that strong ties can yield better results, fostering trust, mutual commitment, and rich emotional resources, thereby reducing opportunistic behavior (Zhao et al. , 2021; Perkins, 2019; Radziwon and Bogers, 2019). The structure embeddedness perspective is concerned with the spatial structure formed by connections, with scholars represented by Burt (1992) arguing that structural holes promote corporate innovation through information and control advantages (Soda et al.…”

Factors influencing innovation performance of China’s high-end manufacturing clusters: Dual-perspective from the digital economy and the innovation networks

“…This is one of the important reasons that the current China's high-end manufacturing cluster is implementing a whole industry chain layout and actively promoting industry-university-research cooperation. In addition, the close network relationship can also promote creative thinking and divergent thinking among the subjects of the innovation network, which can lead to more new creativity and ideas (Perkins, 2019), and energize the innovation of the cluster enterprises. As a result, the following hypothesis is made: H3: Cluster firms' innovation network density has a positive effect on innovation performance…”