Structural holes in networks of cross-organizational R&D teamsCilem Selin Hazir, Corinne Autant-Bernard

Auteurs : Cilem Selin Hazir, Corinne Autant-Bernard

Revue : Economics of Innovation and New Technology

Abstract : This study investigates the relationship between network position and performance in temporary cross-organizational R&D teams. We argue that at the team level, the negative impacts of SH are likely to overcome the positive ones due to specific difficulties in knowledge sharing and resource mobilization, which counterbalance the positive effects associated with better knowledge access. Using data on collaborative projects supported by the European Union in the field of information and communication technologies during 2014-2018 and controlling for endogeneity, we find that the richness of a team's position in terms of structural holes is not favorable for scientific publications at least in the short run supporting the view that structural holes would act as a brake on the dissemination of knowledge between R&D teams.

Keywords : R&D networks; structural holes; multiple team membership; inter-organizational teams