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Cited by 3,718

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 1 of the 1 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

“Sticky Information” and the Locus of Problem Solving: Implications for Innovation

Open access
von Hippel, Eric·1994·Management Science
DOI 10.1287/mnsc.40.4.429
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Abstract

To solve a problem, needed information and problem-solving capabilities must be brought together. Often the information used in technical problem solving is costly to acquire, transfer, and use in a new location—is, in our terms, “sticky.” In this paper we explore the impact of information stickiness on the locus of innovation-related problem solving. We find, first, that when sticky information needed by problem solvers is held at one site only, problem solving will be carried out at that locus, other things being equal. Second, when more than one locus of sticky information is called upon by problem solvers, the locus of problem solving may iterate among these sites as problem solving proceeds. When the costs of such iteration are high, then, third, problems that draw upon multiple sites of sticky information will sometimes be “task partitioned” into subproblems that each draw on only one such locus, and/or, fourth, investments will be made to reduce the stickiness of information at some locations. Information stickiness appears to affect a number of issues of importance to researchers and practitioners. Among these are patterns in the diffusion of information, the specialization of firms, the locus of innovation, and the nature of problems selected by problem solvers.

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Metadata

Authors
von Hippel, E.
Venue
Management Science
Publisher
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
Published
1994-04
Volume
40
Issue
4
Pages
429-439
ISSN
  • 0025-1909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1526-5501
DOI
10.1287/mnsc.40.4.429
OpenAlex
W2097763228
Cited by
3,718
References
1
FWCI
74.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
green

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