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Cited by 182Innovation and Knowledge ManagementCreativity in Education and NeuroscienceCultural Industries and Urban Development

Networks, Creativity, and Time: Staying Creative through Brokerage and Network Rejuvenation

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Soda, Giuseppe, Mannucci, Pier Vittorio, Burt, Ronald S.·2021·Academy of Management Journal
DOI 10.5465/amj.2019.1209
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Abstract

In this paper we adopt a dynamic perspective on networks and creativity to propose that the oft-theorized creative benefits of open networks and heterogeneous content are less likely to be accrued over time if the network is stable. Specifically, we hypothesize that open networks and content heterogeneity will have a more positive effect on creativity when network stability is low. We base our prediction on the fact that over time network stability begets cognitive rigidity and social rigidity, thus limiting individuals’ ability to make use of the creative advantages provided by open networks and heterogeneous content. On the contrary, new ties bring a positive “shock” that pushes individuals in the network to change the way they organize and process knowledge, as well as the way they interact and collaborate – a shock that enables creators to accrue the creative advantages provided by open network structures and heterogeneous content. We test and find support for our theory in a study on the core artists who worked on the TV series *Doctor Who* between 1963 and 2014.

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  • Changes in collaboration patterns may reduce the quality of workers' output.

    “and reduce the quality of workers' output 11,23 .”

    From The effects of remote work on collaboration among information workers (2021) · cites this paper as [23]

    The Theoretical Contributions section acknowledges that adding new collaborators can disrupt coordination and routines, and says new ties benefit creativity only when paired with suitable network structures and content. It does not establish that changes in collaboration patterns reduce workers’ output quality generally; its findings concern creative outcomes in a specific collaborative setting. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • The changes observed in the temporal dynamics of ego networks may have made it more difficult for workers to capture the benefits associated with forming new connections, reconnecting with dormant connections and modulating their network position.

    “Overall, the changes that we observed in the temporal dynamics of ego networks may have made it more difficult for workers to capture the benefits associated with forming new connections 23,24 , reconnecting with dormant connections 25 and modulating their network position [20][21][22] .”

    From The effects of remote work on collaboration among information workers (2021) · cites this paper as [23]

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. [5]5. Amabile, T. M. 1996. Creativity in context. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
  2. [14]14. Belsley, D. A., Kuh, E., & Welsch, R. 1980. Regression diagnostics. New York: Wiley & Sons.
  3. [17]17. Brass, D.J. 1995. Creativity: It's all in your social network. In C. M. Ford & D. A. Gioia (eds.), Creative Action in Organizations: 94-99. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  4. [33]33. Coleman, J.S. 1988. Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94: S95-S120.
  5. [36]36. Csikszentmihályi, M. 1999. Implications of a systems perspective for the study of creativity. In R. J. Sternberg (eds.), Handbook of Creativity: 313-335. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  6. [45]45. Greene, W.H. 2011. Econometric Analysis. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
  7. [58]58. Katz, E., & Lazarsfeld, P. 1955. Personal Influence. New York: Free Press.
  8. [86]86. Rao, H., Sutton, R., & Webb, A. 2008. Innovation lessons from Pixar: An interview with Oscar- winning director Brad Bird. McKinsey Quarterly, April.

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Authors
Soda, G., Mannucci, P. V., & Burt, R. S.
Affiliations
  • Bocconi University (IT)
  • London Business School (GB)
  • University of Chicago (US)
Corresponding author
Soda, Giuseppe
ORCID
Venue
Academy of Management Journal
Publisher
Academy of Management
Published
2021-08
Volume
64
Issue
4
Pages
1164-1190
ISSN
  • 0001-4273 (ISSN-L)
  • 1948-0989
DOI
10.5465/amj.2019.1209
OpenAlex
W3131922987
Cited by
182
References
96
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 59 · 2019: 1
FWCI
28.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Academy of Management Journal (publishedVersion)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (acceptedVersion)
  • London Business School Research Online (London Business School) (submittedVersion)
  • Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Bocconi (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Innovation and Knowledge Management
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Creativity in Education and Neuroscience
  • Social Sciences › Urban Studies › Cultural Industries and Urban Development
Keywords
creativity, social networks, network stability, brokerage, open networks, cognitive rigidity, social rigidity, knowledge organization, collaboration, Doctor Who, network dynamics

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