Dare to Share: Why Knowledge Sharing with Others is Important for Successful Innovation

Knowledge sharing is an essential antecedent of innovation. We know that successful innovations are often created in teams, groups and other collectives. Without knowledge sharing between the people in these groups the idea development process could not unfold. In my research I investigate the role that social network structures play during knowledge sharing processes, with particular regard for online environments. I believe that the innovation literature should pay more attention to collective processes of knowledge sharing and ideation, especially online, and thus to a social networks perspective on innovation. I will present to you two recent studies, where I investigated a) patterns of online behaviour that are conducive to different types of knowledge sharing and b) how participation and knowledge sharing in online communities influences processes of entrepreneurship and innovation. I will conclude my presentation with some ideas for future research, and how this research might contribute to theory and practice.