JBR Article Published
posted on May 21 2007
New Article Published in the Journal of Business Research 60: 698-710
Knowledge Transfer Between and Within Alliance Partners: Private Versus Collective Benefits of Social Capital
Jorge Walter*, Christoph Lechner*, & Franz W. Kellermanns***
* Portland State University, ** University of St. Gallen, *** Mississippi State University
This article examines the process through which
multilevel network structures translate into knowledge acquisition from
alliance partners. The degree of knowledge transfer a multidivisional company
achieves from its network of alliance partners is determined not only by the organization's
external network structure, but also by the structure of relationships among
its business units. By distinguishing two perspectives on the distribution of
social capital's benefits - private versus collective - this article's approach
reconciles the competing views on what types of network structures create
social capital, that is, the brokerage and closure views of the social network
literature. Private benefits of brokerage and centrality are more beneficial in
interfirm networks, whereas collective benefits provided by network closure and
low levels of centralization are more beneficial in intrafirm networks.
Keywords: Inter- and intrafirm networks; knowledge transfer; social capital; strategic alliances
Find the article here: Walter_2007.pdf
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