Contextual issues in the diffusion of innovation : The interaction of social networks and organizational knowledge

This paper discusses the linkages between Social Network Theory (Granovetter 1973) and Organizational Knowledge Theory (Polanyi 1966, Nonaka 1994; Nonaka, Toyama and Byosiere 2001) as it relates to diffusion of organizational innovation within large organizations. The focus is on examining these theoretical interrelationships in three case studies delving into major change projects in three large telecommunications firms. Findings indicate that weak ties are vital when the focus is on explicit knowledge while strong ties are vital when the focus is on tacit knowledge. Further, a model is posed to expand this theoretical interrelationship to include a third dimension: knowledge source