Whelan, Eoin and Golden, Willie and Donnellan, Brian (2013) Digitising the R&D social network: revisiting the technological gatekeeper. Information Systems Journal, 23 (3). pp. 197-218. ISSN 1365-2575

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Abstract

This paper examines how the digitisation of the social network, and the resulting interplay between its online and offline components, has impacted the role of the technological gatekeeper in research and development (R&D) settings. Previous studies have firmly established the technological gatekeeper to be a key node in the innovation process – acquiring, translating and disseminating novel information throughout the R&D social network. Drawing on social network analysis and interview evidence from a software R&D group, we find that the gatekeeper role has undergone a division of labour. Theoretically, we contribute to the body of knowledge by developing an updated technological gatekeeper conceptual framework. For practitioners, we identify the competencies exhibited by the small number of communication specialists who are largely responsible for diffusing novel information. We then advise practitioners how to maximise the contribution of these ‘stars’ to the information flow network.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	social networks; community of practice; Web technologies; technological gatekeeper; social network analysis; software development;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Innovation Value Institute, IVI Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Business
Item ID:	10831
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2575.2011.00384.x
Depositing User:	Prof. Brian Donnellan
Date Deposited:	05 Jun 2019 15:50
Journal or Publication Title:	Information Systems Journal
Publisher:	Wiley
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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