Specialization is generally perceived as fundamental to improving performance both at the individual and organizational level. This has been the focus of numerous studies, where the specialization within a single task is argued to increase performance due to the familiarity of the task, essentially following a learning curve. However the notion that a broader range of activities can be beneficial has gained influence, arguing that exposure to variety and task diversification improves learning beyond that of specialization.

This thesis is an inquiry into the effects of knowledge specialization at the level of the individual, exploring how performance at the individual level are affected by the balance between specialization and diversification of knowledge, and how the interplay between the individual and the group is affected by this balance in an effort to illuminate how the degree of specialization of the individual finds application in different group compositions.

Supervisors:

Professor Finn Valentin and Associate  Professor Lars Bo Jeppesen, Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics

Assessment Committee:

Professor Keld Laursen (Chairman) 
Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics

Copenhagen Business School

 

Associate Professor Michelle Gittelman

Department of Management and Global Business

Rutgers Business School

 

Professor Koen Frenken

Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies

Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

 

After the defence the Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics will be hosting a small reception at Kilevej 14 3. fl., room K3.59. You are all welcome to participate in the defence and reception. No registration is needed.