Optimal Levels of Embeddedness: The Contingent Value of Networked Collaboration

Co-location of industry professionals often leads to development of collaboration networks, and multiple studies have emphasized the benefits of embedded collaboration. Due to higher levels of trust, embedded collaboration reduces transaction costs and facilitates ready knowledge exchanged. Other studies have pointed to dangers of over-embeddedness. The argument is that too high levels of embeddedness lead to habitual thinking, preferential treatment, and thereby mitigate performance. However, research on the conditions under which embeddedness in different types of collaboration networks primarily yields costs or benefits still leaves much to be investigated.

The PhD thesis by Kristina Vaarst Andersen titled "Optimal Levels of
Embeddedness - The Contingent Value of Networked Collaboration",
investigates the relationship between collaboration networks and
performance. It aims to improve our understanding of why the benefits
of embeddedness in various networks are context dependent and provides
insight into the association between embeddedness in collaboration
networks and outcomes under different conditions. The thesis thereby
furthers our knowledge on why embeddedness affects performance.

The thesis consists of three papers. The first paper studies
co-location patterns across different categories of knowledge workers
aiming to provide insight into the centralization tendency in the
urban hierarchy of city regions.  The second paper provides evidence
suggesting that the association between embeddedness and performance
is contingent on whether performance is considered on the domestic or
foreign market. The third paper links knowledge heterogeneity with
innovation. The paper reveals a positive effect of knowledge
heterogeneity when considering the creation of novelty while a
negative impact is detected when considering incremental modifications
to an existing product formula.

Supervisor; 

Associate Professor Mark Lorenzen Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics
Associate Professor Toke Reichstein Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics
 

Assessment Committee;

Professor Thomas Rønde(chairman)
Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics Copenhagen Business School

Professor Ron Boschma
Urban and Regional Research 
Centre Utrecht
Utrecht University

Professor Olav Sorenson 
Yale School of Management
Yale University

 

The Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics will host a reception, which will take place immediately after the defense at K3.59.

Mere information:  Read the thesis here