Exploring the Origins and Effects of Innovative Behavior - The Behavior of Innovation: A Network Perspective

Abstract

Innovation is often conceptualized in popular culture as an individual behavior, driven by a spark of creativity that is a special property of an uncommon mind. Paradoxically, geographically bounded clusters of activity in a specific field have been identified as "hotbeds" of innovation, leading to competitive and economic success. At an intermediate, often orthogonal level between the individual and the geographic region lies the social network. While the role of social networks in enabling or constraining the diffusion or adoption of innovation has long been a topic of inquiry, less is understood about social networks and innovation itself. This talk will explore these issues.