Empirical analysis of the effect of knowledge network structure on individual creativity through exploitation and exploration

Abstract

This study proposes a type of individual creativity model that is comprised of knowledge network structure and creative process. Knowledge network structure represents degree centrality and structural holes that are driven by interactions among members in organization. In this model, we assume that individuals would yield different performances by complicated network structures. On the other hand, creative process includes exploration and exploitation. While exploitation is regarded as the existing solution, exploration is the development of new solutions. To validate our proposed model, we contacted the seven largest system integration companies in South Korea. Then, we collected the questionnaires of 73 members and their recently organized 7 teams, and analyzed the data by structural equation model. Our study found that degree centrality and structural holes significantly influence exploitation and exploration. Moreover, our results show that exploitation significantly has an effect on exploration, and both exploitation and exploration influence individual creativity positively. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.