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Publications
Publications

  * 2020
  * Working Paper
  * HBS Working Paper Series

Engineering Serendipity: When Does Knowledge Sharing Lead to
Knowledge Production?

By: Jacqueline N. Lane, Ina Ganguli, Patrick Gaule, Eva C. Guinan and
Karim R. Lakhani

  * Format:Print
  * | Language:English
  * | Pages:49

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Abstract

We investigate how knowledge similarity between two individuals is
systematically related to the likelihood that a serendipitous
encounter results in knowledge production. We conduct a natural field
experiment at a medical research symposium, where we exogenously
varied opportunities for face-to-face encounters among 15,817
scientist-pairs. Our data include direct observations of interaction
patterns collected using sociometric badges, and detailed,
longitudinal data on the scientists' post-symposium publication
records over six years. We find that interacting scientists acquire
and create more knowledge when they share some overlapping research
interests, but are less likely to cite each other's work when they
are from similar fields. Our findings reveal both collaborative and
competitive effects of knowledge similarity on knowledge production
outcomes.

Keywords

Cognitive Similarity; Knowledge Creation; Knowledge Sharing;
Knowledge Dissemination; Relationships

Citation

Lane, Jacqueline N., Ina Ganguli, Patrick Gaule, Eva C. Guinan, and
Karim R. Lakhani. "Engineering Serendipity: When Does Knowledge
Sharing Lead to Knowledge Production?" Harvard Business School
Working Paper, No. 20-058, November 2019. (Revised July 2020.)

  * SSRN
  * Read Now

About The Authors

[headshot]

Jacqueline Ng Lane

Technology and Operations Management
-More Publications
[headshot]

Karim R. Lakhani

Technology and Operations Management
-More Publications

Related Work

  * 
      + June 2021
      + Strategic Management Journal

    Engineering Serendipity: When Does Knowledge Sharing Lead to
    Knowledge Production?

    By: Jacqueline N. Lane, Ina Ganguli, Patrick Gaule, Eva C. Guinan
    and Karim R. Lakhani

Related Work

  * Engineering Serendipity: When Does Knowledge Sharing Lead to
    Knowledge Production? By: Jacqueline N. Lane, Ina Ganguli,
    Patrick Gaule, Eva C. Guinan and Karim R. Lakhani

 
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