Network Structure and Innovation Ambiguity Effects on Diffusion in Dynamic Organizational Fields

Abstract

Computational modeling simulated innovation diffusion through six prototypical interregional network structures and two distributions of partnering tendencies in dynamic organizational fields. Compared to regional constraints, connections among all geographic regions decreased clearly beneficial innovation diffusion (a low-threshold adoption model) but increased ambiguous innovation diffusion (a social influence model). Compared with uniform partnering tendencies, normally distributed partnering tendencies increased diffusion of ambiguous innovations. Overall, local and interregional network structures interacted with the observability of an innovation’s benefits to determine diffusion.