Knowledge Brokering

Abstract

In contrast to theories of innovation, which assume creative ideas to be generated ex nihilo, a growing stream of literature argues that all innovations ultimately stem from knowledge brokering: ideas that are well established in one domain diffuse to domains where they are not yet known. Knowledge brokering has been recognized as the root cause of innovation in a variety of literatures, ranging from cognitive research on analogical reasoning to sociological studies on the innovativeness of groups, organizations and communities. As they facilitate the transfer of knowledge across domains, social networks have been identified as a prime source of knowledge brokering.