Collective creativity and brokerage functions in heavily cross-disciplined innovation processes

Abstract

The centres of collective creativity tend to be at the intersections of different domains. Based on this, distances between innovating partners can be considered as sources of innovation. However, the literature usually emphasises the advantages of proximity. Proximity may, however, also have negative impacts due to the problem of lock-in - meaning a lack of openness and flexibility. This article takes the changed pattern of innovation as a point of departure: innovations are seen to emerge in nonlinear processes, often combining very diverse knowledge bases. Structural holes in networks of innovation systems are especially fruitful for innovation. In theoretical discussion, this article presents seven dimensions of distance: cognitive, communicative, organisational, functional, cultural, social, and geographical. In attempts to create innovation, different kinds of distances would need to be exploited knowingly. The study uses the experiences of the case study to answer how it is possible to span the structural holes in cross-disciplined multi-actor innovation. According to the experiences, the brokerage function is essential in exploiting the different kinds of distances. Indeed, it was necessary to define two brokerage functions: process brokerage and session brokerage.