How internet technologies impact information flows in r&d: reconsidering the technological gatekeeper
Whelan, Eoin Teigland, Robin Donnellan, Brian Golden, Willie
Whelan, Eoin
Teigland, Robin
Donnellan, Brian
Golden, Willie
Repository DOI
Publication Date
2010-08-23
Type
Article
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Citation
Whelan, Eoin; Teigland, Robin; Donnellan, Brian; Golden, Willie (2010). How internet technologies impact information flows in r&d: reconsidering the technological gatekeeper. R&D Management 40 (4), 400-413
Abstract
Previous studies have firmly established the technological gatekeeper to be a key node in the innovation process - acquiring, translating, and disseminating external information throughout the R&D unit. However, the gatekeeper concept has received modest attention in recent times. We argue that the concept needs to be re-examined in light of the recent advances in Internet technologies that have dramatically altered how knowledge workers source and share their information. Drawing on social network analysis and interview evidence from a medical devices R&D group, we find that the gatekeeper role is still vital, but no longer needs to be performed by a single individual. Instead, the modern R&D group can keep abreast of the latest technological advances through a combination of Internet-enabled internal and external communication specialists. This study makes a number of important contributions. The gatekeeper theory is extended through the development of an updated conceptual framework. We also discuss the practical implications of our findings and advise R&D managers on how to organise resources to maximise optimal information flows.
Funder
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Publisher DOI
10.1111/j.1467-9310.2010.00610.x
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland