Exploring the mechanisms through which strong ties impact upon the development of ideas in SME contexts

Abstract

Present theories highlight the varied roles played by weak and strong ties in idea generation, and development respectively, but the mechanisms through which ties operate to influence the creative process remain uncertain. Investigating this issue across a range of SMEs, this paper demonstrates that strong ties influence idea development through three mechanisms; endorsement and validation, developing cognisance, and encouraging constructive dissent. These mechanisms positively impact idea development by creating organisational spaces that are primed to critically receive ideas, energise knowledge sharing by better transacting resources across network connections, and drive divergent thinking by disordering, but not fracturing, social spaces.