Can high-interest similarity really promote the efficiency of technological collaboration? — an analysis of time and space dimensions

ABSTRACT

To explore the functional mechanism of interest similarity in collaboration efficiency, this paper focuses on the process of technological collaboration from time and space dimensions. Specifically, I established a two-dimension model, from which the collaboration process was divided into initial and mature stages, considering time angle and was divided into intra-regional and trans-regional collaborations, considering the spatial angle. Collecting data from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the results indicate that when technicians are in the same region, the more similar their interests, the higher their collaboration efficiency. When technicians carry out trans-regional collaboration, interest similarity has a U-shaped effect on collaboration efficiency in the initial stage of collaboration. Collaboration efficiency decreases due to the distrust of similar content distribution, and with the continuous consolidation of collaboration relationships, collaboration efficiency improves. In the mature stage, interest similarity affects collaboration efficiency positively. The findings provide suggestions for technicians to choose appropriate partners.

KEYWORDS:

• Interest similarity
• collaboration efficiency
• time dimension
• space dimension

Acknowledgments

The author wish to appreciate the valuable comments of the anonymous reviewers. All errors remain the sole responsibility of the author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 For more information see: http://npd.nsfc.gov.cn/.

2 https://output.nsfc.gov.cn/

3 For more information see: http://www.sohu.com/a/143648492_124767

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Key Scientific Research Project of Education Department of Shaanxi Province (Grant Number 21JT035, 21JK0920), Soft Science Research Program of Science and Technology Department of Shaanxi Province (Grant Number 2022KRM114, 2022KRM069), Teaching Reform project of Xi 'an University of Posts and Telecommunications (Grant Number JGB202109), and Doctoral Foundation project of Xi 'an University of Posts and Telecommunications (Grant Number 105/301021007), Xi 'an Social Science Fund project (Grant Number 22GL63.

Notes on contributors

Wenhui Pan

Dr. Wenhui Pan is a lecturer in the Department of Economics and Management, Xi'an University of Posts & Telecommunications, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. Her research areas cover knowledge discovery and management, network analysis and empirical research, specifically how network structure affects knowledge sharing.

Wenhui Pan focuses on scientific network, especially the relationship between network structure and research innovation in order to discover how scholars select their research topics and team members to increase innovation. She uses network characteristics to analyze research trend and directions. In last years, she has published papers including:

1. Wenhui Pan, Pengwei Zhao, Xianfeng Ding. 2019. The Effects of Network Structure on Research Innovation: An Analysis from a Content Perspective Using the Data of R&D Funding. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management 31 (12): 1430-1446. (SSCI), 000471393700001.

2. Wenhui Pan, Pengwei Zhao, Chunxiu Qin, Xianfeng Ding. 2020. How Do New Members Affect the Relationship Between Principal Investigator's Network Position and Academic Output of Granted Fund? Evaluation and Program Planning 78: 101744. (SSCI), 000501619500011.

3. Wenhui Pan, Pengwei Zhao, Xianfeng Ding. 2022. How to Design Collaboration Strategies in High-Output and Low-Output Networks: Considering the Role of Internal Social Capital. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, (SSCI), Online, 000686403200001.