Simulation research on knowledge flow in a collaborative innovation network

Abstract

AbstractThis study takes diffusion capacity, absorptive capacity, and relationship strength as the main influencing factors, constructs models of knowledge flow in small‐world networks and scale‐free networks, and uses numerical simulation to observe the flow characteristics of explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge in different networks. The knowledge of explicit flow in different networks exhibits the phenomenon of knowledge emergence, but this phenomenon is more obvious in a small‐world network. The flow of tacit knowledge in a small‐world network has a better effect. In a scale‐free network, the quantity and frequency of knowledge flow are significantly higher than those in a small‐world network. The reason for this phenomenon is the differences in the response, connection and structure of different networks. The quantity and frequency of the flow of explicit knowledge in the same network are significantly higher than those of tacit knowledge. The reason for this phenomenon is the different types of knowledge flow in different modes, with different levels of flow difficulty and flow sustainability. First, this study visually compares the differences in flow between the two types of knowledge. Second, flow models of the two types of knowledge are constructed, and the flow characteristics of the two types of knowledge in different networks are simulated. Finally, the reasons for the differences in flow between the two types of knowledge are explained by using loosely coupled theory.