The Relationship Structure of a Transnational, Ego-centered, and Innovation-Oriented Network

This study identifies the relationship structure of an ego-centered network by examining a transnational organization in the telecommunications sector that is oriented toward innovation. The study considers the dimensions of density, centrality, structural equivalence, and relationship content. Following the literature, we correlate the underlying concepts of network innovation substantiated through the technique of network analysis as a research method. The results suggest that the position of organizations in relation to the distance and pathways to other organizations in the network can influence the network’s capacity for innovation, conditioned by the strategic positioning of the focal company. This does not seem to be the case with the company considered by this study, as the strategic positioning of the matrix considers only innovative products with a worldwide scope, and not those with a more limited, local, or regional interest. The main contribution of this study is the identification of the relationship structure of a transnational, ego-centered, and innovation-oriented network with the aid of a statistical tool.