A network perspective of innovative teams: understanding drivers and limitations

This thesis aims to examine the drivers and routes of innovation within teams. Although there is a positive link between informal learning and innovation, the literature is unclear about how informal learning activities instigate innovation within teams, notwithstanding that it undermined the importance of a network perspective on this issue. Thus, the general research question is how and why network factors influence team innovation. In particular, this thesis examines under what conditions network team structures might lead to higher innovation using a mixed-method approach, combining systematic literature review, questionnaires and interviews in three different teams of the same organisation. The review identified the remaining gaps around the network and innovative teams following Social Network Theory and Actor-Network Theory; the empirical results shed light on the antecedents and network structure within innovative teams. The thesis contributes to a better understanding of the different routes towards innovation within teams taking a network perspective and discussing the role and influence of informal learning, leadership, organisational culture, and different types of teams. Also, the thesis brings some methodological contributions using creative processes such as mapping and Actor-Network Theory as a method of analysis. Then, the research impact and implications for practise are discussed.