Does the Learning Value of Individual Failure Experience Depend on Group Level Success? Insights from a University Technology Transfer Office

This study proposes that individual failure experience in organizations induces useful learning at the individual and group levels because it reveals valuable information and spurs actions. However, the value of individual failure experience depends on the level of group success experience. Specific...

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Main Authors: ZHENG, Yanfeng, MINER, Anne S., GEORGE, Gerard
Format: text
Language:English
Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2013
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Online Access:https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/4646
https://doi.org/10.1093/icc/dtt003
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Institution: Singapore Management University
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spelling sg-smu-ink.lkcsb_research-56452016-01-28T10:32:07Z Does the Learning Value of Individual Failure Experience Depend on Group Level Success? Insights from a University Technology Transfer Office ZHENG, Yanfeng MINER, Anne S. GEORGE, Gerard This study proposes that individual failure experience in organizations induces useful learning at the individual and group levels because it reveals valuable information and spurs actions. However, the value of individual failure experience depends on the level of group success experience. Specifically, group contemporary success experience and group congenital success experience will enhance the learning value of individual failure experience. Each type of higher level of group success experience provides useful experience pools (library effect), offers contrasts that are crucial for causal inferences (contrast effect), and motivates the focal individuals and the group to learn (motivation effect), albeit through distinct microprocesses. We test our theory with an event history analysis of the first licensing agreements for 778 lead patents granted to a major university technology transfer organization between 1971 and 1999, and find support for our theory. Our study presents an integrated model for organizational learning that involves internal failure and success across levels, and offers a framework for multilevel internal learning from experience. 2013-02-01T08:00:00Z text https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/4646 info:doi/10.1093/icc/dtt003 https://doi.org/10.1093/icc/dtt003 Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business eng Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Business Higher Education Organizational Behavior and Theory Technology and Innovation
institution Singapore Management University
building SMU Libraries
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider SMU Libraries
collection InK@SMU
language English
topic Business
Higher Education
Organizational Behavior and Theory
Technology and Innovation
spellingShingle Business
Higher Education
Organizational Behavior and Theory
Technology and Innovation
ZHENG, Yanfeng
MINER, Anne S.
GEORGE, Gerard
Does the Learning Value of Individual Failure Experience Depend on Group Level Success? Insights from a University Technology Transfer Office
description This study proposes that individual failure experience in organizations induces useful learning at the individual and group levels because it reveals valuable information and spurs actions. However, the value of individual failure experience depends on the level of group success experience. Specifically, group contemporary success experience and group congenital success experience will enhance the learning value of individual failure experience. Each type of higher level of group success experience provides useful experience pools (library effect), offers contrasts that are crucial for causal inferences (contrast effect), and motivates the focal individuals and the group to learn (motivation effect), albeit through distinct microprocesses. We test our theory with an event history analysis of the first licensing agreements for 778 lead patents granted to a major university technology transfer organization between 1971 and 1999, and find support for our theory. Our study presents an integrated model for organizational learning that involves internal failure and success across levels, and offers a framework for multilevel internal learning from experience.
format text
author ZHENG, Yanfeng
MINER, Anne S.
GEORGE, Gerard
author_facet ZHENG, Yanfeng
MINER, Anne S.
GEORGE, Gerard
author_sort ZHENG, Yanfeng
title Does the Learning Value of Individual Failure Experience Depend on Group Level Success? Insights from a University Technology Transfer Office
title_short Does the Learning Value of Individual Failure Experience Depend on Group Level Success? Insights from a University Technology Transfer Office
title_full Does the Learning Value of Individual Failure Experience Depend on Group Level Success? Insights from a University Technology Transfer Office
title_fullStr Does the Learning Value of Individual Failure Experience Depend on Group Level Success? Insights from a University Technology Transfer Office
title_full_unstemmed Does the Learning Value of Individual Failure Experience Depend on Group Level Success? Insights from a University Technology Transfer Office
title_sort does the learning value of individual failure experience depend on group level success? insights from a university technology transfer office
publisher Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University
publishDate 2013
url https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/4646
https://doi.org/10.1093/icc/dtt003
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