Information and knowledge-intensive firm: Uncovering information flows at Amorim Cork Composites using social network analysis

The Knowledge-Intensive Firm is an abstract concept in the domain of Organizational Theory, albeit some of its features are found in contemporary organizations, whose competitive status relies on the capability to access unique information and to apply knowledge to production. At the Knowledge-Intensive Firm, the generation of new knowledge is enabled through two information stages, namely the access to information and the 'socialization' of information among workers. This paper explores a case study conducted at Amorim Cork Composites, in which several patterns regarding information flows in the social network were identified: (i) information is shared through informal and 'democratic' social relations, regardless of hierarchical ranks, (ii) heterophily patterns are predominant regarding information shared at a departmental level, (iii) local clusters play a significant role in the exchange of information linked to routine tasks, (iv) several external players (e.g. universities, clients) are linked through weak ties to the organization and (v) most part of the information with an economic value is obtained inside the organization itself. The findings can be useful to compare with other information studies conducted at an organizational level.