Persistently learning: How small-world network imprints affect subsequent firm learning
研究企业创立时的小世界网络（密集聚类和短路径长度）如何长期影响其后续的探索性学习倾向，并发现后续网络位置（接近中心性和结构洞）会强化这一印记效应。基于1995-2003年美国风险投资企业的数据验证了假设。
We integrate and extend organizational imprinting and organizational learning theories in a study of how firms’ small-world networks at founding have enduring effects on firm learning. We show that firms embedded in networks having denser clustering and shorter path lengths at founding are subsequently more inclined toward exploratory learning. We also demonstrate that subsequent network positions (closeness centrality and structural holes) strengthen the initial small world network imprinting effect. Results based on a sample of US venture capital firms from 1995 to 2003 largely support our hypotheses. Contributions to imprinting theory, the organizational learning literature, and inter-firm network studies are discussed.