The wisdom of the intermediary: the role, function, and ways-of-being of the intermediary in a strategic program for university-industry relations

Artikel

This paper is an inquiry into the human factor in intermediation. We argue that we have not yet fully grasped the different roles, functions, and ways-of-being of the intermediary and that the concept of first- and second-order 'wisdom' is helpful in understanding what it takes to succeed as an intermediary. Through a comprehensive inquiry into human intermediaries in a corporate strategic program for university-industry collaboration in a global company, we develop a typology based on three fundamental roles: the 'Power Promoter,' the Diplomat, and the Creative Integrator. On this basis, we argue that the wisdom of the intermediary involves mastering the different roles (first-order wisdom) and deciding between them in each individual situation of intermediation (second-order wisdom). As a result, we advance Hargadon and Sutton's initial insight into the human factor in intermediation, thereby further humanizing the research on intermediation.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: Triple Helix ; ISSN: 2197-1927 ; Volume: 3 ; Year: 2016 ; Issue: 1 ; Pages: 1-21 ; Berlin: Springer

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Subject: Intermediaries ; Knowledge brokering ; Triple helix ; University-industry collaboration ; Wisdom

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Frølund, Lars ; Ziethen, Morten
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Springer
• (where): Berlin
• (when): 2016

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.1186/s40604-016-0039-4
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/188971
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET