This article provides empirical tests of the hypothesis of ‘optimal cognitive distance’, proposed by Nooteboom (1999, 2000), in two distinct empirical settings. Variety of cognition, needed for learning, has two dimensions: the number of agents with different cognition, and...

Taking into account both competence and governance issues, and six dimensions of tie strength, this article argues that in networks for exploration there are good reasons, counter to the thesis of the 'strength of weak ties', for a dense structure of ties that are strong in most dimensions.By...

This article provides empirical tests of the hypothesis of optimal cognitive distance , proposed by Nooteboom (1999, 2000), in two distinct empirical settings.Variety of cognition, needed for learning, has two dimensions: the number of agents with different cognition, and differences in...