The technological gatekeeper: Evidence in three industries

Previous studies have developed the concept of the “technological gatekeeper” as one who is integral in the diffusion of scientific and technical information from the environment into the R&D firm. Gatekeepers have been found in firms operating in environments with rapidly changing technology. Using data from six firms in three industries, the present study found the gatekeeper phenomenon extends to firms with less rapidly changing environments. Thus, the gatekeeper construct becomes important to any firm with a R&D mission. Additionally, many of the sociometric and demographic characteristics of gatekeepers were validated in new research settings.