What Makes a Paper Influential and Frequently Cited?

Abstract

Social trends that raised the value of esoteric expertise, stimulated the creation of knowledge-intensive firms and so created an opportunity to study some organizations that academics had overlooked. A lack of presuppositions, a useful research method, and thoughtful experts in these firms helped to uncover some surprising behaviours. The resulting paper attracted citations and may have stimulated research about knowledge as a business resource and a managerial challenge. However, the topic continues to pose questions for further research.