Agenda

Prof. Stefano Li Pira

Visiting Scholar

BIO: is Associate professor at Warwick Business School, the University of Warwick (U.K.). He received his PhD from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. His primary research interests concern innovation and imitation strategies in technology intensive industries. Stefano's work has been published in various journals, including Academy of Management Journal and Research Policy.

Abstract: 

Understanding whether individuals and organizations pay attention to novel ideas has been a subject of debate, with some studies suggesting that novelty is often ignored, while others highlight receptivity to it. This study offers a framework to reconcile these conflicting findings by drawing on the logic of appropriateness. Specifically, we argue that attention to novelty is shaped by how ideas are communicated, particularly through emotional expressions. Using data from a large crowdsourcing event, our analysis reveals that in contexts where novelty is explicitly encouraged, greater attention is paid to highly novel ideas. Moreover, emotional expressions moderate this relationship, amplifying attention to novelty when the emotions align with situational “display rules” or norms of expression.