Wenping Zhao, Shengnan Zheng

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School of Economics & Management, Xidian University, Xi’an, China.
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Abstract: Supervisor is the decisive factor for postgraduates to develop their innovative ability. This paper uses the method of social network analysis to define the concept of the supervisor network position and analyses the intrinsic influence of the supervisor network position, the postgraduates’ absorptive capacity and the postgraduates’ innovative ability. Absorptive capacity construct the theoretical model among the three as intermediary. The empirical data were collected by questionnaire. The research shows the information as follows: Supervisor’s centrality and structure hole have positive influence on postgraduates’ innovation ability; the absorptive capacity of postgraduates has a positive effect on the innovation ability of postgraduates, and the absorptive capacity of postgraduates plays a part of mediating role between supervisor network position and postgraduates’ innovation ability.

Keywords: Supervisor Centrality, Supervisor Structure Hole, Postgraduate Absorptive Capacity, Postgraduate Innovation Ability

Cite this paper: Zhao, W. and Zheng, S. (2018) The Influence of Supervisors’ Network Position on Postgraduates’ Innovative Ability (Based on the Absorptive Capacity of Postgraduates). American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 8, 760-776. doi: 10.4236/ajibm.2018.83052.

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