Occupying a brokerage network position provides the focal actor with structural opportunities to access non-redundant information and knowledge which may result in an enhanced innovative behavior. However, such a network position entails important challenges associated with knowledge articulation and behavioral constraints, which may hinder focal actors’ innovative outcomes. Drawing on the contingency perspective of social capital theory, in this study, we examine how socio-demographic similarity between a focal actor and his/her direct contacts may affect the relationship between brokerage and innovative behavior. Specifically, we focus on professional background and gender as salient socio-demographic categories that depict the type of knowledge possessed as well as informational, and behavioral differences among people. The results of an empirical study on 134 employees (the response rate was 88%) and 31 supervisors (the response rate was 97%) of an Italian consulting company show that having many homophilous ties, in terms of professional background and gender, strengthens the positive relationship between social network brokerage and individuals’ innovative behavior. These findings furnish important insights for the research on intra-organizational social networks and innovative behavior. At the end of the paper, we discuss its theoretical and practical implications as well as the potential limitations that open avenues for future research in the field.

占据经纪网络职位为核心参与者提供了访问非冗余信息和知识的结构性机会，这可能会导致增强的创新行为。然而，这种网络地位带来了与知识表达和行为约束相关的重要挑战，这可能会阻碍重点参与者的创新成果。借鉴社会资本理论的权变视角，在本研究中，我们研究了焦点参与者与其直接接触者之间的社会人口统计学相似性如何影响经纪与创新行为之间的关系。具体而言，我们将专业背景和性别作为突出的社会人口统计类别，这些类别描述了人们所拥有的知识类型以及信息和行为差异。对一家意大利咨询公司的 134 名员工（回应率为 88%）和 31 名主管（回应率为 97%）的实证研究结果表明，在专业背景和性别方面具有许多同质性关系，可以加强社交网络经纪与个人创新行为之间的正相关关系。这些发现为组织内社交网络和创新行为的研究提供了重要的见解。在论文的最后，我们讨论了其理论和实践意义，以及为该领域未来研究开辟道路的潜在局限性。在专业背景和性别方面，加强了社交网络经纪与个人创新行为之间的正相关关系。这些发现为组织内社交网络和创新行为的研究提供了重要的见解。在论文的最后，我们讨论了其理论和实践意义，以及为该领域未来研究开辟道路的潜在局限性。在专业背景和性别方面，加强了社交网络经纪与个人创新行为之间的正相关关系。这些发现为组织内社交网络和创新行为的研究提供了重要的见解。在论文的最后，我们讨论了其理论和实践意义，以及为该领域未来研究开辟道路的潜在局限性。