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Informal advice relations across units in an organization are beneficial for knowledge sharing and problem solving. Prior research suggests that despite their benefits, there are costs to informal advice relations across units. However, the mechanisms by which these costs are mitigated remain unclear. We theorize that this lack of clarity is because work factors have not been sufficiently considered. We examine one such work factor, specifically time pressure, and develop a cost-based explanation for how time pressure influences cross-unit advice relationships. We investigate two time-pressure levels. In the first, work is conducted under lower time pressure, and there is less likelihood of a negative outcome. In the second, work is conducted under higher time-pressure conditions, and there is a greater likelihood of a negative outcome. We theorize that under lower time-pressure conditions, the costs of advice relations across units are mitigated by reciprocal advice relationships. However, under higher time pressure, the cost of informal advice relations across units is higher owing to the need for quick coordination of advice, and these costs are mitigated by reciprocal advice relationships in conjunction with cross-unit formal workflow relationships. To test our hypotheses, we examine the informal advice network and formal workflow network in lower and higher time-pressure conditions among 118 members of the Information Technology and Systems division of a Formula One racing team. Our results indicate that under lower time-pressure conditions, reciprocal advice ties are sufficient to overcome costs. However, under higher time-pressure conditions, cross-unit advice ties are facilitated by reciprocal advice ties embedded in the workflow ties between units. Thus, our findings have implications for how knowledge is managed and how problems are solved in organizations.

Colin Blakemore was a giant of neuroscience, whose direct research contributions shaped our modern knowledge of vision and the senses, as well as neural development, plasticity and degeneration. His early work revealed that manipulation of the sensory environment exerts a profound influence on the growing nervous system, establishing that the activation of nerve cells is directly linked to the successful maintenance of these cells’ connections with the rest of the brain. These and many later findings set the scene for understanding that the computational functions of the brain are the outcome of adaptive processes, which continue through adult life in many cases. Publicly, Colin's distinctive voice was well known in broadcast media, notably being the youngest ever presenter of the BBC Reith Lectures at the age of 32. Colin became a regular communicator of the rapidly growing field of neuroscience and an effective advocate for the scientific understanding of our brains, bodies and mental life. He unflinchingly undertook the role of justifying the need for animal research to play its part in the development of science and medical treatment, even though sometimes this brought vilification, and even threats. Colin held many public-facing roles for scientific bodies, of which the most significant was his time as chief executive of the Medical Research Council. More personally, Colin's role as a mentor will always be remembered by his students, who benefited from Colin's remarkable ability to pause all his other activities and focus upon their scientific work and future careers.