Title: Sources of information for organisational innovation: a sector comparative approach

Authors: Caroline Mothe; Thuc Uyen Nguyen-Thi

Addresses: IREGE, Research Institute in Economics and Management, University of Savoie, 4 Chemin de Bellevue, BP 80439, 74944 Annecy le Vieux, France ' CEPS/INSTEAD, International Network for Studies in Technology, Environment, Alternatives, Development, 3 avenue de la Fonte, L-4364 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Abstract: Growing literature on knowledge and information notes the impact of sources of information on innovation processes, mostly by focusing on technological innovation. This article instead explores the uses firms make of internal and external sources of information for introducing organisational innovation practices. The exploration also considers whether such sources vary according to whether the firm operates in a manufacturing or services industry. Multivariate and standard probit model results, using Community Innovation Survey 2008 data, provide strong evidence of heterogeneity in the sources of information that firms use when they engage in organisational innovation. Not only do differences mark the sources of information for various types of organisational innovation, but the sources of information also vary according to the type of industry, despite a few similarities. These results have notable implications for research and practice, as well as for public policy related to innovation.

Keywords: Community Innovation Survey; CIS; manufacturing industry; services industry; organisational innovation; information sources.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2013.055596

International Journal of Technology Management, 2013 Vol.63 No.1/2, pp.125 - 144

Received: 01 Sep 2012
Accepted: 16 Apr 2013

Published online: 30 Apr 2014 *

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