Title: The isomorphic development of insurance – the perspective of social network analysis

Authors: Calvin S. Weng, Kuei-Kuei Lai

Addresses: Takming University of Science and Technology, No.56, Sec.1, Huanshan Rd., Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, 11451, ROC. ' National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123 University Rd, Section 3, Douliou, Yunlin, Taiwan, 64002, ROC

Abstract: How to detect the trace of the technological developments and assess the technological trajectories is a critical issue of competition of firms. This paper proposed a network-based of citation-analytic methodology and has sought to look at the issue of technological isomorphism and its implications for the insurance companies. This paper has focused its discussion on patent data of |insurance business method| to explore possible technological trajectories in insurance. The result of this research also found the technological isomorphism in insurance already occurs. The contribution of this paper is to introduce the social network analysis into patent citations to foresee the technological development.

Keywords: business methods; social network analysis; technological trajectories; technological isomorphism; insurance industry; patents; patent citations; technology development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2010.029672

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2010 Vol.13 No.1/2, pp.85 - 104

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

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