Innovations Creator Networks: Blind, Quantitative, Longitudinal Databases for Comparison of Pharmaceuticals and Film

Author: Merlin Levirs, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Published: August 2014
https://doi.org/10.22492/ijbm.1.1.03

Citation: Levirs, M. (2014). Innovations Creator Networks: Blind, Quantitative, Longitudinal Databases for Comparison of Pharmaceuticals and Film. IAFOR Journal of Business & Management, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.22492/ijbm.1.1.03


Abstract

Analysis of social networks has added a new useful dimension to developing actionable understanding of innovation processes, particularly for creating policy that effectively supports innovativeness. However, progress is constrained. For instance, reliance on data from sources that reflect properties other than innovation, such as invention, knowledge dissemination, or geographic clustering is faulty. Also, methodologically, reliance on questionnaires, interviews, or case-study observations lack authenticity, comprehensive applicability, or both. Finally, it is constrained by lack of data sources that are authentic to innovation processes, comprehensive industry overviews, sufficiently longitudinal to bridge policy- and economic-impact events, and blind to researcher-subject bias. This report suggests two industries’ databases that overcome the aforementioned constraints and are, therefore, offered as subjects for the founding of future blind, comprehensive databases for quantitative social network analysis of innovation processes. It includes how the two databases would best be constructed and suggests several methodological considerations for future research using them, particularly for comparative analysis. Doing so would harden the soft science characteristics and misappraisals presently commonplace in this area of scholarly research. Subsequent research utilizing this approach and material would enable policy metrics that would enhance policies aiming to build better overall national innovation systems.

Keywords

innovation processes, pharmaceuticals, film media