June 2009 Archives

Innovation, and particularly innovation in information and communication technologies (ICT), continues to draw scholarly attention across a range of disciplines and intellectual communities. Scholars offer up a diverse range of theories regarding technological innovation in general and ICT innovation in particular. Through this paper we review these conceptualizations of innovation practices and posit that (1) innovation processes are likely to take place through network-like arrangements and (2) these networks are often informal and typically reflect long-standing relations.  We argue that innovation is done through networks because these can best facilitate the exchange of innovative ideas and competencies.  We further argue that innovation network structures are often based on extending and formalizing informal relationships among individual actors.  Relative to our second point, we note there is little research which theorizes or investigates the nature and influence of these informal interactions and their network structures.  In an effort to begin addressing this gap, we build here on a review of relevant existing literature to develop theoretical constructs which illuminate the constitution and the salience of informal networks of innovations. To advance an initial model of informal networks of innovation, we draw from the literatures of social network theory, communities of practice, invisible colleges, and actor network theory. Based on this review, a model of informal interaction is constructed which is constituted of human actors and social institutions, specific technological artifacts, and innovative concepts. We conclude by elaborating on the interactions of these network components. To download our full paper submitted to ICIS09, click here.