A Study of Innovation in Manufacturing: Determinants, Processes, and Methodological Issues. Volume I: A Panel Study of the Determinants of Innovation in the U.S. Footwear Industry

摘要

The report presents the findings of a study of innovation processes in an industrial setting. Innovation hypotheses that exist in several bodies of literature are reviewed. The overall goal of the study was to improve the understanding of the processes whereby industrial firms adopt or reject technologically innovative production equipment, of the patterns and paths through which such innovations are diffused through an industry, and of the factors influencing adoption and diffusion rates. The domestic footwear industry was selected as the major focus of the project because the industry was experiencing an effort to promote innovation and an expanded set of technological opportunities was available. Volume One presents an empirical test of major hypotheses of innovation from the economic, management, and organization theory research traditions. The tests were conducted across a number of innovations that represent varying degrees of technological change. Expanded models of innovation are developed and tested. The summative evaluation is appended to this volume. (Copyright (c) Social Science Research Institute 1980.)