Generating innovations through analogies: An empirical investigation of knowledge brokers

Katharina Kalogerakis, Cornelius Herstatt and Christian Lüthje

No 33, Working Papers from Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute for Technology and Innovation Management

Abstract: In this paper we explore how knowledge brokers - specialised design and engineering companies offering services to clients in diverse industries - use analogies for product development. Our research is based on interviews with project leaders of 13 knowledge brokering companies. The interviews focused on product development projects in which analogies were used. First, we categorize these cases according to the motivation to use analogies (efficiency vs. innovativeness). Second, we describe and analyse the process of using analogies. Our results show that analogies are frequently and very pragmatically applied throughout the whole development process. We also found that individual characteristics of the persons participating in such projects are the crucial factor that influences the outcome of the project.

Keywords: product development; knowledge brokers; analogy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:tuhtim:33

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