Measuring the DUI mode of innovation efficiently: A short-scale approach

Leonie Reher, Jörg Thomä and Kilian Bizer

No 48/2025, ifh Working Papers from Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh)

Abstract: This paper advances the empirical measurement of the Doing-Using-Interacting (DUI) mode of innovation, based on the conceptual framework of Alhusen et al. (2021) and its survey-based operationalization of Reher et al. (2024b). Using data from German SMEs, we examine whether the three-dimensional structure of DUI learning theorized in the literature can be mirrored empirically. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) confirms this latent structure by identifying three main learning processes: (1) DUI internal (learning-by-doing and internal interaction), (2) DUI user-driven (learning-by-using), and (3) DUI external (learning-by-externalinteraction). However, some factor loadings are problematic, suggesting that not all of the original indicators are suitable for measuring the DUI mode of innovation. Secondly, building on the latent structure identified through EFA, short scales of various lengths are developed using Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) to address practical constraints in innovation surveys. This provides a starting point for the further development of DUI innovation indicators that are particularly suited to less RD-intensive innovation contexts, such as small firms, low-tech sectors, and lagging regions, as well as corresponding short scales.

Keywords: innovation measurement; innovation indicator; modes of innovation; SMEs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O30 O31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-inv and nep-sbm
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