The Use and Influence of Indicators in Decisions About Technological Innovation

Abstract

This work focuses on the role of indicators in technology innovation decisions in three knowledgeintensive groups: researchers in public institutions, leaders in research & development in industry and policy makers. The work presents quantitative results obtained from three questionnaires sent to thesegroups in Portugal.The study suggests that indicators are instruments of technology innovation decision but their influence dependents on social context and the types of decisions. Results show that indicators were used by all groups, but were not significantly influential in technology innovation decisions. The group of researchers were more influenced by indicators than by their social relations, revealing a balance between an instrumental use, a symbolic use and no use at all of indicators. The group focused their decisions on the acquisition of products/technology, and identified its main influences in knowledge sources and users. The majority of the business and policy makers revealed that indicators were mostly used in a symbolic way, and were more influenced by social relations than by indicators.The business group focused its decision on the development of products/technology, and declared stronger influences from hierarchies and users in its decisions. The policy makers focused their decisions on the design of innovation policies, and were also stronger influenced by hierarchies and knowledge sources.