Organizations, firms and institutions in the generation of innovation

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop the innovation system analysis by bringing together the “institutional” and “organizational” dimensions of the process of innovation at the firm level. The objective is to start elaborating a “systemic” theory of innovation in firms. The paper summons up the contributions and limits of “organizational” and “institutional” approaches to innovation. This preliminary investigation leads to a series of relevant questions. In a second section, an attempt is made to overcome the dichotomy and make progress towards a more exhaustive and better-articulated representation of the innovation process considered at the firm level.