Innovation research in media management and economics: an integrative framework

Abstract

Academics and practitioners observe a growing relevance of media innovation research. Yet theoretical frameworks on how to approach media innovations in media economics and media management research remain underdeveloped. This article adopts a theoretical approach and discusses central theoretical and empirical concepts towards analysing media innovations and media related change processes from a media management and media economics perspective. This review demonstrates an emphasis on product and process innovations and a focus on micro- and meso-level approaches. As a consequence, the article extends these approaches by elaborating on system-oriented and phase-based innovation concepts that allow for studying media innovation as an integrative and multi-level oriented process.

Keywords:

• media innovation
• media economics
• conceptual approach
• innovation theory

Notes

1. In this context, scholars introduced the term “National Innovation System” (NIS) underlining the comparative potential of the approach to study systemic interdependences between different nations (Lundvall, 1992; Nelson, 1993).

2. The case of VHS achieving dominance over the Betamax-system independent of its technological superiority illustrates an example of the importance of path dependencies (cf. Liebowitz & Margolis, 1995).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leyla Dogruel

Leyla Dogruel (PhD, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany) is a research associate at the Institute of Media and Communication Studies at Freie Universität Berlin. Her research interests are media economics and media innovation research as well as decision-making for media products.