The Power of Individual-level Drivers of Inventive Performance

Thomas Zwick, Katharina Frosch, Karin Hoisl, Dietmar Harhoff

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

    Abstract

    We combine two lines of research on inventive and creative performance that have been separated before. We use empirical models of the performance of inventors over their careers based on an established theoretical framework of the drivers of creativity, the Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other (KSAO) model. We link survey information spanning the inventors’ entire careers and psychometric test evidence with patent history data for more than 1000 inventors. We also control for variables that have traditionally been used in studies of inventive performance including inventor age, applicant type, technology, patent, and time information. We show that educational level, skills acquired during the career, personality traits, career motivation, cognitive ability, and cognitive problem-solving style are significantly related to inventive performance.
    We combine two lines of research on inventive and creative performance that have been separated before. We use empirical models of the performance of inventors over their careers based on an established theoretical framework of the drivers of creativity, the Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other (KSAO) model. We link survey information spanning the inventors’ entire careers and psychometric test evidence with patent history data for more than 1000 inventors. We also control for variables that have traditionally been used in studies of inventive performance including inventor age, applicant type, technology, patent, and time information. We show that educational level, skills acquired during the career, personality traits, career motivation, cognitive ability, and cognitive problem-solving style are significantly related to inventive performance.
    LanguageEnglish
    JournalResearch Policy
    Volume46
    Issue number1
    Pages121–137
    ISSN0048-7333
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Feb 2017

    Keywords

    • Inventive performance
    • Individual-level drivers
    • Patent history
    • Survey

    Cite this

    Zwick, Thomas ; Frosch, Katharina ; Hoisl, Karin ; Harhoff, Dietmar. / The Power of Individual-level Drivers of Inventive Performance. In: Research Policy. 2017 ; Vol. 46, No. 1. pp. 121–137
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    Zwick, T, Frosch, K, Hoisl, K & Harhoff, D 2017, 'The Power of Individual-level Drivers of Inventive Performance' Research Policy, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 121–137. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2016.10.007

    The Power of Individual-level Drivers of Inventive Performance. / Zwick, Thomas; Frosch, Katharina; Hoisl, Karin; Harhoff, Dietmar.

    In: Research Policy, Vol. 46, No. 1, 02.2017, p. 121–137.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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    Zwick T, Frosch K, Hoisl K, Harhoff D. The Power of Individual-level Drivers of Inventive Performance. Research Policy. 2017 Feb;46(1):121–137. Available from, DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2016.10.007

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