Social Network Analysis based Keyword Analysis of ISPIM Research Topics

Abstract

The usefulness of keywords and keyword networks as a fundamental carrier of knowledge has been recognized but the prior studies identifying and analyzing innovation management research topics and their evolution at ISPIM have not addressed the Social Network Analysis (SNA) viewpoint. Therefore this study evaluates the network structure of ISPIM research topics from the SNA point of view. By applying SNA to the ISPIM keyword and research topic data from 2009 to 2014 full academic paper publications (N=1081), this study is explicitly modelling how the different keywords are inter-linked with each other. By analyzing various centrality measures, the importance of a particular keyword within the whole ISPIM network are determined. As a result the contemporary body of knowledge of innovation management research is described and visualized as keyword networks. Implications for future innovation management research are discussed.