Manpower Flows and the Innovation Process

A model of the causes and impacts of manpower flows in the innovation process is developed in this paper. A review of some of the relevant literature and discussion of several case studies of manpower flows are presented. Some preliminary results are reported and emergent propositions and future research needs are discussed. One promising area of exploration appears to be the relationship between information flows, manpower flows, and importance of the innovation (radical vs. incremental) under consideration. Some implications for the management of technological change in organizations are discussed.