Innovative Spirits. An empirical research on personal characteristics and work behavior of innovators in Italy

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
Author/s Claudio Marciano, Adelina Brizio, Alberto Carpaneto, Marco Giachino, Alberto Robiati, Monica Molino
Publishing Year 2022 Issue 2022/162
Language Italian Pages 22 P. 229-250 File size 307 KB
DOI 10.3280/SL2022-162011
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The aim of this article is to share the results of a research on personal characteris-tics and work behavior of innovators in Italy. The study was conducted following two phases, through the integrated use of quantitative and qualitative techniques. The results showed distinctive motivations, personality characteristics, and abilities of innovators: from risk-taking propensity to rejection of authority, to self-esteem. Moreover, the research analyzed innovators’ work behaviors and described them through three main action patterns, from idea generation to idea promotion and implementation. By emphasizing the presence of certain contextual variables, such as gender and economic sector, the research aims to undermine the social representation that describes the innovator as a ‘genius’, in place of a vision in which innovation is a widespread quality of social action.

Keywords: Innovation studies, Organizational studies, Innovators’ characteris-tics, Mixed methods

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Claudio Marciano, Adelina Brizio, Alberto Carpaneto, Marco Giachino, Alberto Robiati, Monica Molino, Spiriti Innovativi. Una ricerca empirica sulle caratteristiche personali e sul comportamento lavorativo degli innovatori in Italia in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO " 162/2022, pp 229-250, DOI: 10.3280/SL2022-162011