Published literature and diffusion of medical innovation: Exploring innovation generation

This study explores the role of published literature during innovation generation; the contribution of citation-pattern evaluation in understanding the relationship between literature and slowly diffusing innovations; the influence of different types of published materials on innovation adoption; and use of non-LIS theories, particularly diffusion of innovations and strength of weak ties. A medical-innovation case with a long innovation-generation phase and slow but eventual adoption provides the context. Findings suggest that citation patterns provide a unique means of investigating knowledge accumulation and consequent innovation generation, and that published literature performs the critical function of bridging a weak tie in the diffusion of information.