Technological innovation and culture: research needed for China and other countries

The purpose of this paper is to suggest that the importance of culture on the innovation of technological processes and products has not received sufficient attention from researchers. The paper offers a framework and some categories for investigating the affects of culture on technological innovation.

The data and ideas that inform this paper come primarily from interviews carried out as a part of case studies of the innovation of 13 technology products and processes centered in China and other five countries.

Innovation success in the various technology sectors differs among countries including China in part because of different national cultures – the norms and values that guide and constrain both the individuals in societies and the societies at large.

The values the paper assigns to eight cultural characteristics for China and other five countries are based on qualitative interviews and more scientific survey is needed.

Increased understanding of how different national cultures influence innovation will give managers and policy makers improved opportunities to formulate policies and management practices that can overcome cultural barriers and take advantage of cultural assets.

The paper offers a starting point for the investigation of the impact of national cultures on technological innovation in different technology sectors.