The formal organization structure of research innovation centers: a case-study in search of characteristics and an explanation

Abstract

This study sheds light on research innovation centers in a Norwegian setting. Research innovation centers are a hybrid of research groups and innovation centers and belong to the higher education (HE) sector. The aim of this study is to identify the formal organization structure of two cases of research innovation centers and to find a suitable explanation through the analysis of its institutional pillars, according to W. R. Scott (2014). In a qualitative case-analysis it was found that the two cases share most of their characteristics in the formal organization structure. The main findings in both cases are a) a low level of centralization; b) a low level of formalization; and c) a high level of professionalization and specialization (staff composition). The cases differ in their overall order, mainly due to different leadership structures. Further, a second analysis shows that all those findings can be explained by different parts of the cases’ institutional pillars, and thus by different isomorphism mechanisms. The predominant one is the normative isomorphism, as described by DiMaggio and Powell (1983). This study is a first empirical contribution to discuss research innovation centers from an organizational perspective. Future research should take new perspectives to expand the knowledge and understanding of this field.