Investigating innovation in complex health care supply networks: an initial conceptual framework

Abstract

This paper explores the constraints and enablers of the process of innovation within the context of UK health care supply networks. Building on a comprehensive literature review of established and recent innovation and supply network research, the paper presents three levels of supply network analysis: sector level supply networks, focal organization supply networks and dyadic supply relationships. The paper reports on the first round of fieldwork conducted with 12 different health care organizations. The three different levels are applied during analysis and the findings are considered in terms of the key themes that have emerged and the practical and theoretical challenges that they represent.