The International Journal on Media Management, 14:183–206, 2012
Copyright © Institute for Media and Communications Management
ISSN: 1424-1277 print/1424-1250 online
DOI: 10.1080/14241277.2011.633584
Putting the Management into Innovation &
Media Management Studies: A Meta-Analysis
GEORGE SYLVIE
University of Texas at Austin, USA
AMY SCHMITZ WEISS
San Diego State University, USA
The study of management of innovation is crucial to media
management research, helping explain how technology diffu-
sion affects the communication industry and providing a glimpse
into its future. This meta-analysis looks at the recent his-
tory of mass communication scholarship (1983–2008), address-
ing newsroom changes to determine whether a mainstream
managerial theory—sociotechnical literature—garners adequate
use. The researchers discovered numerous references—mostly indi-
rect—to sociotechnical systems (STS) theory, yet found sporadic use
of a true managerial emphasis as expressed through the analysis of
STS theory’s principles- and frames-specific theoretical framework.
Implications of the findings and future, alternative directions for
research are proposed.
Today’s rapidly changing news media environment means changes in jour-
nalistic work, including working with new innovations of systems and
technologies but having limited resources to get the news published and
available to the public. Innovations can help or hinder news: They can help
in terms of time and efficiency while also hindering the news process in
terms of quality and productivity (Sylvie & Gade, 2009).
As a result, media managers and scholars need to track innovations to
understand their implications. Not only is the study of management of inno-
vation crucial to media management research (Picard, 2003), but it helps
explain how technology diffusion affects the communication industry and
Address correspondence to George Sylvie, School of Journalism, College of
Communication, University of Texas at Austin, 2504A Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78712–0115.
E-mail: g.sylvie@mail.utexas.edu
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