Making connections: the importance of human relationships in innovative practice

For many years, the pharmaceutical industry has been one of the leaders in innovation through R&D and its impact has had both economic and social significance. This paper reports on an exploratory case study of one Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) in the pharmaceutical domain. Here, two geographically dispersed business divisions within the same larger parent company are concerned separately with the development of pharmaceuticals (or drugs) and a wide range of new drug delivery devices (or appliances). To successfully bring these devices to market, the effectiveness of the active and interactive relationships between associates working within this creative and stimulating environment needs to be developed. This research examines these relationships. It compares the relationship dynamics of samples of personnel from within and between the two divisions. The paper maps and discusses these relationships with regard to activities like advice, help, and problem-solving and reflects on their likely impact on product innovation. It suggests a number of specific outcomes for the company’s senior management. Finally, the paper speculates on the further use of Social Network Analysis (SNA), the diagnostic tool that underpins this study, in the explanation of more subtle but significant underlying motivations likely to be important in the future management of product innovation