Innovation research has long been dominated by two theory-method bundles, which, however, only deal with a rather small section of this broad field. With the now published HSR Special Issue "Methods of Innovation Research: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches" the editors want to overcome this "extreme self-limitation". In their contribution, Susanne Schön and Dörte Ohlhorst present the analytical and formative power of the inter- and transdisciplinary bridging concept of constellation analysis.

Using two concrete examples, they explain how constellation analysis works, what its potentials are, and what its limitations are. It is ideally suited for tracing the multi-layered elements, relationships and developments in innovation processes in so-called innovation biographies. By comparing different innovation biographies, phases and patterns become clear, and the effects of steering and other interventions can also be observed. These insights are in turn valuable for the design of innovation processes. With its mapping methodology, constellation analysis makes it possible to visualize desired development directions and to design innovation processes proactively and systematically.