Information impediments to innovation of on-line database vendors

摘要

Who decides to improve the information retrieval software for on-line bibliographic or full-text database searching? On what basis do the organizations that make these databases available decide? Are they familiar with known and relatively easy ways to improve retrieval (i.e., of program enhancements that allow for the present kinds of querying without requiring new data structures)? Do they study possible changes in retrieval software in depth or do they just pick some and try them? How important are financial considerations in their decisions to innovate or to wait? These questions are answered on the basis of a telephone survey of 37 on-line vendors.