For almost 20 years, Fidelity has been conducting primary research to understand decision-making among institutional investors and provide a benchmark for firms of varying types and sizes. Using a new framework we call the Investment Innovators Curve, this year’s study is designed to help firms define and understand the philosophical drivers of their organization’s processes and investment approach.

This framework has been adapted from the diffusion of innovations theory, which identifies how innovative ideas spread. One part of the theory categorizes people and organizations based on how readily they adopt new ideas, placing them on an adoption curve.

We believe that adapting and applying this theory in the context of investment management can provide institutions with new and meaningful insights into the levers that they and their peers push on while pursuing their portfolio objectives.