The Innovation Journey presents the results of a major longitudinal study that examined the process of innovation from concept to implementation of new technologies, products, processes, and administrative arrangements. Its findings call into question most of the explanations of the innovation process that have been proposed in the past. The Minnesota Innovation Research Program, on which this book is based, involved over 30 researchers who undertook longitudinal studies that tracked the development of 14 diverse innovations in real time and in their natural field settings. Studying its results, the authors find that the innovation journey is neither sequential and orderly, nor is it a matter of random trial and error; rather it is best characterized as a nonlinear dynamic system. The system consists of a cycle of divergent and convergent activities that may be repeated over time and at different organizational levels if enabling and constraining conditions are present. This divergent-convergent cycle is found to be the underlying dynamic that explains the development of corporate cultures for innovation, learning among innovation team members, leadership behaviors of top managers or investors, building relationships and joint ventures with other organizations, and developing an industrial infrastructure for innovation. Resource investments and organizational structure enable this innovation cycle, while external institutional rules and internal focus draw the boundaries of the journey. The authors conclude with advice for innovation managers and entrepreneurs: learn to "go with the flow," because while they can learn to maneuver through the innovation journey, they cannot control its flow.
Review quote:
One of the most elaborate studies of temporal and processual aspects of innovation that applies longitudinal tracking of innovations ... offers guidance to innovation managers and entrepreneurs who need to know more than the starting conditions and investments that are required to achieve desired outcomes ... a nice example of productive research management in innovation research.
This is a study of the innovation process in 14 areas over 15 years. It argues that the innovation process can best be described as being a nonlinear dynamic system.
Review quote:
One of the most elaborate studies of temporal and processual aspects of innovation that applies longitudinal tracking of innovations ... offers guidance to innovation managers and entrepreneurs who need to know more than the starting conditions and investments that are required to achieve desired outcomes ... a nice example of productive research management in innovation research.
This is a study of the innovation process in 14 areas over 15 years. It argues that the innovation process can best be described as being a nonlinear dynamic system.