Creative Tension in the Innovation Process: How to Support the Right Capabilities
Journal
European Management Journal
ISSN
0263-2373
ISSN-Digital
1873-5681
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2007-02-01
Author(s)
Perez-freije, Javier
;
Enkel, Ellen
Abstract
The degree to which a firm needs creativity and discipline - the elements of creative tension to which this paper refers - depends on the speed with which the industry changes. While some degree of freedom and flexibility is essential for productive innovation teams, management is faced with the challenge of instituting control mechanisms that lead projects in the right strategic direction, and monitor firms' progress towards their organizational and project goals. However, the wrong type of control system may constrain firms' capabilities.
Determinants of innovative behavior, such as leadership and autonomy, can explain the relationship between innovation strategy, managerial control and organizational behavior but have not yet been applied to examine the differences in various innovation control systems' design.
We analyzed 12 successful practice companies' innovation control systems by means of these determinants in order to define how supportive or counterproductive they are in respect of increasing R&D effectiveness and efficiency. We identified three archetypes of innovation control system design, each of which depends on the dynamics of the industry in which companies act. Strategic assumptions were derived from these archetypical designs to provide useful guidelines for management who confront multi-faceted and complicated control situations.
Determinants of innovative behavior, such as leadership and autonomy, can explain the relationship between innovation strategy, managerial control and organizational behavior but have not yet been applied to examine the differences in various innovation control systems' design.
We analyzed 12 successful practice companies' innovation control systems by means of these determinants in order to define how supportive or counterproductive they are in respect of increasing R&D effectiveness and efficiency. We identified three archetypes of innovation control system design, each of which depends on the dynamics of the industry in which companies act. Strategic assumptions were derived from these archetypical designs to provide useful guidelines for management who confront multi-faceted and complicated control situations.
Language
English
Keywords
Innovation Management
Innovation Control System; Organizational Behavior; Industry Dynamic
Contingency Approach
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Pergamon Press
Publisher place
Oxford
Volume
25
Number
1
Start page
11
End page
24
Pages
14
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
32298