The ability of an organization to innovate, creates one of the most sufficient standards to keep the competitive position and ensure further growth. There exists a well-founded assumption that small and middle sized companies do not pay enough attention to innovation management. The thesis investigates a process called an innovation audit - it is a tool used for evaluation of innovation management and its current state in a company called Memsource a.s. The goal of the thesis is by using innovation audit to identify strengths and weaknesses of all spheres that affect innovations and also suggest efficient improvements in all areas related to innovative management in Memsource a.s. The results of a process of the innovation audit provides us with a whole scheme of a truthful and profound situation concerning innovation management of the company. The suggestions were made in order to enhance innovation efficiency of the company.

Orientadores: Sérgio Luiz Monteiro Salles-Filho, José Luiz Pereira Brittes / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T08:39:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pfitzner_MarianaSavedra_D.pdf: 3862118 bytes, checksum: 9a91b33404d084ed4ec0400408836816 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Esta tese analisa os Sistemas Setoriais de Inovação (SSIs) de energia e mineração brasileiros, comparando-os com os de outros três países (Canadá, Alemanha e Austrália) e mostra evidências de que os SSIs e seu respectivo modelo de gestão da inovação co-evoluem e são coerentes em seus níveis de desenvolvimento. Os SSIs são pautados pelas relações mercadológicas e não-mercadológicas entre seus atores, isto é, empresas, governos e Instituições de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICTs). A avaliação dos SSIs de energia e mineração aqui proposta está fundamentada em três eixos, que representam o macroambiente (externo à empresa), assim como no conjunto de estruturas (fatores determinantes), processos e ferramentas de gestão da inovação, pertencentes ao microambiente empresarial. Quanto ao macroambiente, o Eixo 1 constitui-se da dinâmica produtiva e de C,T&I do Brasil e demais países, derivada da análise das cadeias produtivas e da construção de indicadores setoriais de esforço e desempenho, os quais ajudam a caracterizar a densidade dos SSIs brasileiros vis-à-vis o Canadá, a Alemanha e a Austrália. O Eixo 2 descreve os grupos de atores comuns a todos os países e avalia seu protagonismo, presença, influência e dependência nos respectivos SSIs. O Eixo 3 analisa marcos e diplomas legais favoráveis à difusão da inovação. Por seu turno, a caracterização do microambiente empresarial é feita por intermédio de multiple case studies e de indicadores de esforço e desempenho em seis empresas brasileiras (Vale, Samarco, Cemig, CPFL, Furnas e Eletronorte). Na condução dos estudos de caso mapearam-se estratégias, processos de gestão da inovação, ferramentas, governança e aspectos da cultura empresarial que são comuns às empresas. Tem-se que a gestão da inovação nas organizações pesquisadas co-evolui com o macroambiente dos SSIs ¿ os quais não têm densidade ¿ e está adstrita ao desenvolvimento desses / Abstract: This PhD analyses the Brazilian Sectoral Systems of Innovation (SSIs) for energy and mining by comparing them with other countries (Canada, Germany and Australia) and it also shows evidences that the model of innovation management in organizations co-evolve coherently with the requirements of the SSI. The SSIs are based on market and non-market relations, including companies, government and Science and Technology Institutions (STIs). The proposed evaluation of the SSIs for energy and mining is based on three axes that represent the macroenvironment (outside companies¿ boarders) and a group of structures as well as innovation management processes and tools, which belong to the microenvironment. Regarding the macroenvironment, the first axis is formed by the productive and ST&I (Science, Technology and Innovation) dynamics particularly on the productive chains and performance indicators. This axis characterize Brazilian¿s SSIs density vis-à-vis the Canadian, German and Australian ones. The second Axis describes common groups of actors for the selected countries and evaluates their role, presence, influence and dependence regarding their SSIs. The third axis analyses the legal aspects that foster innovation diffusion. The characterization of the organizational microenvironment is carried by multiple case studies and indicators that measure effort and performance in six Brazilian companies (Vale, Samarco, Cemig, CPFL, Furnas and Eletronote). While analysing the case studies, the strategies, processes of innovation management, governance and aspects of the organizational culture that are common to the companies have been raised. Therefore, innovation management in organizations co-evolves with the macroenvironment of the Brazilian SSIs ¿ which do not have density ¿ and its development is attached to them / Doutorado / Politica Cientifica e Tecnologica / Doutora em Política Científica e Tecnológica

[ES] Fostering innovativeness in every team of a company is essential in order to stay competitive today. However, little is known about the real effect of measures to improve a team's innovativeness. The purpose of this dissertation is to test the impact of such measures to support human resource development. A mixed method triangulation research strategy was applied. Two approaches for measuring innovation performance were developed based on a structured literature review and qualitative expert interviews: One based on the idea of counting innovations along the steps of the innovation process (counting tool) and one which also integrates the value of the innovations into the assessment (valuing tool). A pretest-posttest control group design was used while conducting a quasi-experiment with 18 teams of a German insurance company. Findings were two-fold: On the one hand the validity of the counting tool to measure innovation performance of teams could be proven. Despite strongly correlating results this was not possible with regard to the valuing tool. On the other hand, they suggest a statistically significant effect of the measures on innovativeness, particularly implementing a pin board and providing employees with time for innovations can be recommended. The results provide a new perspective on measuring innovativeness and extends existing frameworks for future academic investigations. Additionally, it can be used by managers to invest in and select effective measures to improve the innovativeness of teams. / [CA] Fomentar la innovación en todos los equipos de una empresa es esencial para seguir siendo competitivo hoy en día. Sin embargo, se sabe poco sobre el efecto real de las medidas para mejorar la capacidad de innovación de un equipo. El propósito de este trabajo es probar el impacto de tales medidas para apoyar el desarrollo de los recursos humanos. Se aplicó una estrategia de investigación de triangulación con métodos mixtos. Se desarrollaron dos enfoques para medir el rendimiento de la innovación basados en una revisión estructurada de la literatura y en entrevistas cualitativas con expertos: Una basada en la idea de contar el número de las innovaciones a lo largo de los pasos del proceso de innovación (herramienta de recuento) y otra basada en la integración del valor de las innovaciones en la evaluación (herramienta de valoración). Se utilizó un diseño de grupo de control antes y después de la prueba mientras se realizaba un cuasi-experimento con 18 equipos de una compañía de seguros alemana. Los resultados fueron dobles: Por un lado, se pudo comprobar la validez de la herramienta de recuento para medir el rendimiento de innovación de los equipos. A pesar de la fuerte correlación de los resultados, esto no fue posible con respecto a la herramienta de valoración. Por otra parte, sugieren un efecto estadísticamente significativo de las medidas sobre la capacidad de innovación, en particular la implantación de un tablón de anuncios y la concesión de tiempo a los empleados para innovar. Los resultados proporcionan una nueva perspectiva para medir la capacidad de innovación y amplían los marcos existentes para futuras investigaciones académicas. Además, pueden ser utilizados por los directivos para invertir y seleccionar medidas eficaces para mejorar la capacidad de innovación de los equipos. / [EN] Fomentar la innovació en tots els equips d'una empresa és essencial per continuar sent competitiu avui en dia. No obstant això, se sap poc sobre l'efecte real de les mesures per a millorar la capacitat d'innovació d'un equip. El propòsit d'aquest treball és provar l'impacte d'aquestes mesures per donar suport al desenvolupament dels recursos humans. Es va aplicar una estratègia d'investigació de triangulació amb mètodes mixtes. Es van desenvolupar dos enfocaments per mesurar el rendiment de la innovació basats en una revisió estructurada de la literatura i en entrevistes qualitatives amb experts: Una basada en la idea de comptar el nombre de les innovacions al llarg dels passos del procés d'innovació (eina de recompte) i una altra basada en la integració del valor de les innovacions en l'avaluació (eina de valoració). Es va utilitzar un disseny de grup de control abans i després de la prova mentre es realitzava un quasi-experiment amb 18 equips d'una companyia d'assegurances alemanya. Els resultats van ser dobles: D'una banda, es va poder comprovar la validesa de l'eina de recompte per mesurar el rendiment d'innovació dels equips. Tot i la forta correlació dels resultats, això no va ser possible pel que fa a l'eina de valoració. D'altra banda, suggereixen un efecte estadísticament significatiu de les mesures sobre la capacitat d'innovació, en particular la implantació d'un tauler d'anuncis i la concessió de temps als empleats per innovar. Els resultats proporcionen una nova perspectiva per mesurar la capacitat d'innovació i amplien els marcs existents per a futures investigacions acadèmiques. A més, poden ser utilitzats pels directius per invertir i seleccionar mesures eficaces per millorar la capacitat d'innovació dels equips. / Ter Haar, PJ. (2020). Measuring the impact of specific activities to improve innovation capacity of teams in a German insurance company [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/141083

Yes / In view of the burgeoning scholarly works on big data and big data analytical capabilities, there remains limited research on how different access to big data and different big data analytic capabilities possessed by firms can generate diverse conditions leading to business failure. To fill this gap in the existing literature, an integrated framework was developed that entailed two approaches to big data as an asset (i.e. threshold resource and distinctive resource) and two types of competences in big data analytics (i.e. threshold competence and distinctive/core competence). The analysis provides insights into how ordinary big data analytic capability and mere possession of big data are more likely to create conditions for business failure. The study extends the existing streams of research by shedding light on decisions and processes in facilitating or hampering firms’ ability to harness big data to mitigate the cause of business failures. The analysis led to the categorization of a number of fruitful avenues for research on data-driven approaches to business failure.

The rapid convergence of collaborative technologies, democratisation of digital communication and consumerisation of Smart Grid infrastructure (i.e.: smart metering and distribution substation automation) have faltered the efficacy of centralised command-and-control and its insular sub-culture. For complex firms in today's creative economy, this infers that management innovation (MI)—“an induced managerial capacity to search for novel ways to create value”, is rapidly becoming liabilities unless it is innovatively managed for overcoming the inertia of discontinuity opportunities. The raison d'être of this thesis is to investigate the generative managerial processes through which MI can be fostered for experimentation and innovatively managed for acceleration. It comprises four qualitative case studies that involved in-depth interviews, surveys, public records and archival documentaries of four Canadian energy and utilities organisations. The conclusions are fascinating both expected and unanticipated. I found that many, if not most, of the contemporaneous routines of pyramidal target-setting and benchmark-driven cultures are ubiquitously evident. Business planning and risk management still function, albeit the objects of those tenets are different. These quasi-objects include, but are not limited to, organic structures, web-enabled paradigm, pragmatic mindset of middle-down-up crowdsourcing and fragmented evaluation of efforts to evoke the innovative management of management innovation (IMMI). Further adjacent to the quest for driving renewed growth, a new governing dynamic is hinging upon the IMMI that forges a pattern for resiliency and sustainability. Managers capitalise on the epistemic IMMI to regain competitive advantage while enduring endogenous fiefdoms and exogenous disruptions. They catalyse information semantically, harness collective capability effectively, stage prolifically faster MI experimentations and accelerate the cycle of MI more pervasively. I henceforth propose a unified managerial process, dubbed the "Cloverleaf 4S Model" (Strategise—Synchronise—Steward—Sustain). Implicit in this approach, managers believe that their finely-tailored practices epitomise an evolutionary process of deliberate selection in the pursuit for distinctive MI capabilities and expanding authority dynamics in the managership. This allows for self-adaptive mechanisms shifting from silos to swarming as well as the indigenous aspects of IMMI practices—exaptation, cognitive flexibility, speed to adaptation and executional excellence. The implication of this study presents heuristical insights to managers in galvanising perennial innovation and unlocking their IMMI to build an agile, intelligent enterprise.

Aim: Innovation gets to be the pivotal factor for surviving and sustaining a business in the long term. The scenario of innovation management could be performed in a very particular way among developed, developing, and under-developed countries. We have found a gap, that no comparative research has been done among different geographical areas, especially in hotel industry innovation sectors yet. The main aim of this thesis is to identify how two different countries from different regions are practicing their innovation management process. Method: An explanatory sequential mixed method had been used to develop our study where both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through surveys and interviews. To analyse the data a deductive technique was approached by using an established innovation management process framework; named ‘SPOTS' model, developed by Tidd (2001).  Results & Conclusions: There exist noticeable differences between Sweden and Bangladesh in terms of time management, budget, strategy, communication and others which also showcase why Sweden is the leading country in the matter of innovation. In the meantime, in spite of having enough human resources and materials Bangladesh is fighting to implement successful innovations due to the lack of guidance, strategy, and budget. Contribution of the thesis: We have conducted comparative research in the hotel industry in Bangladesh and Sweden, which represents the innovation management scenario in developed and developing countries. It also addresses the point of improvements for the respective countries. Our thesis will be helpful for future researchers who will conduct further studies in the hospitality industry of different economical background nations. Suggestions for future research: This thesis is limited to two countries, two hotels, and managerial views of the organization in innovation management. The future researcher could utilize the scope to work with a large sample size in different hotels in different nations. Moreover, further studies could be done to discuss and test all the five elements of the SPOTS model, developed by (Tidd, 2001) in the hotel industry.

Measuring innovation as a strategic objective allows companies to gauge their performance and  stay competitive. This study examines how the introduction of a metrics-oriented governance  tool can be used to strengthen the innovation performance in an industrial setting. Key  dimensions of capabilities for innovation are identified, and the role of measurement in allowing  a company to become more innovative is discussed. The core findings of the study suggest that  the most prominent innovation capabilities are cross-functional collaboration, organisational  culture, knowledge integrating mechanisms and the existence of a formulated innovation strategy.  These capabilities should not be measured or analysed separately as they depend on each other.  Therefore the set of metrics proposed in this study are meant to provide a holistic view of the  wide range of capabilities that together form the basis for the companies innovativeness.   From a practice-oriented perspective, the thesis aims to build on these two sets of analysis to  propose a set of metrics for the monitoring of innovation capabilities at a specific large,  Swedish-based industrial company. The analysis of the innovation capabilities at the case  company serves as a diagnostary basis for understanding the issues regarding the organisations  innovativeness. A need for further research on how the innovation strategy can be aligned with  the business strategy of the company would be beneficial is also identified. / Genom att mäta innovation som ett strategiskt mål kan företag utvärdera sin prestationsförmåga  samt vidhålla sin konkurrenskraft. Den här studien undersöker hur introduktionen av ett  mätorienterat styrmedel kan stärka innovationsförmågan hos ett företag, verksamt i en industriell  miljö. Därav identifieras nyckelfaktorer som utgör ett företags innovationsförmåga samt  diskuteras rollen som mätning spelar i företagets innovationsarbete. Studien lyfter fram  tvärfunktionellt samarbete, organisationskultur, kunskapsintegrerande mekanismer samt att ha en  formulerad innovationsstrategi som de viktigaste faktorerna för företagets innovationsförmåga.  Dessa faktorer bör inte mätas separat då de till stor del beror av varandra. Därför ämnar de  mätetal som föreslås i den här studien att skapa en holistisk bild av den mängd faktorer som  tillsammans utgör företagets innovationsförmåga.  Praktiskt innebär detta att studien tar avstamp i två analysområden för att föreslå en samling  mätetal som kan användas för att överblicka innovationsförmågan hos ett specifikt större  industriellt företag. Analysen av faktorerna bakom företagets innovationsförmåga bygger en  teoretisk bas för tolkandet av identifierade innovationsproblem inom organisationen. Författarna  identifierar även ett behov av vidare studier som undersöker hur företagets innovationsstrategi  kan sammanlänkas med affärsstrategin.

The field of innovation management has gained extensive knowledge; however, there has been a tendency to study its various aspects in isolation rather than with a systems perspective, resulting in a potential oversight of interconnections between important aspects. While systems perspectives have been employed in organization and management research for over half a century, systems perspectives have more recently gained relevance in innovation management research. A sign of the growing relevance is the creation of an international guidance standard for innovation management systems, ISO 56002, published in 2019. Research indicates that implementing innovation management systems, with or without using a standard, has facilitated the transition from ad hoc practices to more integrated ones. Thus, it is interesting to investigate how systems approaches influence innovation capabilities. Furthermore, managing radical and incremental innovation may require different approaches, which presents challenges, particularly for large companies that prioritize projects typically involving incremental innovation. Consequently, studying how incremental and radical innovation are influenced when managing both types within the same system becomes relevant. In this study, the concept of systemicity was used to describe how systemic a system is through three system dimensions comprehensiveness, coherence and correspondence, which overlap with those commonly used in literature to describe and define a system. The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of innovation management from a systems perspective by investigating how different systemic dimensions influence and relate to innovation capabilities, analysing these capabilities from a systems perspective, exploring hindrances and opportunities with a systems approach, and investigating the relationship between these systemic dimensions and incremental and radical innovation capabilities respectively. The study was part of a research project with the overarching aim to investigate important future development trends and evaluate the innovation capabilities of the Swedish metallic materials industryto use as a basis to develop strategies for how the industry can support the transition towards sustainability. A multiple-case study of two companies within the metallic materials industry was conducted using an abductive approach, including a literature study, data collection, coding, and analysis. Semi-structured interviews were employed, where interview questions were based on the ISO 56002 standard and its seven system elements. The analysis involved within-case and cross-case analysis. The findings from the study imply that having capabilities related to all seven system elements seem to be important for an organization's overall innovation capability, highlighting the significance of comprehensiveness. The interconnections between elements highlight the significance of coherence, and establishing correspondence between capabilities and goals enhances innovation capability. While exhibiting comprehensiveness, coherence, and correspondence is beneficial, the suitable level of systemicity remains uncertain. Further research is needed to determine the balance between systemicity and flexibility for effective support of innovation capabilities. Furthermore, in relation to managing incremental and radical innovation together, the study indicates the importance of considering systemicity to identify opportunities and hindrances when managing both types in the same system. The analysis of comprehensiveness highlights the need for distinct management approaches and capabilities for each innovation type. The analysis of coherence emphasizes the importance of considering interdependencies between system elements to avoid obstacles resulting from interdependencies being overlooked. The analysis of correspondence suggests separate goal setting for incremental and radical innovation due to their distinct objectives and outcomes. Based on the method and findings, a tentative framework was developed for analysis and evaluation of innovation management systemicity. / Trots att det finns mycket kunskap om innovationsledning har det funnits en tendens att studera olika aspekter inom området separat snarare än med ett systemperspektiv, vilket har resulterat i att viktiga samband mellan olika aspekter potentiellt har förbisetts. Systemperspektiv har använts i över 50 år inom organisationsforskning men har på senare år fått ökad relevans inom forskningen om innovationsledning. Ett tecken på denna ökande relevans är skapandet av en internationell vägledande standard för innovationsledningssystem, ISO 56002, som publicerades 2019. Forskning har visat att implementering av innovationsledningssystem genom att använda en standard eller inte, har underlättat för organisationer att övergå från ad hoc till mer integrerade innovationsledningsmetoder. Därför är det intressant att studera hur innovationsförmåga påverkas av att ta en systemansats till innovationsledning. Vidare kan hantering av radikal och inkrementell innovation kräva olika tillvägagångssätt, vilket skapar utmaningar, särskilt för stora företag eftersom de prioriterar projekt som oftast inkluderar inkrementell innovation. Därför är det relevant att studera hur inkrementell respektive radikal innovation påverkas av att hanteras inom samma system. I denna studie används begreppet systemiskhet (eng: systemicity) för att beskriva hur systemiskt ett system är genom tre systemdimensioner: omfattning (eng: comprehensiveness), sammankoppling (eng: coherence) och överrensstämmelse (eng: correspondence), vilka överlappar med dimensioner som vanligtvis används i litteraturen för att beskriva och definiera ett system. Syftet med studien var att få en bättre förståelse för innovationsledning ur ett systemperspektiv genom att undersöka hur olika systemdimensioner påverkar och relaterar till innovationsförmåga, analysera dessa förmågor ur ett systemperspektiv, utforska hinder och möjligheter med en systemansats, samt undersöka förhållandet mellan dessa systemdimensioner och inkrementell respektive radikal innovationsförmåga. Studien ingick i ett forskningsprojekt med det övergripande syftet att undersöka viktiga framtida utvecklingstrender och utvärdera den svenska metallindustrins innovationsförmåga för att använda som grund för att ta fram strategier för hur industrin kan stödja omställningen mot hållbarhet. En flerfallsstudie av två företag inom metallindustrin genomfördes med en abduktiv metod, inklusive en litteraturstudie, datainsamling, kodning och analys. Semistrukturerade intervjuer användes, där intervjufrågorna baserades på ISO 56002 och dess sju systemelement. Analysen gjordes i två steg genom att först analysera varje företag för sig och sedan jämföra de två fallen med varandra. Resultaten visar på vikten av att ha förmågor relaterade till alla sju systemelementen för en organisations övergripande innovationsförmåga, vilket lyfter fram betydelsen av dimensionen omfattning. Sammankopplingarna mellan element framhäver betydelsen av systemdimensionen sammankoppling, och att etablera överensstämmelse mellan förmågor och mål förbättrar innovationsförmågan. Även om studien pekar på att det är fördelaktigt för en organisation att uppvisa omfattning, sammankoppling och överrensstämmelse i sitt arbete med innovationsledning, kan resultaten inte användas för att dra slutsatser om vilken nivå av systemiskhet som är lämplig. Därför behövs ytterligare forskning för att fastställa balansen mellan systemiskhet och flexibilitet för att effektivt stödja innovationsförmåga. I relation till att hantera inkrementell och radikal innovation tillsammans, visar studien på vikten av att ta systemiskhet i beaktning för att identifiera möjligheter och hinder vid hantering av båda typerna av innovation i samma system. Analysen av omfattning belyser behovet av olika hantering och olika innovationsförmågor i relation till varje innovationstyp. Analysen av sammankoppling betonar vikten av att studera beroenden mellan systemelement för att undvika att hinder som uppstår av kopplingarna blir förbisedda. Analysen av överrensstämmelse föreslår separata målsättningar för inkrementell och radikal innovation på grund av deras distinkta mål och resultat. Baserat på metoden och resultaten har ett tentativt ramverk tagits fram i syfte att användas för analys och utvärdering av systemiskhet i innovationsledning.

The United States has high failure rates of small businesses, with 50% of new small business establishments failing during the first 5 years, and 60% of small business owners failing within the first 6 years of business operation. Small retail services business owners help provide job creation as a driver of growth for the U.S. economy. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies small retail services business owners use to sustain their business for 5 years or more in San Diego County, California, with entrepreneurship theory as the conceptual framework. A purposive sample of 2 successful small retail services business participated in the interview process describing their perspectives. The research question aim was to identify strategies that successful small retail services business owners apply to sustain their business beyond 5 years. Coding keywords, sentences, and ideas from semistructured interviews and document analysis into categories was the key for the data analysis using method triangulation. Six themes emerged: (a) education and training skills acquired, (b) motivation, (c) brand awareness, (d) community involvement, (e) client loyalty, and (f) small business survival tactics. According to the responses of the participants, brand awareness and client loyalty were the most vital strategies to sustain business more than 5 years. The implications for social change include the potential to provide new strategies to support small retail services business toward sustainability; create strong relationships between small business; and enhance perceptions of community in order to increase sales, revenue, and job creation.

Background: The Supply Chain department at the division Sandvik Machining Solutions within Sandvik AB have found a need of introducing a process for managing innovation within the organization in order to gain competitive advantages and to stay on the leading edge in their field. Research Questions: 1. How can a generic model for managing innovation within the supply chain look like? 2. How can an innovation process be configured and managed in order to create and manage new ideas in the supply chain? Methodology: An exploratory case study approach to answer the research questions has been conducted in order to develop a model for innovation management within a supply chain of large manufacturing firm. The data collection methods have been interviews and from internal documentation. The interviews have been conducted with managers at Sandvik Machining Solutions within the SCM department, R&D department (innovation manager) and sales departments. The amount of correspondents has been no more than the amount 10 because of the empirical evidence it will result in otherwise and the time limit of this research. The fact that this is a case study, based on a single company, our findings will not be completely generalizable to other populations, but it can be generalizable to some extent if applied to similar companies and situations. To increase the validity of this research, the model could have been tested and evaluated. Findings and Results: The results showed that there is a need of becoming more innovative within the supply chain. Moreover, to get inputs through-out the organization we have also received significant information regarding e.g. the supply chain strategies, innovation and customer needs. These inputs have been analyzed in order to develop an innovation management process that will fit a supply chain department. The model also provides a structured approach to create and manage new ideas in within the Supply Chain.