The ability to successfully innovate on a sustained basis is critical in today�s �hyper-competitive� environment characterised by increasingly rapid technological change and shortening product life cycles, and where competitors quickly imitate sources of competitive advantage. At the same time, organisations find managing innovation difficult; both larger firms who fight to avoid being outplayed by smaller, more nimble competitors, and smaller firms struggling to compete against the resources and reach of larger, global competitors.
This research develops an assessment instrument designed to assist organisations to improve their ability to innovate. An inductive, case-based methodology is adopted utilising action research techniques to develop the Innovation Capability Assessment instrument. The starting point of the research was an extensive analysis of the corporate entrepreneurship and innovation literature. The literature provided a basis for understanding what question areas might need to be included in such an instrument and led to the development of an initial theoretical framework and a preliminary assessment instrument.
The preliminary assessment instrument was further developed and refined via five exploratory case studies. Three subsequent confirmatory case studies were used to validate the instrument�s effectiveness. The case studies were carried out at Australian organisations operating within a variety of industries and of varying sizes, all of whom were looking to improve their innovation performance. Data was collected through interviews with key members of each organisation and through assessment and action planning workshops involving participants from a cross-section of each organisation. The case studies led to additional assessment questions being added to the instrument, and the rationalisation of others.
This research identifies the enablers of organisational innovation and finds that these are common to all the case organisations involved in the fieldwork. The innovation enablers form the basis of the Innovation Capability Assessment instrument that measures innovation performance against 21 questions within three key assessment areas: strategic management of innovation, the internal environment, and a series of innovation competencies. The relative importance of each innovation enabler to the organisation is also assessed.
The Innovation Capability Assessment instrument is shown to be very relevant across a variety of organisation types and sizes. In addition, it is useful for an organisation to identify and prioritise weaknesses, and develop actions for improving their innovation capability.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/216676 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Ottaviano, Michael Edward, mikeottaviano@hotmail.com |
| Publisher | Swinburne University of Technology. Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.swin.edu.au/), Copyright Michael Edward Ottaviano |
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