Innovation processes: Which process for which project?

• Published in: Technovation Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 59 - 70
• Main Authors: Salerno, Mario Sergio, Gomes, Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos, Silva, Débora Oliveira da, Bagno, Raoni Barros, Freitas, Simone Lara Teixeira Uchôa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2015; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Contingency; Contingency approach; Data analysis; Diffusion; Innovation; Innovation diffusion; Innovation management; Innovation organization; Innovation processes; Innovations; New product development (NPD); Phases; Product development; Project evaluation; Resource allocation; Sales; Studies; Taxonomy; Technological change; Vocabularies & taxonomies; Innovation management; New product development (NPD); Innovation processes; Innovation organization; Contingency approach
• ISSN: 0166-4972; 1879-2383
• DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2014.07.012

The innovation process has traditionally been understood as a predefined sequence of phases: idea generation, selection, development, and launch/diffusion/sales. Drawing upon contingency theory, we argue that innovation process may follow a number of different paths. Our research focuses on a clear theoretical and managerial question, i.e., how does a firm organize and plan resource allocation for those innovation processes that do not easily fit into traditional models. This question, in turn, leads to our research question: Which configuration of innovation processes and resource allocation should be employed in a given situation, and what is the rationale behind the choice? Based on a large-scale study analyzing 132 innovation projects in 72 companies, we propose a taxonomy of eight different innovation processes with specific rationales that depend on a project׳s contingencies. •Not all innovation projects fit in the traditional linear process from-idea-to-launch.•Which configuration and rationale of the innovation process for which situation?•We researched 132 cases of innovation projects in 72 companies.•We propose eight types of innovation processes according to specific contingencies.•Uncertainties shape the structure and the content of the innovation process.