Understanding Innovation As Process

Abstract

Innovation processes will always be characterised by tensions, controversies and conflicts. While conflict, of course, is not very pleasant for any participating actor, it is a precondition for learning, change and innovation within and across organisations. Friction is likely to produce resistance as well as release creativity. On the one hand, tensions tend to arise when status quo is challenged, or when people’s positions are threatened. On the other hand, tensions can release new thinking, and produce action towards goals novel to the organisation. This is the point of departure for this study of how knowledge and technology are developed and commercialised in industrial settings.