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Innovation Dissonance in Mature Firms: Barriers to Radical Product Innovation

Lietz, Annemie LU and van der Veen, Sjoerd LU (2018) BUSN49 20181
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
This master thesis contributes to the field of innovation research by developing a further understanding and elaboration of innovation barriers from an individual perspective. In this study, we aim to explore what the inhibiting factors in radical innovation processes in mature industries and what their implications for employee actions are. These contributions to the field are made possible through a hermeneutic case study. We have conducted 13 semi-structured interviews at a Swedish medium-sized, mature company. We identified that employees may engage in ‘defensive routines’ (Argyris, 1993) when they are experiencing Cognitive Dissonance (Festinger, 1957). We approach this in light of the social constructionism of Berger and Luckmann... (More)
This master thesis contributes to the field of innovation research by developing a further understanding and elaboration of innovation barriers from an individual perspective. In this study, we aim to explore what the inhibiting factors in radical innovation processes in mature industries and what their implications for employee actions are. These contributions to the field are made possible through a hermeneutic case study. We have conducted 13 semi-structured interviews at a Swedish medium-sized, mature company. We identified that employees may engage in ‘defensive routines’ (Argyris, 1993) when they are experiencing Cognitive Dissonance (Festinger, 1957). We approach this in light of the social constructionism of Berger and Luckmann (1966). Hence we introduce ‘Innovation Dissonance’ to explore the relationship between the perception of innovation barriers on an individual level and its implication on employees’ actions that become institutionalized on a collective level. We show that through sociological processes the perception of innovation barriers and the ‘defensive routines’ are reproducing each other. Individuals who are experiencing a dissonance and dealing with it through ‘defensive routines’, are causing a new inhibiting factor to innovation on a collective level as well as reinforcing existing ones. (Less)
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author
Lietz, Annemie LU and van der Veen, Sjoerd LU
supervisor
organization
course
BUSN49 20181
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Innovation, Mature Organisations, Barriers, Cognitive Dissonance, Defensive Routines
language
English
id
8949922
date added to LUP
2018-06-19 10:06:54
date last changed
2018-06-19 10:06:54
@misc{8949922,
  abstract     = {{This master thesis contributes to the field of innovation research by developing a further understanding and elaboration of innovation barriers from an individual perspective. In this study, we aim to explore what the inhibiting factors in radical innovation processes in mature industries and what their implications for employee actions are. These contributions to the field are made possible through a hermeneutic case study. We have conducted 13 semi-structured interviews at a Swedish medium-sized, mature company. We identified that employees may engage in ‘defensive routines’ (Argyris, 1993) when they are experiencing Cognitive Dissonance (Festinger, 1957). We approach this in light of the social constructionism of Berger and Luckmann (1966). Hence we introduce ‘Innovation Dissonance’ to explore the relationship between the perception of innovation barriers on an individual level and its implication on employees’ actions that become institutionalized on a collective level. We show that through sociological processes the perception of innovation barriers and the ‘defensive routines’ are reproducing each other. Individuals who are experiencing a dissonance and dealing with it through ‘defensive routines’, are causing a new inhibiting factor to innovation on a collective level as well as reinforcing existing ones.}},
  author       = {{Lietz, Annemie and van der Veen, Sjoerd}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Innovation Dissonance in Mature Firms: Barriers to Radical Product Innovation}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}