Innovation Dissonance in Mature Firms: Barriers to Radical Product Innovation
(2018) BUSN49 20181Department 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)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8949922
- author
- Lietz, Annemie LU and van der Veen, Sjoerd LU
- supervisor
-
- Tony Huzzard LU
- organization
- course
- BUSN49 20181
- year
- 2018
- 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}}, }