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Supporting the Innovation Process

Åhré, Daniel LU and Månsson, Oscar LU (2021) BUSN09 20211
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
Abstract

Title: Supporting the Innovation Process – An Exploration of Informal Control Mechanisms within Product Innovation Processes

Seminar date: June 3, 2021

Authors: Oscar Månsson & Daniel Åhré

Supervisor: Ulf Ramberg

Course: BUSN09 – Degree Project in Strategic Management

Purpose: This thesis aims to explore and understand the influence of informal control mechanisms within product innovation processes.

Theoretical framework: The innovation process is considered to be an essential source for competitive advantage where innovation processes can be phrased as the organisation’s invention, development and implementation of ideas. Social behaviours influence these processes through human interactions. Informal control... (More)
Abstract

Title: Supporting the Innovation Process – An Exploration of Informal Control Mechanisms within Product Innovation Processes

Seminar date: June 3, 2021

Authors: Oscar Månsson & Daniel Åhré

Supervisor: Ulf Ramberg

Course: BUSN09 – Degree Project in Strategic Management

Purpose: This thesis aims to explore and understand the influence of informal control mechanisms within product innovation processes.

Theoretical framework: The innovation process is considered to be an essential source for competitive advantage where innovation processes can be phrased as the organisation’s invention, development and implementation of ideas. Social behaviours influence these processes through human interactions. Informal control mechanisms describe unwritten organisational values, norms, behaviours, and beliefs that guide employees’ actions.

Methodology: Qualitative single-case study with an abductive research approach.

Empirical foundation: All empirical data was collected via eight semi-structured interviews with employees of different experience levels at the case company possessing a diverse range of roles within the organisation’s innovation processes.

Findings: Analysing the empirical data highlighted the employees’ understanding of the organisational culture, expectations, responsibilities, experience, and support as well as how they can be perceived as informal means of control within product innovation processes.

Contribution: Our findings indicated that culture acts as a collective informal control mechanism. Whereas expectations, responsibilities, and experience informally influence employees through pride in their expertise, role allocations and informal experience hierarchies, which informally control employees’ contribution to the innovation processes. Supportive actions were an
influencing control mechanism through experienced employees nurturing the organisational culture. Support was also utilised by requesting support to mobilise influential power. Hence, we contribute to academia by addressing gaps in the scarce literature regarding qualitative studies within product innovation processes and informal control mechanisms.

Keywords: Innovation Processes, Informal Control, Innovation Management, Product Innovations (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Åhré, Daniel LU and Månsson, Oscar LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
An Exploration of Informal Control Mechanisms within Product Innovation Processes
course
BUSN09 20211
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Innovation Processes, Informal Control, Innovation Management, Product Innovations
language
English
id
9049313
date added to LUP
2021-06-29 10:30:27
date last changed
2021-06-29 10:30:27
@misc{9049313,
  abstract     = {{Abstract

Title: Supporting the Innovation Process – An Exploration of Informal Control Mechanisms within Product Innovation Processes

Seminar date: June 3, 2021

Authors: Oscar Månsson & Daniel Åhré

Supervisor: Ulf Ramberg

Course: BUSN09 – Degree Project in Strategic Management

Purpose: This thesis aims to explore and understand the influence of informal control mechanisms within product innovation processes.

Theoretical framework: The innovation process is considered to be an essential source for competitive advantage where innovation processes can be phrased as the organisation’s invention, development and implementation of ideas. Social behaviours influence these processes through human interactions. Informal control mechanisms describe unwritten organisational values, norms, behaviours, and beliefs that guide employees’ actions.

Methodology: Qualitative single-case study with an abductive research approach.

Empirical foundation: All empirical data was collected via eight semi-structured interviews with employees of different experience levels at the case company possessing a diverse range of roles within the organisation’s innovation processes.

Findings: Analysing the empirical data highlighted the employees’ understanding of the organisational culture, expectations, responsibilities, experience, and support as well as how they can be perceived as informal means of control within product innovation processes.

Contribution: Our findings indicated that culture acts as a collective informal control mechanism. Whereas expectations, responsibilities, and experience informally influence employees through pride in their expertise, role allocations and informal experience hierarchies, which informally control employees’ contribution to the innovation processes. Supportive actions were an
influencing control mechanism through experienced employees nurturing the organisational culture. Support was also utilised by requesting support to mobilise influential power. Hence, we contribute to academia by addressing gaps in the scarce literature regarding qualitative studies within product innovation processes and informal control mechanisms.

Keywords: Innovation Processes, Informal Control, Innovation Management, Product Innovations}},
  author       = {{Åhré, Daniel and Månsson, Oscar}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Supporting the Innovation Process}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}