Exploratory and exploitative capability paths for innovation: A contingency framework for harnessing fuzziness in the front endShow others and affiliations
2022 (English)In: Technovation, ISSN 0166-4972, E-ISSN 1879-2383, Vol. 113, article id 102416Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Based on the results of a multiple case study of seven manufacturing firms, a contingency framework for harnessing fuzziness in the front end of innovation is proposed by delineating two discrete capability paths through which new product ideas are developed into corroborated product definitions. The study illustrates that ideas characterized by high levels of fuzziness benefit from following an exploratory path, where the creative potential of fuzziness is embraced by deploying problem-formulation and problem-solving capabilities. In contrast, ideas at low levels of fuzziness benefit from following an exploitative path, where fuzziness is tolerated by drawing upon idea-refinement and process-management capabilities. When the fuzziness level of the idea and the set of capabilities to develop the idea are poorly aligned, the idea-development process is either inefficient or runs the risk of stalling. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for the front end of innovation and new product idea development.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2022. Vol. 113, article id 102416
Keywords [en]
Capabilities, Complexity, Equivocality, Exploitation, Exploration, Front end of innovation, Ideation, New Product Development, Uncertainty
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-88310DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2021.102416ISI: 000968746600004Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85120744517OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-88310DiVA, id: diva2:1619204
Funder
Vinnova
Note
Validerad;2022;Nivå 2;2022-06-01 (johcin);
Funder: CAPES; Ragnar Söderberg Foundation
2021-12-132021-12-132024-11-20Bibliographically approved