Reducing the uncertainty in managing breakthrough technological innovations

Author

Leifer, R.

Author_Institution

Lally Sch. of Manage. & Technol., Rensselaer Polytech. Inst., Troy, NY

fYear

1999

fDate

36373

Firstpage

144

Abstract

From an information processing (IP) perspective, breakthrough innovation has substantially greater information processing requirements (IPR) at the beginning phases of the innovation process than does incremental innovation, requiring management processes with substantially greater information processing capabilities (IPC). A four year, longitudinal study suggests what these management differences consist of. Five themes emerged that either helped reduce IPR or increase IPC: (1) informal networks of people, (2) accessibility to and support of top management, (3) the importance of champions, (4) personalities of champions/visionaries, and (5) the impact of organizational culture

Keywords

management; breakthrough technological innovations management; champions personalities; incremental innovation; informal networks; information processing; information processing capabilities; information processing requirements; innovation process; longitudinal study; management differences; management processes; organizational culture impact; top management support; uncertainty reduction; visionaries personalities; Costs; Information processing; Innovation management; Intellectual property; Lenses; Production; Raw materials; Technological innovation; Technology management; Uncertainty;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Management of Engineering and Technology, 1999. Technology and Innovation Management. PICMET '99. Portland International Conference on

Conference_Location

Portland, OR

Print_ISBN

1-890843-02-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PICMET.1999.787798

Filename

787798