Innovation

Antecedents

Much of the work done to understand the factors that influence organizations in adopting innovation has focused on organizational determinants. Organizational climate in particular has received attention as a contributing factor. Support for innovation, support for risk, and trust have emerged as important climate factors. Studies investigating the role of leadership in innovation have found that transformational leaders create a climate that provides support for innovation, as well as providing the intellectual stimulation that is necessary for innovation. In addition, an important role for the leader in supporting innovation is removing obstacles—such as providing information, resources, administrative support, and clarity, as well as serving as a champion for innovation. Flexible organizational structures and jobs have been linked to innovation. Specifically, jobs that allow for more discretion and autonomy and organizational structures that are less centralized and adapt quickly have been linked to the promotion and adoption of innovation.

Team factors that emerged as contributing to innovation are group composition and group processes. To facilitate innovation, the group must possess the required skills and knowledge. Groups heterogeneous in skills and knowledge may be more likely to innovate successfully. However, diversity of background may also lead to group conflict, which would result in less innovation. It has been suggested that there is an optimal level of diversity that will facilitate innovation based on the task and group processes. Group processes that focus on participation, commitment, and managing conflict effectively are suggested to enhance innovation. With regard to conflict, it has been suggested that some degree of task conflict (focusing on the task) may facilitate innovation but personal or relational conflict (focusing on interpersonal relationships) can hinder innovation. In addition, research on minority dissent and innovation shows that minority dissent can lead to more innovation in teams if team climate is constructive and supportive of risk and participation.

Individual factors are the focus of idea generation and creativity research; however, some innovation research has looked at individual factors. Because innovation requires the successful implementation of a novel idea, one important individual characteristic contributing to innovation is perseverance. Original ideas tend to be rejected because they are new, untried, and therefore risky. For innovation implementation to occur, someone, either the idea generator or a champion, must persistently present the idea and its merits for it to be adopted.

Finally, the external environment is also seen as an important antecedent to innovation. It has been suggested that innovation occurs as a result of threat or demands from the external environment. Moreover, it has been suggested that external demands will have a [Page 353]negative impact on idea generation but a positive impact on innovation.

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