Intellectual Contribution by Anne Koch

Contribution Title

Authority and Managing Innovation: A Typology of Product Development Teams and Communities

Publication

Creativity and Innovation Management

Co-author

Year

2012

Description

Understanding the conditions under which organizational groups operate is basic for successfully managing innovation. The goal of this paper is to provide a typology for distinguishing different forms of communities and teams that promote innovation. Existing typologies are incomplete and do not include all kinds of groups used for progressing innovation. This paper pays particular attention to two key variables that impact productivity, namely the relationship of groups to institutional and procedural authority. Four groups, autonomous and functional teams and communities of practice and epistemic communities, are linked to the two dimensions. Accordingly, the paper provides a conceptual framework for understanding how various groups function and manage themselves in subtle different ways. By choosing various innovation groups for different purposes firms can respond to change and create a competitive advantage. Intervention strategies that help to achieve success of innovation outcomes of groups are discussed; finally, the paper suggests further research areas.

Complete Citation

Koch, A. 2012. In Press. Authority and Managing Innovation: A Typology of Product Development Teams and Communities, Creativity and Innovation Management.

Website

See Faculty: Anne Koch