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THE INTENSIFICATION OF INNOVATION

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International Journal of Innovation Management
Authors:
Mark Dodgson at The University of Queensland
Mark Dodgson
David Michael Gann at University of Oxford
David Michael Gann
Ammon J Salter at University of Bath
Ammon J Salter
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Abstract

This paper suggests that the innovation process has intensified as a result of the application of new digital technologies. These technologies that simulate, model and integrate, intensify the innovation process through facilitating economy of effort and definiteness of aim. Of all the many analytical lenses used to examine innovation, the most valuable in accounting for this "automation of innovation" is Rothwell's concept of the 5th Generation Innovation Process. Our paper revisits this element of Rothwell's (1992) prize-winning article in R&D Management. It reviews the use of a range of enabling technologies and strategic management practices for the automation of innovation that were either in gestation or unknown at the time of Rothwell's paper. Rothwell's speculation about the increased "electronification" of the innovation process, and of related technological and strategic integration, has proven to be correct. The use of the new "lectronic toolkit" can transform the innovation process by facilitating the transfer, transformation and control of information. Using insights from contemporary innovation and management research, this paper examines the benefits and limitations of these digital technologies in dealing with the challenges of innovation of reducing costs and increasing speed, predictability and strategic organisational integration. It presents a conceptual framework for assessing the intensification of innovation and outlines some strategic managerial precepts that will facilitate effective use of these technologies. The paper concludes with speculations about future developments in the intensification of innovation and its impact for strategic management, together with questions for further research.
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53
International Journal of Innovation Management
Vol. 6, No. 1 (March 2002) pp. 53–83
© Imperial College Press
THE INTENSIFICATION OF INNOVATION
MARK DODGSON
National Graduate School of Management, The Australian
National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia
mark.dodgson@anu.edu.au
DAVID M. GANN†
and AMMON. J SALTER‡
SPRU — Science and Technology Policy Research
University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RF, UK
†d.gann@sussex.ac.uk
‡a.j.salter@sussex.ac.uk
Received 29 November 2001
Revised 11 January 2002
Accepted 24 January 2002
This paper suggests that the innovation process has intensified as a result of the application
of new digital technologies. These technologies that simulate, model and integrate, intensify
the innovation process through facilitating economy of effort and definiteness of aim. Of
all the many analytical lenses used to examine innovation, the most valuable in accounting
for this “automation of innovation” is Rothwell’s concept of the 5th Generation Innovation
Process. Our paper revisits this element of Rothwell’s (1992) prize-winning article in
R&D Management. It reviews the use of a range of enabling technologies and strategic
management practices for the automation of innovation that were either in gestation or
unknown at the time of Rothwell’s paper. Rothwell’s speculation about the increased
“electronification” of the innovation process, and of related technological and strategic
integration, has proven to be correct. The use of the new “electronic toolkit” can transform
the innovation process by facilitating the transfer, transformation and control of information.
Using insights from contemporary innovation and management research, this paper examines
the benefits and limitations of these digital technologies in dealing with the challenges of
innovation of reducing costs and increasing speed, predictability and strategic organisational
integration. It presents a conceptual framework for assessing the intensification of innovation
and outlines some strategic managerial precepts that will facilitate effective use of these
Correspondence to: David M. Gann, SPRU-Science and Technology Policy Research, University of
Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RF, UK
S1363919602000495.p65 06/19/2002, 10:28 AM53
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