Innovate or liquidate ‐ are all organisations convinced? A two‐phased study into the innovation process

Abstract

Striving to survive in the ever changing world, the ability to innovate has become increasingly crucial. But are all organisations convinced? Based on data collected from a recent survey and a telephone interview, this article examines the general understanding of issues concerning innovation among managers and their ability to translate this understanding into practice. The study reveals that while most organisations have realised the importance of innovation and are prepared to mobilise their managers to be involved in innovation projects, many of them have not yet been able to create an innovation culture and devise suitable policies to encourage innovation positively within the wider context of their organisations. It is also discovered that there is a surprisingly low level of understanding of the most commonly known innovation techniques, yet most people dismiss the value of creativity training programmes conducted in their organisations, raising serious concerns over the effectiveness of these programmes.