Innovation and change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Innovation and change - Essay Example The potential of firms to be innovative is critically examined in this paper; particular emphasis is given on the fact that each firm can learn to be innovative, a claim that is discussed by referring to the literature published in the particular field. In order to show whether a firm can learn to be innovative, reference is made primarily to the requirements and the characteristics of innovation; then the effects (benefits and drawbacks) of innovation and change are presented aiming to evaluate whether it is feasible for a firm to learn to be innovative and the terms under which such process could be successfully completed. It is proved that, indeed, a firm can learn to be innovative but the level at which innovation will actually become part of the specific organization cannot be standardized. In fact, each firm is likely to respond differently to the requirements of innovation, as part of the strategic planning process. Moreover, leaders and managers in modern organization are lik ely to develop different views on the needs and the scope of innovation, an issue which should be also taken into consideration when examining the influence of innovation on organizational life and, especially, the level at which each organization can learn to be innovative. 2. ... ion to exist it is necessary that the changes in the existing organizational practices are such that the product/ process involved is unique or at least quite difficult to be identified by customers in the particular market (Tidd et al. 2005, 8); also, time is quite important when referring to innovation. The introduction of the innovative products/ services in the market need to be developed quite fast, ensuring that no similar products/ services are available in the market at the particular time point (Tidd et al. 2005, 8). Innovation could also refer to the following issues: a) the introduction of a process/ platform, which would be used for the development of other products/ services in the future; these processes could pre-exist but they have not been used in the specific role up to now or b) the introduction of totally new platform/ processes (Tidd et al. 2005, 9), an initiative which may be risky, especially because there are no prior indicators of the performance of the speci fic processes. Innovation requires the change of existing organizational practices – referring also to those practices, which are introduced for first time, since such initiative indicates the change in the organization’s strategy. Different approaches have been used in the literature in order to define change – as part of innovation. In accordance with Andriopoulos et al (2009) change has been characterized as both ‘an ongoing dynamic process and as an episode in the life of an organization’ (Andriopoulos et al. 2009, 16). It is noted that both the above views perceive change as a factor contributing to the organizational development (Andriopoulos et al. 2009, 16). In this context, the interpretation of change, as part of the organizational life, cannot affect its role in