Supporting the Innovation Process

Abstract: Abstract Title: Supporting the Innovation Process – An Exploration of Informal Control Mechanisms within Product Innovation Processes Seminar date: June 3, 2021 Authors: Oscar Månsson & Daniel Åhré Supervisor: Ulf Ramberg Course: BUSN09 – Degree Project in Strategic Management Purpose: This thesis aims to explore and understand the influence of informal control mechanisms within product innovation processes. Theoretical framework: The innovation process is considered to be an essential source for competitive advantage where innovation processes can be phrased as the organisation’s invention, development and implementation of ideas. Social behaviours influence these processes through human interactions. Informal control mechanisms describe unwritten organisational values, norms, behaviours, and beliefs that guide employees’ actions. Methodology: Qualitative single-case study with an abductive research approach. Empirical foundation: All empirical data was collected via eight semi-structured interviews with employees of different experience levels at the case company possessing a diverse range of roles within the organisation’s innovation processes. Findings: Analysing the empirical data highlighted the employees’ understanding of the organisational culture, expectations, responsibilities, experience, and support as well as how they can be perceived as informal means of control within product innovation processes. Contribution: Our findings indicated that culture acts as a collective informal control mechanism. Whereas expectations, responsibilities, and experience informally influence employees through pride in their expertise, role allocations and informal experience hierarchies, which informally control employees’ contribution to the innovation processes. Supportive actions were an influencing control mechanism through experienced employees nurturing the organisational culture. Support was also utilised by requesting support to mobilise influential power. Hence, we contribute to academia by addressing gaps in the scarce literature regarding qualitative studies within product innovation processes and informal control mechanisms. Keywords: Innovation Processes, Informal Control, Innovation Management, Product Innovations