Towards a shared vision in innovation projects: Understanding actor involvement as a preventative approach against defensive routines for innovation capability

Abstract

This paper is based on the understanding that industrial product innovation projects often emphasize speed and economic accounts of the process without sufficiently considering the human mechanisms that drives the innovation process forward.

The human factor is especially important in relation to projects involving change and organizational collaboration, as actors may perceive the collaboration situation differently based on their varying preconditions and worldviews.

Acquiring a shared vision is thus understood to enhance product innovation capability. However, a lack of actor involvement is in this case seen as detrimental to the innovation process, as it may facilitate actors to perform various defensive routines, directing focus away from the innovation and towards what is perceived as meaningful.

The paper presents different defensive routines on behalf of one project case context and highlights the importance of involvement for shaping understanding and shared visions within different innovation value chain phases.