Jan van den Ende

Suggestion Systems: Transferring Employee Creativity Into Practicable Ideas

Nowadays many companies are aware of the importance of employee creativity. Suggestion systems are among the instruments for channeling creativity. However, companies vary strongly in the success with which they use suggestion systems. This article aims to clarify the organisational conditions for the successful use of suggestion systems. The Creativity Transformation Model encompasses the main factors that influence the functioning of suggestion systems. The model is tested within specific divisions of three companies that can be considered best practices in the use of suggestion systems. By applying the model, companies will be able to transfer employee creativity optimally into practicable ideas.

The Organizational Life of an Idea: Integrating Social Network, Creativity and Decision-Making Perspectives

abstract Existing theories on the influence of social networks on creativity focus on idea generation. Conversely, the new product development literature concentrates more on the selection of ideas and projects. In this paper we bridge this gap by developing a dynamic framework for the role of social networks from idea generation to selection. We apply findings from creativity and behavioural decision‐making literature and present an in‐depth understanding of the sociological processes in the front‐end of the new product development process. Our framework builds on the importance of mutual understanding, sensemaking and consensus formation. The propositions focus on both network structure and content and highlight the need to have strong ties and prior related knowledge, to incorporate decision makers, and to move over time from a large, non‐redundant and heterogeneous to a smaller and more cohesive network structure. We conclude with a discussion on empirical validation of the framework and possible extensions.

Technological transformations in history: how the computer regime grew out of existing computing regimes

Abstract In the article we describe how the digital computer regime grew out of existing computing regimes through a process of transformation. This transformation is conceptualised as a regime shift: a change in the rule set that underpins technical change, guiding innovative activity and output into particular directions. Examples of such rules are technical standards, product standards, user requirements, design rules and organisational rules of how to produce, what to produce. The paper describes how the new digital computer regime had to start from structures of the old regimes, and only later on developed its own distinctive elements. It describes how specific changes in the existing computing regimes, particularly the increasing division of labour, the growing schematisation of computing activities and the development of more sophisticated punch card machinery, contributed to the design and programming methods of the digital computer. How the old programming methods constrained the development of the new regime is also discussed. The article does not go into the actual processes of diffusion of digital computers into specific domains. It does however discuss the role of market demand dynamics for the evolution of digital technology, which too often is portrayed as a technology/science push phenomenon.

With a Little Help from Our Colleagues: A Longitudinal Study of Social Networks for Innovation:

In this paper we investigate the dynamics of networks of employees in the front end of the new product development process. So far, the literature has focused on network structure and has argued that sparse (low density) networks of weak ties are optimal for idea generation. In this paper we include both network structure and network content, and we emphasize the importance of strong ties, density, range, seniority and decision-maker involvement in specific phases of the front end in an environment of uncertainty, ambiguity and tacit knowledge. To test our assumptions, we mapped the full networks of 17 ideas for new product development projects over time in a longitudinal study in two research laboratories. For specific phases of the front end, we found confirmation of our expectations. In addition, it appeared that particularly strong ties between different units advance the adoption chances of ideas. The managerial implication of this latter finding is that communication with good acquaintances or friends in other units should be promoted in the front end of idea generation.

Traditional and Modern Technology Assessment: Toward a Toolkit

Abstract Technology assessment (TA) as a discipline includes rather different approaches and methods. Traditionally, the discipline has focused on forecasting, impact assessment, and policy studies. Later more process-oriented approaches, such as constructive technology assessment (CTA), were developed that were aimed explicitly at influencing the shape of new technologies. Although the new approaches have enriched the field of technology assessment, the scope and variety of the field has increased, particularly concerning its methods. These range from trend extrapolation and Delphis to interventions in innovation networks and consensus conferences. This article aims to classify the approaches and methods of TA into a common framework. Distinctions are made between methods of analysis and intervention methods, and between methods functioning as project layout and mere tools. Some criteria are formulated for the choice of methods. In this way, the article attempts to increase the coherence of the field of TA, and to make it more transparent to nonpractitioners such as scientists and engineers, government employees, and members of civil movements.

The Paradox of Standard Flexibility: The Effects of Co-evolution between Standard and Interorganizational Network

The literature has dedicated significant attention to the effects of standard-supporting, interorganizational networks on the content of standards and standard survival. However, minimal attention has been paid to the effects of the standard’s characteristics and dynamics on these networks. This paper contributes to closing this gap. We introduce the paradoxical concept of ‘standard flexibility’ and study the interaction between the characteristics of a standard-supporting network and the development of the standard itself, including the effect of the interaction on standard success. More specifically, we show how a standard’s flexibility can serve to attract new network members, facilitating growth and diversity of the network, which in turn has implications for further adaptations of the standard. We study this co-evolutionary process in three standards battles: Blu-ray versus HD-DVD, USB versus Firewire, and WiFi versus HomeRF. Our findings suggest that those participating in standardization can persuade non-participating stakeholders to join by allowing for changes in the standard. In turn, the existing members can expect that the new members will request further changes. The cases suggest that early timing of the co-evolutionary process enhances the chances of standard success. We also explore the emergence of path dependencies in the process and the forces that restrict the co-evolutionary process over time. For managers, our findings indicate that changes in standards should not be considered undesirable, but as opportunities that may strengthen the interorganizational network and contribute to a standard’s success.The literature has dedicated significant attention to the effects of standard-supporting, interorganizational networks on the content of standards and standard survival. However, minimal attention has been paid to the effects of the standard’s characteristics and dynamics on these networks. This paper contributes to closing this gap. We introduce the paradoxical concept of ‘standard flexibility’ and study the interaction between the characteristics of a standard-supporting network and the development of the standard itself, including the effect of the interaction on standard success. More specifically, we show how a standard’s flexibility can serve to attract new network members, facilitating growth and diversity of the network, which in turn has implications for further adaptations of the standard. We study this co-evolutionary process in three standards battles: Blu-ray versus HD-DVD, USB versus Firewire, and WiFi versus HomeRF. Our findings suggest that those participating in standardization can persua...

Modes of governance of new service development for mobile networks. A life cycle perspective

Abstract This paper focuses on governance modes for service development of mobile telephone networks (GSM, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), GPRS, UMTS). ‘Services’ refer to services containing information. The paper shows that the phase of the life cycle of the network and the service affects the choice of governance mode of new service development projects. Governance modes include internal development by the telecom operator, several forms of collaboration between telecom operator and service firm, and only providing a network by the telecom operator to the service firm, which then develops and provides its services (external). In this paper a model is developed for the governance mode of service development in different phases of the life cycles of the mobile network and service, based on the degrees of uncertainty and urgency involved in the network and service development processes. Four cases are presented of service development projects for mobile telecom networks. These cases indicate that the number of redesigns and the level of communication costs in collaboration projects indeed depend on the degree of urgency and uncertainty involved in these projects, which are in turn affected by the life cycle of the network and service.

Supporting Decision Making in Technology Standards Battles Based on a Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process

In many markets, battles are fought over technology standards. Often, these battles result in a single standard that achieves dominance. Decision making in standards battles is complex due to the lack of insights about the factors that influence the outcome of such battles. These include the characteristics of the standard, the stakeholders, the standard supporters, and the standard support strategies. The importance of these factors determines the dominance of a technology standard. This study investigates the usability of a multiattribute utility approach named fuzzy analytic hierarchy process in decision making in technology standards battles. Three technology standards battles are analyzed using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process approach. The empirical results show that the outcome of these standards battles is not fully characterized by path dependency, but that factors for standard dominance can be used to explain the outcome of these battles. We show that it is possible to model the process of standard selection. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process decision support tool is useful to determine the relative weight of factors for standard dominance, and can be successfully used in decision-making problems relating to standardization.

Flexibility strategies for sustainable technology development

This article discusses strategies and options for enhancing the flexibility of technological systems. Flexibility of technological systems is increasingly required because of uncertainties and fast developments, for example regarding environmental issues. The central questions of this paper are: how can actors create the possibility of change with regard to technological systems that are deeply embedded in society, and how should they take flexibility into account in the development and implementation of new technologies? PVC technology is taken as a case study. Because of its embeddedness in society and in industrial structures PVC technology is highly inflexible. The uncertainties that underlie the ongoing debate between protagonists of PVC and protagonists of alternative technological options underline the need for taking flexibility into account.

Rising from failure and learning from success: The role of past experience in radical initiative taking

markdownabstract__Abstract__ We investigate how the successes and failures of people who initiate radical ideas influence (a) the inclination to take new personal initiatives and (b) the outcome of those initiatives. Using the data of 1,792 radical ideas suggested by 908 employees in a multinational firms idea and innovation program, we unexpectedly find that failures, rather than successes, of initiators increase the likelihood of repeat initiative taking. We confirm our hypothesis that involving initiators with prior success in initiative taking has a positive effect on the outcome of a subsequent radical initiative. Our findings illustrate how learning unfolds in the context of radical initiatives and provide insights into how managers can support continuous and superior radical initiative taking.