IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/rvmgts/v15y2021i2d10.1007_s11846-019-00339-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Learning from innovation failures: a systematic review of the literature and research agenda

Author

Listed:
  • Khalil Rhaiem

    (Laval University)

  • Nabil Amara

    (Laval University)

Abstract

Learning from innovation failures is a complex phenomenon that requires more in-depth analysis. Recent works have emphasized the importance of studying failures as an opportunity or a precursor to future success. These works suggest that entrepreneurs can fail and afterwards can learn from failures to “rise from the ashes” and succeed. This paper aims to present a systematic review and analyses of 53 conceptual and empirical research articles published between 1980 and 2017, on the topic of learning from innovation failures. This article advances knowledge on this topic by generating an integrative framework of learning from innovation failures that takes into account its three perspectives: as the main phenomenon under study, as an explanatory variable of another phenomenon, and as a mediating variable. Moreover, a research agenda based on research gaps identified in the literature has been proposed to suggest ways of moving forward for future research on this topic.

Suggested Citation

  • Khalil Rhaiem & Nabil Amara, 2021. "Learning from innovation failures: a systematic review of the literature and research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 189-234, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:15:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11846-019-00339-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-019-00339-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11846-019-00339-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11846-019-00339-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Loubna Echajari & Catherine Thomas, 2015. "Learning from complex and heterogeneous experiences: the role of knowledge codification," Post-Print hal-01200608, HAL.
    2. Kamoto, Shinsuke, 2017. "Managerial innovation incentives, management buyouts, and shareholders' intolerance of failure," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 55-74.
    3. Chen, Chung-Jen & Huang, Yi-Fen, 2010. "Creative workforce density, organizational slack, and innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 411-417, April.
    4. Dirk Deichmann & Jan van den Ende, 2014. "Rising from Failure and Learning from Success: The Role of Past Experience in Radical Initiative Taking," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(3), pages 670-690, June.
    5. William H Starbuck & Philippe Baumard, 2005. "Learning From Failures: Why It May Not Happen," Post-Print hal-03228735, HAL.
    6. Santos, David Ferreira Lopes & Basso, Leonardo Fernando Cruz & Kimura, Herbert & Kayo, Eduardo Kazuo, 2014. "Innovation efforts and performances of Brazilian firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 527-535.
    7. Dean A. Shepherd & Holger Patzelt & Trenton A. Williams & Dennis Warnecke, 2014. "How Does Project Termination Impact Project Team Members? Rapid Termination, ‘Creeping Death’, and Learning from Failure," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 513-546, June.
    8. Mata, José & Woerter, Martin, 2013. "Risky innovation: The impact of internal and external R&D strategies upon the distribution of returns," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 495-501.
    9. Jeffrey G. Covin & Kimberly M. Green & Dennis P. Slevin, 2006. "Strategic Process Effects on the Entrepreneurial Orientation–Sales Growth Rate Relationship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(1), pages 57-81, January.
    10. Hugh Waddington & Howard White & Birte Snilstveit & Jorge Garcia Hombrados & Martina Vojtkova & Philip Davies & Ami Bhavsar & John Eyers & Tracey Perez Koehlmoos & Mark Petticrew & Jeffrey C. Valentin, 2012. "How to do a good systematic review of effects in international development: a tool kit," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 359-387, September.
    11. Hu, Baoliang, 2014. "Linking business models with technological innovation performance through organizational learning," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 587-595.
    12. Shepherd, Dean A. & Kuratko, Donald F., 2009. "The death of an innovative project: How grief recovery enhances learning," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 451-458, September.
    13. Thomas Astebro & John L. Michela, 2005. "Predictors of the Survival of Innovations," Post-Print hal-00476886, HAL.
    14. Loubna Echajari & Catherine Thomas, 2015. "Learning from complex and heterogeneous experiences: the role of knowledge codification," Post-Print hal-03234730, HAL.
    15. Osman Gök & Sinem Peker, 2017. "Understanding the links among innovation performance, market performance and financial performance," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 11(3), pages 605-631, July.
    16. Shepherd, Dean A. & Covin, Jeffrey G. & Kuratko, Donald F., 2009. "Project failure from corporate entrepreneurship: Managing the grief process," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 588-600, November.
    17. Yasuhiro Yamakawa & Melissa Cardon, 2015. "Causal ascriptions and perceived learning from entrepreneurial failure," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 797-820, April.
    18. Dean A. Shepherd & Melissa S. Cardon, 2009. "Negative Emotional Reactions to Project Failure and the Self‐Compassion to Learn from the Experience," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(6), pages 923-949, September.
    19. Ricarda Bouncken & Johanna Gast & Sascha Kraus & Marcel Bogers, 2015. "Coopetition: a systematic review, synthesis, and future research directions," Post-Print hal-02018068, HAL.
    20. Mehdi Rhaiem, 2017. "Measurement and determinants of academic research efficiency: a systematic review of the evidence," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 110(2), pages 581-615, February.
    21. Heidi Wiig Aslesen & Katja Maria Hydle & Kristin Wallevik, 2017. "Extra-regional linkages through MNCs in organizationally thick and specialized RISs: a source of new path development?," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(3), pages 443-461, March.
    22. Shepherd, Dean A., 2009. "Grief recovery from the loss of a family business: A multi- and meso-level theory," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 81-97, January.
    23. Ricarda Bouncken & Johanna Gast & Sascha Kraus & Marcel Bogers, 2015. "Coopetition: a systematic review, synthesis, and future research directions," Post-Print hal-02945341, HAL.
    24. D'Este, Pablo & Amara, Nabil & Olmos-Peñuela, Julia, 2016. "Fostering novelty while reducing failure: Balancing the twin challenges of product innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 113(PB), pages 280-292.
    25. Välikangas, Liisa & Hoegl, Martin & Gibbert, Michael, 2009. "Why learning from failure isn't easy (and what to do about it): Innovation trauma at Sun Microsystems," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 225-233, August.
    26. June-Young Kim & Ji-Yub (Jay) Kim & Anne S. Miner, 2009. "Organizational Learning from Extreme Performance Experience: The Impact of Success and Recovery Experience," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(6), pages 958-978, December.
    27. Andrew C. Corbett & Heidi M. Neck & Dawn R. DeTienne, 2007. "How Corporate Entrepreneurs Learn from Fledgling Innovation Initiatives: Cognition and the Development of a Termination Script," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(6), pages 829-852, November.
    28. Jenson, Ian & Leith, Peat & Doyle, Richard & West, Jonathan & Miles, Morgan P., 2016. "Innovation system problems: Causal configurations of innovation failure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5408-5412.
    29. Dean Tjosvold & Zi‐you Yu & Chun Hui, 2004. "Team Learning from Mistakes: The Contribution of Cooperative Goals and Problem‐Solving," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(7), pages 1223-1245, November.
    30. Isabel D�rfler & Oliver Baumann, 2014. "Learning from a Drastic Failure: The Case of the Airbus A380 Program," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 197-214, April.
    31. Bruce Kogut & Udo Zander, 1996. "What Firms Do? Coordination, Identity, and Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 7(5), pages 502-518, October.
    32. Carmeli, Abraham & Dothan, Ari, 2017. "Generative work relationships as a source of direct and indirect learning from experiences of failure: Implications for innovation agility and product innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 27-38.
    33. Amit Shankar Mukherjee & Michael A. Lapré & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 1998. "Knowledge Driven Quality Improvement," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(11-Part-2), pages 35-49, November.
    34. Gerben van der Panne & Cees van Beers & Alfred Kleinknecht, 2003. "Success and Failure of Innovation: A Literature Review," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 7(03), pages 309-338.
    35. Leoncini, Riccardo, 2016. "Learning-by-failing. An empirical exercise on CIS data," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 376-386.
    36. Jasjit Singh & Lee Fleming, 2010. "Lone Inventors as Sources of Breakthroughs: Myth or Reality?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 56(1), pages 41-56, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Roper, Stephen & Bourke, Jane, 2022. "Innovating into trouble: When innovation leads to customer complaints," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    2. Mercedes Rubio-Andrés & Mª Ramos-González & Miguel Ángel Sastre-Castillo, 2022. "Driving innovation management to create shared value and sustainable growth," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(7), pages 2181-2211, October.
    3. Rhaiem, Khalil & Halilem, Norrin, 2023. "The worst is not to fail, but to fail to learn from failure: A multi-method empirical validation of learning from innovation failure," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    4. Wang, Tao, 2023. "Toward an understanding of innovation failure: The timing of failure experience," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    5. Rhaiem, Khalil & Doloreux, David, 2024. "Inbound open innovation in SMEs: A microfoundations perspective of dynamic capabilities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    6. Freisinger, Elena & McCarthy, Ian P., 2024. "What fails and when? A process view of innovation failure," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    7. Baxter, David & Trott, Paul & Ellwood, Paul, 2023. "Reconceptualising innovation failure," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    8. Love, James H. & Roper, Stephen & Vahter, Priit, 2023. "The dynamics of abandoned innovation activities: Learning from failure or learning to prevent failure?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(8).
    9. Balzano, Marco & Marzi, Giacomo, 2023. "Exploring the pathways of learning from project failure and success in new product development teams," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    10. Qin, Jian & van der Rhee, Bo, 2021. "From trash to treasure: A checklist to identify high-potential NPD projects from previously rejected projects," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    11. Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Chaudhuri, Ranjan & Mariani, Marcello & Fosso Wamba, Samuel, 2023. "The consequences of innovation failure: An innovation capabilities and dynamic capabilities perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    12. Coccia, Mario, 2023. "New Perspectives in Innovation Failure Analysis: A taxonomy of general errors and strategic management for reducing risks," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. Philipp C. Sauer & Stefan Seuring, 2023. "How to conduct systematic literature reviews in management research: a guide in 6 steps and 14 decisions," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 1899-1933, July.
    14. Johanna Elisa Dietl & Christina Derksen & Franziska Maria Keller & Martina Schmiedhofer & Sonia Lippke, 2023. "Psychosocial Processes in Healthcare Workers: How Individuals’ Perceptions of Interpersonal Communication Is Related to Patient Safety Threats and Higher-Quality Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-19, May.
    15. Bin Wang & Samia Khalid & Hamid Mahmood, 2024. "R&D Spending and Economic Policy Uncertainty in Asian Countries: an Advanced Panel Data Estimation Study," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 4710-4729, March.
    16. Soltanzadeh, Javad & Sahebjamnia, Navid & Khosroshahi, Elnaz Mesma & Bouguerra, Abderaouf, 2024. "Commercializing Covid-19 diagnostic technologies: A review of challenges, success factors, and insights from the profiting from innovation framework," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    17. Ponta, Linda & Puliga, Gloria & Manzini, Raffaella & Cincotti, Silvano, 2024. "Reacting and recovering after an innovation failure. An agent-based approach," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Baxter, David & Trott, Paul & Ellwood, Paul, 2023. "Reconceptualising innovation failure," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    2. Vittori, Davide & Natalicchio, Angelo & Panniello, Umberto & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Albino, Vito & Cupertino, Francesco, 2024. "Failure is an option: How failure can lead to disruptive innovations," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    3. Rhaiem, Khalil & Halilem, Norrin, 2023. "The worst is not to fail, but to fail to learn from failure: A multi-method empirical validation of learning from innovation failure," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    4. Appio, Francesco Paolo & Capo, Francesca & Annosi, Maria Carmela, 2024. "Not all (innovation) failures are created equal: A typology of companies’ responses to the consequences of innovation failure," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    5. Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Chaudhuri, Ranjan & Mariani, Marcello & Fosso Wamba, Samuel, 2023. "The consequences of innovation failure: An innovation capabilities and dynamic capabilities perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    6. Danneels, Erwin & Vestal, Alex, 2020. "Normalizing vs. analyzing: Drawing the lessons from failure to enhance firm innovativeness," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(1).
    7. Freisinger, Elena & McCarthy, Ian P., 2024. "What fails and when? A process view of innovation failure," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    8. Patzelt, Holger & Gartzia, Leire & Wolfe, Marcus T. & Shepherd, Dean A., 2021. "Managing negative emotions from entrepreneurial project failure: When and how does supportive leadership help employees?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(5).
    9. Vivianna Fang He & Charlotta Sirén & Sheetal Singh & George Solomon & Georg von Krogh, 2018. "Keep Calm and Carry On: Emotion Regulation in Entrepreneurs’ Learning from Failure," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(4), pages 605-630, July.
    10. Ferreira, João J.M. & Fernandes, Cristina I. & Ferreira, Fernando A.F., 2020. "Wearing failure as a path to innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 195-202.
    11. Julien Cusin & Juliette Ducros-Passebois, 2015. "L’apprentissage émotionnel à distance de l’échec. Le cas de la Cité mondiale du vin et des spiritueux," Post-Print hal-03240450, HAL.
    12. Tsinopoulos, Christos & Yan, Ji & Sousa, Carlos M.P., 2019. "Abandoning innovation activities and performance: The moderating role of openness," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(6), pages 1399-1411.
    13. Qun Chen & Ji-Wen Li & Jian-Guo Liu & Jing-Ti Han & Yun Shi & Xun-Hua Guo, 2021. "Borrower Learning Effects: Do Prior Experiences Promote Continuous Successes in Peer-to-Peer Lending?," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 963-986, August.
    14. Qun Chen & Ji-Wen Li & Jian-Guo Liu & Jing-Ti Han & Yun Shi & Xun-Hua Guo, 0. "Borrower Learning Effects: Do Prior Experiences Promote Continuous Successes in Peer-to-Peer Lending?," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-24.
    15. Orla Byrne & Dean A. Shepherd, 2015. "Different Strokes for Different Folks: Entrepreneurial Narratives of Emotion, Cognition, and Making Sense of Business Failure," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(2), pages 375-405, March.
    16. Patzelt, Holger & Behrens, Judith & Wolfe, Marcus T. & Shepherd, Dean A., 2020. "Perceived project transition support and employees' assessments of entrepreneurial project performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(1).
    17. D'Este, Pablo & Amara, Nabil & Olmos-Peñuela, Julia, 2016. "Fostering novelty while reducing failure: Balancing the twin challenges of product innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 113(PB), pages 280-292.
    18. Marcus T. Wolfe & Dean A. Shepherd, 2015. "What do you have to Say about That? Performance Events and Narratives’ Positive and Negative Emotional Content," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(4), pages 895-925, July.
    19. Jared Allen & Regan Stevenson & Tang Wang, 2021. "Creative and resourceful: How human, social, and psychological resources affect creative workers’ ability to rebound after failure," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 705-719, August.
    20. Cuijpers, Maarten & Guenter, Hannes & Hussinger, Katrin, 2011. "Costs and benefits of inter-departmental innovation collaboration," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 565-575, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Learning from innovation failures; Innovation; Firms; Systematic review;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:15:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11846-019-00339-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.