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Actions driving and legitimizing radical innovations in a large firm

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  • Johansson Magnus

    (Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Université de Gothenburg, Suède - IIE - Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Université de Gothenburg, Suède - GU - Göteborgs Universitet = University of Gothenburg)

  • Rani Jeanne Dang

    (GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur)

  • Rick Middel

    (Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Université de Gothenburg, Suède - IIE - Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Université de Gothenburg, Suède - GU - Göteborgs Universitet = University of Gothenburg)

Abstract

In a longitudinal real time case study over 14 months, we follow the process of radical innovation in an incumbent Swedish firm. Applying institutional theory and the concept of legitimacy, we try to shed new light on the firm process of developing and implementing radical ideas. We deconstruct the black box of individual actions undertaken in the process and trace the effect of these actions on the development and legitimacy for the radical idea. We find that when an idea lack top management support and the process of innovation are interrupted, lower level employees' action can have a defining impact of the survival. In the literature there is a perceived need for a consistent view on how to organize the bottom up processes of innovation within a firm. Emerging from the qualitative grounded analysis we thus formalize these actions undertaken in a radical innovation process.

Suggested Citation

  • Johansson Magnus & Rani Jeanne Dang & Rick Middel, 2012. "Actions driving and legitimizing radical innovations in a large firm," Post-Print halshs-00727515, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00727515
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00727515
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    Keywords

    Legitimacy; Radical Innovation; Actions;
    All these keywords.

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