The Role of Reflection in Facilitating and Assessing Innovativeness

Juhani Ukko; Minna Saunila

doi:10.4067/S0718-27242013000500015

Authors

Juhani Ukko Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lahti School of Innovation. Saimaankatu 11, 15140 Lahti, Finland
Minna Saunila Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lahti School of Innovation. Saimaankatu 11, 15140 Lahti, Finland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242013000500015

Keywords:

innovation, reflection, facilitation, assessment, measurement, performance, impacts.

Abstract

The aim of the research is to study the features that should be taken into account when facilitating innovations through reflection, and focusing on the impacts of reflection on innovation. A single case study approach was used in the study. The data was gathered with semi-structured interviews and also innovation measurement data were gathered from the company. To achieve an overall view of the studied organization with regard to the research questions, representatives from different organizational levels were interviewed. In total, six interviews were conducted, including the director, two managers and three employees. The studies of different innovation measurement and management have mainly been theoretical considerations. Further, the role of reflection in facilitating innovation in organizations has been neglected in current literature. The current study presents the features of reflective procedure of facilitating and assessing innovations. The results can be utilized by managers working with innovation management.

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Author Biographies

Juhani Ukko, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lahti School of Innovation. Saimaankatu 11, 15140 Lahti, Finland

Juhani Ukko is a Professor and a Research Scholar at Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lahti School of Innovation, Finland. He holds a Doctorate of Science in Technology from the Department of Industrial Management at Lappeenranta University of Technology. His current research interests involve different areas of performance management and measurement, covering the assessment and measurement of innovation capability, networks, and service operations.

Minna Saunila, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lahti School of Innovation. Saimaankatu 11, 15140 Lahti, Finland

Minna Saunila, M.Sc. (Tech) is a Researcher at Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lahti School of Innovation. Her current research focuses on performance measurement and management, including the measurement of innovation capability and the relationship between innovation capability and organizational performance in small- and medium-sized enterprises.

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