Title: Systems thinking and learning in innovation process

Authors: Hannele Lampela, Hannu Karkkainen

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

Abstract: The success of a company is increasingly dependent on the innovations and new knowledge it can create. The growing knowledge intensiveness of many industries emphasises the significance of the creation of new knowledge and organisational learning. Learning has become more important than ever before, when companies try to find the fit between their operations, their products and the changing business environment. In the context of learning and knowledge creation, systems thinking is currently widely recognised as an area of growing importance particularly within the area of innovation research. Only few papers that dealt directly with this specific issue were found in the current literature.

Keywords: systems thinking; innovation; organisational learning; generative learning; learning barriers; complexity; new product development; NPD; knowledge creation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2008.019052

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2008 Vol.8 No.2, pp.184 - 195

Published online: 27 Jun 2008 *

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