Title: Radical change through incremental innovations: generic principles and cultural differences in evolution management

Authors: Riitta Smeds

Addresses: Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Industrial Management, Otakaari 8, 02150 Espoo, Finland

Abstract: In the present turbulent environment, enterprises compete through their capability to manage innovation. The evolutionary process of the enterprise can be managed as a succession of innovations towards a vision, if generic evolution management principles are followed. The results from three empirical studies suggest also that the shared values of national culture are more important than a fit with organisational culture for successful evolution management. The critical cultural dimensions are power, distance and uncertainty avoidance. This should be taken into account also in the development of managerial methods.

Keywords: enterprise evolution; process innovation; generic management principles; inter-cultural comparisons; management practices and methods.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1997.001714

International Journal of Technology Management, 1997 Vol.14 No.1, pp.146-162

Published online: 17 Aug 2003 *

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