Disciplinary perspectives on innovation: Management

Management scholars are focusing greater research attention on innovation within firms. Innovation is now viewed as critical for firms to maintain their competitiveness. In this paper our focus is to provide a management disciplinary perspective on innovation. In doing so we consider the purpose of innovation, some definitions of innovation and review some contemporary issues including management innovation, business model innovation, sources of innovation and open innovation. We then consider leadership, organizational culture and underground innovation before we conclude with some future research avenues. We suggest that management scholars should focus future research on innovation on managerial power dynamics, managerial support for underground innovation, managerial characteristics, experiences, leadership styles and behaviors of R&D managers and innovation failure.