Product innovation processes : conceptual and methodological considerations

Abstract: This thesis addresses the social dimension of individuals engaging in the product innovation process in order to develop and choose techniques for knowledge creation about the social evolvement of a product innovation. The social dimensions of product innovation processes are particular interesting, since many firms today organize their processes by combining individuals from different functions and knowledge areas. The main argument is that decreasing the product's time to market saves costs through divergent perspectives of the product innovation early in the product innovation process; thus, understanding the social dimension may contribute to improving a firm's product innovation process. This is addressed by (1) developing a conceptual model of the product innovation process in respect to the dynamic interplay between individuals in terms of social and cognitive dimensions; (2) formulating a research plan for a significant test of the model; (3) empirically testing a significant part of the research plan on one individual participating in a product innovation process; and (4) developing a research plan based on this test. In this study, development of the conceptual model is based on a literature review. The significant test and the formulation of a research plan are based on the repertory grid technique, social network analysis, and alter-ego network analysis in order to understand if these techniques could be applied to the central concepts, which are, frame of reference, thought, action, interaction, and structures. The significant test indicated a complex relationship between the central concepts, which implies a need for researchers to combine techniques and to participate within the process.