Managing for innovation

Important results from the project

The purpose of the project is to gain increased knowledge and understanding of how the operation management principles impact the ability to innovate. Our assessment is that the purpose and objectives of the project have largely been met. We have continued to develop existing methods and increased the understanding of how governance and management can be developed. The participants’ knowledge and capabilities have increased during the project. Methods and dialogue forms have been tried and developed. Diffusion of results and knowledge has been done at an external seminar.

Expected long term effects

The project has had the ambition to give the participants increased knowledge, insight and awareness of which control signals they meet, how they act on it and how it affects innovation capabilities. In this way, we wanted to inspire innovation. Assessment of the project show a high degree of involvement, where the participants in particular underline the value of meeting other functions, comparing themselves with others and reflecting on their own work, while at the same time being exposed to theory and past experiences. This has been a new way of reflecting and building capabilities.

Approach and implementation

In the project, we have used the methodology Action Innovation to disseminate and develop knowledge and experience about governance for innovation. Some 25 people from various functions in the City of Stockholm have participated. We have completed a total of five half-day seminars. Between these, the participants have visited each other´s functions to deepen their learning. We have worked to achieve a high degree of participation, dialogue and reflection, which has been very successful. It has involved an exchange of experience, the formation of new networks and new knowledge.