Innovation Culture - from a fuzzy Concept to a multi-dimensional Measurement Approach

Abstract

Nowadays, the competition for the selective spawning of innovation is seen as a critical success factor for most companies. This also includes a corporate culture based on innovation. Building on a broad and diverse review of literature on innovation culture and organizational culture geared towards innovation, this article provides an approach for conceptualizing innovation culture. The literature review reveals that researchers do not agree on what innovation culture is, therefore a definition and distinction of the terms innovation culture and innovation orientation will be provided. Building on the review, a total of seven factors for a construct “innovation culture” can be identified, these comprise the “importance of innovation orientation and leadership”, the “approaching and involving all employees”, a “culture of error and fault tolerance”, open “communication structures”, the “qualification and development of the employees“, “organizational leeway”, and “knowledge management”.