Innovation Midwives: Sustaining Innovation Streams in Established Companies

Abstract

OVERVIEW:The study of innovation management in established companies has led to the enunciation of process tools that, if not widely used, are well known and documented. These tools are necessary but not sufficient to create and sustain a reliable stream of innovations. The companies studied here are using networks of “innovation midwives” that nurture, develop and integrate innovations that may otherwise be rejected by the organization's core. These innovation midwives act as translators between the language and culture of the established business and the language and culture of innovation. In so doing, they focus their actions to resolve four fundamental challenges: 1) justifying the innovation, 2) finding relevance to the core business, 3) reducing risks, and 4) resolving conflicts. Although there were only a few companies involved, the study suggests that finding and cultivating these innovation midwives may prove to be an essential factor for established companies to sustain a stream of innovations.