Abstract
Radical and Incremental Innovation Preferences in Information Technology: An Empirical Study in an Emerging Economy Abstract Innovation in information technology is a primary driver for growth in developed economies. Research indicates that countries go through three stages in the adoption of innovation strategies: buying innovation through global trade, incremental innovation from other countries by enhancing efficiency, and, at the most developed stage, radically innovating independently for competitive advantage. The first two stages of innovation maturity depend more on cross-border trade than the third stage. In this paper, we find that IT professionals in in an emerging economy such as India believe in radical innovation over incremental innovation (adaptation) as a growth strategy, even though competitive advantage may rest in adaptation. The results of the study report the preference for innovation strategies among IT professionals in India and its implications for other rapidly growing emerging economies.
Highlights
The debate about radical innovation and incremental innovation or adaptation has been increasingly pronounced as the world promotes more trade across borders (Banerjee and Cole 2011)
As communication improves and international businesses prosper through rapid growth in the IT industry, critical issues related to radical innovation and adaptation of new technologies need to be addressed (Chesbrough et al 2006)
Adaptation is as important for growth as radical innovation; the challenge is that adaptation must add value by enhancing the capability of the product or service to different market conditions around the world
Summary
The debate about radical innovation and incremental innovation or adaptation has been increasingly pronounced as the world promotes more trade across borders (Banerjee and Cole 2011). In the second stage emerging economies adapt technology and service innovations and make them more efficient through indigenous resources. Emerging economies benefit most by adopting the second stage, i.e. incrementally innovating for competitiveness and growth. Growth strategies for emerging economies should not emulate the strategies of the western world, and make “cheap copies of our worst habits” (Friedman 2007). They should learn from the problems of the developed world and incrementally innovate new technologies that alleviate problems already faced. Economies, India, and assesses the degree of importance given to innovation and adaptation by information technology professionals. The study does not promote one strategy (radical innovation over incremental innovation or vice versa) over the other
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