Stories of innovation: roles, perspectives, and players

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the roles of stories in the innovation process.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrative literature review was used to identify and analyze studies that examined stories of innovation in various organizational settings. The conceptual framework of the review was based on three perspectives of organizational culture: integration, differentiation, and fragmentation.

Findings

A typology of the roles of stories of innovation was synthesized from a review of the literature. The major roles in the typology included fostering a culture of innovation, managing product planning and project teams, facilitating idea generation and problem solving, and analyzing failed innovations. These roles were congruent with multiple perspective of organizational culture, including integration, differentiation, and fragmentation.

Research limitations/implications

Additional research should be conducted to further explore and confirm the study's exploratory typology as a possible extension to the role of organizational narrative in the process of innovation.

Practical implications

The study's conceptual typology can presently serve as a useful learning tool for HRD practitioners to facilitate an organization's understanding of the innovation process.

Originality/value

The study presents a new approach to analyzing the roles of stories in innovation with perspectives of organizational culture and provides an initial base for further research that might extend understanding of the types of roles narratives play in innovation.

Citation

Martens, J. (2014), "Stories of innovation: roles, perspectives, and players", European Journal of Training and Development, Vol. 38 No. 1/2, pp. 40-53. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-09-2013-0092