73: Organizing Innovation -- Michael Tushman (Part 2)
Feb 23, 2021
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Hila Lifshitz-Assaf, a former student of Michael Tushman and a researcher in open innovation, joins the discussion to delve into Tushman's seminal work on innovation processes. They highlight how his 1977 ideas on boundary roles apply to current challenges like remote collaboration. Topics include the impact of open innovation on professional identities at NASA, the importance of boundary spanning for effective communication in R&D, and the balance between formal structures and informal interactions, especially in a post-pandemic world.
Michael Tushman's foundational ideas on boundary roles in innovation highlight the need for organizations to adapt knowledge-sharing strategies in evolving landscapes.
The relationship between boundary work and professional identity reveals that navigating multiple disciplines enhances adaptability in open innovation practices.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed both opportunities and barriers for effective knowledge sharing, emphasizing the need for policies that facilitate collaboration during crises.
Deep dives
Impact of Tushman's Work on Innovation Research
Michael Tushman's article on bounded roles in innovation has greatly influenced research in the field, particularly in relation to open innovation and knowledge management. The discussion highlights how recent research builds on Tushman's foundational ideas about boundary work, focusing on the dynamics of collaboration among knowledge workers across different sectors. It showcases examples of contemporary studies that have expanded upon Tushman's theories, demonstrating the need for organizations to adapt their approaches to knowledge sharing and innovation, especially in a rapidly evolving landscape. This breadth of research underlines the significance of Tushman's work in continuously shaping how we understand the integration of external knowledge in organizational contexts.
Boundary Work and Professional Identity
The relationship between boundary work and professional identity is critically examined through the lens of open innovation practices, particularly in organizations like NASA. A study revealed that as professionals engage in open innovation, they often confront challenges to their professional identities, leading to a need for self-redefinition. The findings indicated that those who successfully dismantled knowledge boundaries in their work were typically individuals who had navigated multiple disciplines throughout their careers, allowing them to adapt more readily to changing environments. This intertwining of identity and boundary work also illuminated how entrenched professional identities can hinder openness to collaborative processes.
Challenges of Open Innovation in a Digital Era
The podcast explores the complexities of implementing open innovation in today's digital environment, where knowledge is more accessible yet harder to filter. The shift towards crowdsourcing and remote collaboration has blurred organizational boundaries, making it necessary for professionals to adapt their methods of communication and collaboration. As organizations embrace digital platforms, they face new challenges in recognizing and trusting the expertise of external contributors, especially when such contributions come from unknown or informal sources. This leads to a recognition that effective boundary spanning is less about hierarchical expertise and more about building trust through shared understanding and communication.
Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed significant changes in how organizations approach open innovation and knowledge sharing, highlighting both the opportunities and the limitations of current systems. While the pandemic prompted many organizations to adopt open-access practices and share information more broadly, institutional barriers still hindered effective collaboration. The discussion emphasizes the need for policies that promote openness during crises, which could facilitate faster innovation and problem-solving across disciplines. This context also sheds light on the importance of balancing rapid knowledge sharing with the need for validation and reliability in information, particularly in high-stakes domains.
Evolving Role of Boundary Spanners
The evolving role of boundary spanners in organizations is a crucial theme explored in the podcast, particularly as firms move toward more decentralized and flexible working arrangements. The research shows that boundary spanners must now navigate a landscape defined by informal communication channels and digital tools, complicating their responsibilities. As organizations leverage online platforms for collaboration, the characteristics of effective boundary spanning are shifting, requiring skills that go beyond traditional expertise to include adaptability and effective communication. Such changes underscore the necessity of recognizing and nurturing the boundary spanning capabilities within teams, which are vital for fostering innovation in dynamic environments.
In Part 2 of this episode, we take Michael Tushman's (1977) work, "Special boundary roles in the innovation process," and apply the ideas of boundary spanning and roles of individuals in the innovation process to contemporary times. This includes research projects pursued by castmembers Pedro and Gretta, along with our special guest Hila Lifshitz-Assaf that shed light on how to better embed innovation in the culture and how to innovate more effectively and efficiently.
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