9: Individuals in R&D

Question 1

What type of promotors do we have in the promotor model?

Answer 1

• The Technical promotor: has the idea for the new product.
• The Process promotor: connects the technical and the power promotor.
• The Power promotor: allocates resources to innovation projects.

Question 2

What central theorems do we have in the Promotor model?

Answer 2

• Correspondence theorem: Specific types of resistance to innovation require specific sources of power to overcome them.
• Division of labor theorem: It is more effective when different individuals take on the different promotor roles than when one individual takes on all roles.
• Interaction theorem: promotors need to cooperate in order to make the innovation process successful.

Question 3

What is the job of a broker and a technological gatekeeper?

Answer 3

• Connects clusters of disconnected others.

Question 4

How should you manage the innovators?

Answer 4

• Provide autonomy: let them have some time to work with personal projects.
• Intrinsic motivation: reward individuals and group success primarily through “intrinsic” methods.
• Sufficient resources (but not to much)
• Tolerate bootleg projects
• Tolerate experimentation and failure.