Factors Leading to Innovation: A Study of Managers' Perspectives

Abstract

This article reports an investigation of managers' perceptions regarding the causes of innovation. An extensive literature search identified possible factors that lead to both successful and unsuccessful innovations. Managers directly involved in innovations were surveyed, and their perceptions of the causal factors leading to success were identified. The survey was repeated with the managers' superiors as participants. These secondary respondents identified different factors as important, indicating that managers and their superiors may have differing opinions concerning how to encourage successful innovation. This shows managers that their perceptions do not always match those of their subordinates. It also indicates to researchers that a participant's degree or type of involvement in an innovation study may affect the results.