Innovation Excellence Framework: Using ISO 56001 to Manage Quality in Innovation Management Systems.

Innovation Excellence Framework: Using ISO 56001 to Manage Quality in Innovation Management Systems.

Innovation is no longer a solo endeavor. The age of open innovation has arrived, where collaboration across industries, disciplines, and borders is key to addressing global challenges and driving progress. In this dynamic landscape, the launch of ISO 56001:2024 represents a monumental step forward for organizations striving to innovate smarter, faster, and more sustainably.

What Is ISO 56001?

ISO 56001 is the latest international standard for innovation management systems. Its goal is to provide a robust framework for organizations to manage innovation systematically, bridging creativity with structured processes. Unlike earlier approaches that often treated innovation as an isolated activity, ISO 56001 emphasizes integration, scalability, and adaptability—key pillars for open innovation.

But what sets ISO 56001 apart is its potential to harmonize collaboration across ecosystems. It recognizes that innovation thrives when ideas, expertise, and resources flow freely between partners. By aligning organizations around common principles and practices, this standard can make open innovation more accessible and impactful.

Innovation Excellence Framework

The Innovation Excellence Framework is a comprehensive system designed to guide organizations in managing their innovation processes. By incorporating internationally recognized standards, it provides a solid foundation for improving the organization’s innovation capabilities and aligning them with long-term goals.

What makes the Innovation Excellence Framework so powerful is its holistic and integrated approach. By incorporating the full ISO 56000 series, it ensures that your innovation efforts are aligned with international best practices, covering everything from strategy development to execution and performance evaluation.

Organizations that adopt this framework are not just improving their innovation processes; they are fostering a culture of continuous improvement, resilience, and strategic collaboration. This positions them to stay ahead of the competition, adapt to emerging trends, and effectively manage innovation in an ever-changing landscape.

In the infographic, the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle is integrated with the Operational-Tactical-Strategic layers to visually communicate the interconnectedness of different ISO standards in the Innovation Excellence Framework. Each element represents a different stage or layer in the innovation management process, helping organizations understand how to implement and evaluate their innovation strategies.

The PDCA cycle is a widely recognized approach for continuous improvement and is central to effective management systems. It involves four stages:

  • Plan: Set goals and define processes to achieve them.
  • Do: Implement the plan and execute the innovation activities.
  • Check: Monitor and measure the outcomes to ensure the objectives are met.
  • Act: Adjust processes and strategies based on the feedback to improve future innovation activities.

Each of these stages in the PDCA cycle is color-coded to align with the different ISO standards, making it easier to understand which standard applies to each stage.

The Operational-Tactical-Strategic layers represent different organizational levels at which innovation management is applied:

  • Operational Layer: This is where day-to-day activities take place—focused on implementation, execution, and innovation performance at the ground level.
  • Tactical Layer: Involves mid-level management, which ensures that innovation initiatives are aligned with broader goals and that innovation processes are optimized for efficiency.
  • Strategic Layer: Focuses on long-term innovation strategies, aligning innovation with organizational objectives, vision, and global trends.

These layers align with the PDCA cycle stages, ensuring that innovation management is integrated across all levels of the organization.

Each layer of the PDCA cycle and each stage of the operational, tactical, and strategic levels is represented by a distinct color, which corresponds to specific ISO standards. This color-coding allows viewers to immediately identify which ISO standard is most relevant at each stage or organizational layer. Here’s a breakdown of the colors and the corresponding standards:

  • ISO 56000: This standard serves as the foundational element for all innovation management activities, providing essential vocabulary and principles. It is placed at the Strategic level because it guides overall innovation direction.
  • ISO/FDIS 56001: Representing the Plan phase of the PDCA cycle, this standard focuses on establishing an Innovation Management System (IMS) and its requirements. It applies at the Strategic and Tactical levels to ensure proper alignment between innovation strategy and operational actions.
  • ISO 56002: A complementary standard to ISO 56001, offering practical guidance on implementing an IMS. It supports the Do phase in the PDCA cycle and applies at both the Tactical and Operational layers to guide the execution of innovation processes.
  • ISO 56003: This standard covers tools and methods for innovation partnerships, essential for collaboration across all levels of the organization. It is aligned with the Tactical and Operational layers to ensure collaboration within innovation ecosystems.
  • ISO/TR 56004: Focuses on Assessing Innovation Performance, which ties into the Check phase. It applies at the Tactical and Strategic levels to evaluate how well innovation is performing and identify areas for improvement.
  • ISO 56005: Addresses tools for managing intellectual property during innovation activities. This standard is connected to the Operational layer as intellectual property often plays a central role in day-to-day innovation processes.
  • ISO 56006: Provides tools for strategic intelligence management, focusing on gathering and analyzing market and industry data to inform innovation decisions. This standard fits at the Strategic level, guiding long-term innovation planning.
  • ISO 56007: Focuses on the management of opportunities and ideas, aligned with the Do phase of the PDCA cycle. It supports the Operational layer by providing tools to generate and assess innovation opportunities.
  • ISO 56008: This standard focuses on measuring the operational success of innovation initiatives. It connects with the Check phase in PDCA, ensuring that the Operational layer has the right metrics in place to track innovation progress.
  • ISO/TS 56010: This standard provides illustrative examples of how to apply the ISO 56000 series. It serves as a resource for all levels but does not directly correlate to a single stage of the PDCA cycle or a specific layer.

In summary, the Innovation Excellence Framework based on the ISO 56000 standards offers a proven pathway for organizations looking to manage and optimize their innovation efforts. Whether you’re aiming to improve internal processes, collaborate with external partners, or gain access to funding, this framework provides the tools and insights needed for success.

Why ISO 56001 Matters for Open Innovation

Open innovation—the practice of sharing ideas, technologies, and solutions beyond organizational boundaries—has become a cornerstone of progress. Yet, it comes with its own challenges, including managing intellectual property, fostering trust, and aligning diverse stakeholders. ISO 56001 addresses these barriers in several ways:

  • A Shared Language: ISO 56001 establishes a common vocabulary and framework for innovation. This simplifies collaboration between companies, research institutions, and startups, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
  • Trust Through Structure: Open innovation requires trust, and trust is built on transparency. By providing guidelines for processes like risk management and decision-making, ISO 56001 helps organizations navigate uncertainties collaboratively.
  • Scalability and Adaptability: Innovation ecosystems are diverse, with partners ranging from local entrepreneurs to multinational corporations. ISO 56001’s flexible framework accommodates these differences, enabling seamless collaboration across scales.

Real-World Impact

Consider a biotech company partnering with a university to develop sustainable agriculture solutions. With ISO 56001 as their foundation, both parties can align their objectives, streamline their workflows, and manage intellectual property with clarity. The result? Faster breakthroughs and a stronger impact on global food security.

Or take the example of a city government working with tech startups to build smarter infrastructure. ISO 56001 can guide how these diverse entities share data, integrate their innovations, and create scalable solutions that improve urban living.

A Call to Action for Innovators

The release of ISO 56001 couldn’t come at a better time. As the world faces complex challenges—from climate change to public health crises—the need for open, collaborative innovation has never been greater. This standard offers a roadmap for turning collective ideas into actionable solutions.

For innovators, ISO 56001 is more than a set of guidelines; it’s an opportunity to lead. By adopting the standard, you can position yourself as a reliable partner in the global innovation ecosystem, attract funding, and drive meaningful change.

How to Get Started

Whether you’re part of a multinational corporation, a small business, or an academic institution, ISO 56001 offers something for everyone. Start by:

  1. Exploring the Standard: Learn about its principles, structure, and how it aligns with your innovation goals.
  2. Building Internal Capacity: Train your teams on best practices for innovation management.
  3. Engaging in Dialogue: Use ISO 56001 as a bridge to connect with potential partners and collaborators.

ISO 56001 is more than a technical standard—it’s a tool for shaping the future of innovation. By embracing its principles, we can create a world where ideas flow freely, challenges are tackled collaboratively, and progress knows no boundaries. Let’s innovate together.

Ethical Considerations Regarding the Use of AI in Higher Education

Ethical Considerations Regarding the Use of AI in Higher Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a remarkable advancement in technology with the potential to significantly benefit higher education. AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can support educators and enhance student learning experiences by automating administrative tasks, providing personalized learning pathways, and facilitating access to a vast array of information. However, while the benefits of AI are numerous, there is increasing concern within academic circles about its ethical implications and the challenges it presents to traditional educational paradigms in business and engineering education.

If you’re a college student preparing for life in an A.I. world, you need to ask yourself: Which classes will give me the skills that machines will not replicate, making me more distinctly human? New York Times

Recent studies, including the work by Sullivan, Kelly, and Mclaughlan (2023), highlight these concerns in detail. Their research underscores significant issues related to academic integrity and student learning outcomes with the advent of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. They note that while these tools can aid learning, they also present substantial risks, particularly in terms of undermining the learning process and compromising the integrity of academic work.

Key Concerns Raised

The integration of AI tools like ChatGPT into higher education has brought about several significant concerns, primarily revolving around academic integrity, the quality of student learning, and broader ethical implications.

1. Academic Integrity Concerns:

One of the most pressing issues is the potential for AI to facilitate academic dishonesty. AI tools can generate essays, solve problems, and create presentations, often indistinguishable from student-generated work. This ease of use can lead students to rely on AI to complete their assignments, effectively bypassing the learning process. According to Sullivan, Kelly, and Mclaughlan (2023), there has been a noticeable increase in students submitting work produced by ChatGPT, yet these students struggle with verbal discussions or critical analyses of the same topics. This phenomenon undermines the authenticity of academic assessments and devalues educational qualifications.

2. Impact on Learning Outcomes:

AI’s ability to generate content quickly and accurately poses a threat to the learning process itself. As noted in Sullivan et al.’s study, there is a critical link between the act of writing and learning (Goodman, 2023). The cognitive effort involved in structuring an argument, synthesizing information, and reflecting on content is essential for deep learning. When students use AI to circumvent these processes, they miss out on the development of critical thinking and analytical skills. The concern here is that AI can make learning too easy, removing the struggle that is often necessary for true understanding and mastery of complex subjects (AI writing tools garner concern about academic integrity, education from faculty, 2023).

“The potential benefits of artificial intelligence are huge, so are the dangers.” (Dave Waters)

3. Quality and Reliability of AI-Generated Content:

Another significant concern is the quality and reliability of the output generated by AI tools. ChatGPT and similar AI systems can produce text that appears plausible but can contain factual inaccuracies, logical fallacies, and a lack of nuanced understanding (Chatbots ‘spell end to lessons at home’, 2023). Additionally, AI lacks the ability to form genuine opinions, think creatively, or critically evaluate its own outputs. These limitations can lead to students presenting erroneous information and can hinder the development of their critical evaluation skills.

4. Equity and Accessibility Issues:

The ethical implications of AI use extend to equity and accessibility. Not all students have equal access to advanced AI tools, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities in education. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds may not be able to afford the technology or may lack the necessary digital literacy to use it effectively. This creates a divide where some students can leverage AI to enhance their academic performance, while others are left behind.

5. Data Privacy and Security:

AI tools often require access to vast amounts of data, raising concerns about the privacy and security of student information. There is a risk that sensitive data could be mishandled or exposed, leading to potential breaches of privacy and trust (The Promise and Peril of ChatGPT in Higher Education, Park & Ahn, 2024).

6. Reduced Critical Thinking and Engagement:

The use of AI can lead to a passive learning experience where students become overly reliant on technology. This reliance can diminish opportunities for active learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving – skills that are crucial for academic and professional success. According to Rasul et al. (2024), the passive nature of AI-assisted learning contradicts the principles of constructivist learning theory, which emphasizes the importance of active engagement and social interactions in the learning process.

7. Inadequate Assessment of Learning Outcomes:

AI-generated content makes it difficult for educators to assess students’ true understanding and skills accurately. Traditional assessment methods, such as essays and take-home assignments, are easily completed with AI assistance, making it challenging to gauge a student’s actual learning progress. This issue calls for a reevaluation of assessment strategies to ensure they effectively measure student learning outcomes in an AI-enhanced educational environment.

8. Technological and Psychological Challenges:

Technological solutions to detect AI-generated content are still evolving and are not foolproof. False positives can lead to unwarranted accusations of academic dishonesty, causing psychological stress and potentially damaging student reputations (The Promise and Peril of ChatGPT in Higher Education, Park & Ahn, 2024). Additionally, as AI technology advances, detection systems must continuously adapt, posing a persistent challenge for educational institutions.

I believe that the future of AI in education encompasses three essential areas: AI literacy, AI policy, and AI misconduct, or ’AI-giarism.” Professor Chan

Given these multifaceted challenges, it is imperative to explore both traditional and innovative strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of AI while harnessing its benefits.

Routes for Addressing These Challenges

Old-School Methods

I’m not a fan of these methods, but lecturers are increasingly holding on to them in the age of AI. They’re effective, but often very time-consuming and increasingly less effective as AI continuous to become more accessible.

  1. Reinforcing Traditional Assessments: Maintaining some traditional forms of assessment, such as invigilated exams, can help ensure that students engage with the material directly. However, reliance solely on these methods can stifle innovation and adaptability in education.
  2. Handwritten Assignments: Encouraging handwritten work can reduce the opportunity for AI misuse. Yet, this approach may not fully capture the interactive and digital nature of modern education.

New-School Methods

  1. AI-Resistant Assessments: Developing assessment types that are difficult for AI to handle is a promising approach. This includes oral presentations, podcasts, laboratory activities, group projects, and specific assignment prompts that require critical thinking and creativity beyond the capabilities of current AI.
  2. Game-Based Learning: Research by Sánchez-Ruiz et al. (2023) shows that serious games and simulation for higher education are hard for AI to effectively participate in due to the complexity of understanding game algorithms and dynamic scenarios. These games not only make learning engaging but also ensure that students actively apply their knowledge and skills in a way that AI cannot replicate.
  3. Flipped Classroom Models: This approach involves students engaging with lecture material at home through digital platforms and using classroom time for interactive, hands-on activities. Research by Sánchez-Ruiz et al. (2023) shows that flipped classrooms and other blended learning methodologies significantly reduce the effectiveness of AI tools in completing assignments, as these require active participation and critical engagement from students.
  4. Integrated AI Use: Embracing AI as a tool within the learning process rather than banning it can also be beneficial. By teaching students how to use AI responsibly and integrating it into the curriculum, educators can prepare students for a future where AI will be an integral part of their professional lives. This includes developing digital literacy and critical evaluation skills to assess AI-generated content.

“The learners are in charge, the AI is there to work with the educators to support students to be the best learner they can be. Human educators are a much sought-after resource in this vision, because everybody will need to learn throughout their lives.” Rose Luckin

Conclusion

The introduction of AI in higher education is a double-edged sword, offering both significant advantages and substantial challenges. While traditional methods can provide short-term solutions to maintain academic integrity, it is the innovative, new-school approaches that hold the potential to transform education sustainably. By incorporating AI-resistant assessment methods and integrating AI into the learning process responsibly, educators can enhance student learning while preserving the integrity and value of higher education. As we navigate this evolving landscape, it is crucial to engage in ongoing dialogue and adapt our strategies to ensure that the use of AI in education aligns with our core educational values and goals.

Chris Freeman: the entrepreneur who created the concept of ‘innovation studies’

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After our deepdive into the story of Ted Levitt last week, we’ll dive into the extraordinary story of Christopher Freeman (1921 – 2010) this week. By many renowned for his substantial conributions to the academic field of innovation, and as such named a ‘social sciences entrepreneur’ (Fagerberg, Fosaas, Bell and Martin, 2011), Chris Freeman was an expert at the intersection of economics and innovation. His legacy included many ‘firsts’, such as being the first director of SPRU – the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex -, the first Frascati manual (1962), the first studying ‘technology gaps’ (1960s), the first editor of Research Policy and the author of the first textbook on innovation, ‘The Economics of Industrial Innovation’. His contributions to theory also included works on Industrial Waves and Disruption, National Innovation Systems and The Economics of Change. Freeman had a significant contribution to schumpetarian thinking about disruption.

Christopher Freeman (Fagerberg et al, 2010)

Background

Christopher Freeman was born in Sheffield in the United Kingdom. He was raised with liberal ideas: his father Arnold worked for the Webb’s whose ‘Fabian Society’ shaped reformist-socialist left-wing views on democracy. His father later on pioneered with ‘Workers’ Educational Association’ and as such also heavily impacted his son’s radical ideas. Christopher Freeman “was educated at the progressive Abbotsholme School in Staffordshire, where he founded a cell of the Young Communist League” (Independent, 2010). He started studying at the London School of Economics (LSE) in 1941, continued in Cambridge to study economics, which he interrupted to join the Royal Military Academy, after which he returned to LSE to graduate in 1948. At LSE he was part of an extraordinary cohort, which included Norman MacKenzieClaus and Mary Moser and Marion Stern, the mother of Nicholas Stern, an economist and well-known ambassador of taking early action on climate change. Nicholas later said that his passion was largely due to the discussions that he had been part of when his parents, Freeman and other classmates in his early childhood (Stern, 2017). This also forms the main line in Freeman’s career: on the one hand he followed the line of thinking of Schumpeter, popularizing Schumpeter’s – now widely accepted – idea of creative destruction and the fact that there no boundaries to growth, and on the other hand a critical acclaim to capitalism, claiming that a more institutional approach to innovation systems – an approach that is now classified as neo-schumpeterian economics, which takes ingredients from different economic schools such as the austrian school, lausanne school and keynesiasism.


His ideas and early career expertise on innovation policy, led to one of his most famous contributions to the academic world: the notion of innovation systems, and later on also his work on national systems of innovation (Guardian, 2010). He also argued that science plays an important role in establishing industries, much in line with Bernal’s work on the science-based industry and science policies (Fagerberg et al, 2010). As such, he is widely recognized for being ‘an entrepreneur’ in science, developing innovation science as a separate field of study alongside economics, management and entrepreneurship – which led to him being the first director of SPRU – the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex. As an academic he supervised many scholars, wrote many articles and books and as such had a lasting impact on the science, economics and industry of innovation.

Key Ideas

  • The Economics of Industrial Innovation: Freeman adopted a dynamic perspective on capitalism, heavily influenced by Marx and Schumpeter. He viewed capitalism as a system characterized by continuous interaction between technological progress, capital accumulation, and social and institutional conditions. Drawing from that, Freeman emphasized the role of technological competition between firms as a driving force behind capitalist development. He focused on understanding the dynamics of technological change within firms and its implications for economic growth and competitiveness. Freeman argued that traditional economic theories often failed to adequately account for the role of research and development (R&D) in driving technological progress and economic development. He highlighted the importance of R&D activities within firms and advocated for policies and management strategies that promote innovation.
  • National Innovation Systems: Freeman, together with i.e. Lundvall, was instrumental in developing the concept of national innovation systems, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of various actors, institutions, and policies within a country that contribute to innovation and economic development. He advocated for a holistic approach to understanding innovation processes, beyond the traditional focus on individual firms or sectors. He emphasized the role of institutions, including government policies, research organizations, universities, and industry associations, in shaping national innovation systems. He argued that effective innovation policies require a deep understanding of the institutional framework within which innovation occurs (Freeman, 1995). In his own words:

“Sectoral systems, regional systems are all very constructive and helpful. (…) You can point to the success of Pakistan in medical instruments or Brazil in boots or shoes or whatever (…) and if you point out the role of innovation in all those micro level studies, that’s very useful. And if you point out certain regions of countries are more innovative, and the north of Italy has contributed more to the growth of the country than Sicily, that’s all very useful. But I don’t think you’ll change the main paradigm of neoclassical economics, I think you have to attack it head on in the centre (…) Most of the people working on innovation systems prefer to work at the micro-level. They are a bit frightened still of the strength of the neoclassical paradigm at the macroeconomic level. But I think that’s where they have to work. You have to have an attack on the central core of macroeconomic theory. It is happening but not happening enough.” (Unpublished interview with Sharif, 2003)

Impact

  • Public impact: Freeman highlighted the importance of knowledge diffusion and learning mechanisms within national innovation systems. He emphasized the role of networks, collaborations, and knowledge spillovers in facilitating innovation and technology transfer. Freeman’s work on national innovation systems had significant policy implications. He advocated for policies that promote collaboration between government, industry, and academia, as well as investments in education, research infrastructure, and technology transfer mechanisms. His ideas contributed to the design of innovation policies aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and resilience of national economies (Fagerberg et al, 2011).
  • Industrial impact: Freeman emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of innovation within industries. He highlighted the role of research and development (R&D) activities, technological competition, and dynamic interactions between firms in driving innovation. By advocating for policies and management strategies that support innovation, Freeman encouraged industry leaders to prioritize investments in R&D, technology development, and knowledge creation.
  • Academic Impact: Under his leadership, SPRU became a global center for innovation research, attracting scholars, policymakers, and industry practitioners from around the world. This collaborative environment facilitated knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary research, and the co-creation of innovative solutions to industry challenges.

Key take-aways

  1. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Embrace collaborative efforts across disciplines to gain comprehensive insights into innovation dynamics.
  2. Emphasize a Systems Approach: Consider the historical, economic, and systemic dimensions of innovation to develop a nuanced understanding of its complexities.
  3. Tap into the Academic Community: Foster an inclusive academic environment that encourages knowledge exchange and inspires new avenues of inquiry in innovation studies.
  4. Explore Macro-Level Analysis: Delve into macroeconomic perspectives to discern broader implications of innovation on national and regional innovation ecosystems.
Unleashing Innovation: Strategic Simulation Games as a solution to the use of AI and ChatGPT in Business Education

Unleashing Innovation: Strategic Simulation Games as a solution to the use of AI and ChatGPT in Business Education

In the world of business education, the usage of AI and ChatGPT has severe impact. Not only does it open doors for new ways of learning, it also threatens traditional learning methods, activities and deliverables – and forces educators to update curricula in a fast pace. As became apparent over the last few years, strategic simulation games are immersive learning experiences that go hand-in-hand with the rise of the usage AI and ChatGPT in education. As a premium partner of Innovative Dutch, who is developing and running strategic simulation games in universities worldwide, we’ve experienced during the last year that there are many benefits arising from using strategic simulation games in education, knowing that students will move to AI to ask for help. Interested in learning more about the simulation games of Innovative Dutch? Check their website for the Innovation Management Game and the Business Model Game. Their games are played in over 25 countries by 10K+ students annually.

Here are nine advantages of leveraging strategic simulation games enhanced by AI in business education:

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Avoid the Toxic Trap: the Toxic Matrix

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Innovation is the foundation of progress and success in business. A culture of innovation is essential for companies to thrive and stay competitive. One of the biggest challenges for companies is to ensure that the culture of innovation is not overshadowed by a culture of toxicity. There are a number of potential pitfalls that must be avoided in order to create an environment that encourages creativity and collaboration. This blog will discuss these issues, as well as strategies for avoiding the Toxic Trap.

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How to blend 10 Types of Innovation with the Business Model Canvas?

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The Ambidextrous Organization

4 Paths to a Sophisticated Innovation Strategy

In december I reached out to both Alexander Osterwalder and John Bessant and asked them what is the most important organizational skill for engaging continuously with innovation. Their answers were almost the same:

  • Osterwalder mentioned that every board should consist of both a Chief Executive Office and a Chief Entrepreneurship Officer.
  • Bessant noted that organizations should always find a balance between innovators and innovation managers.

Shorty after, I read an article by Ayse Birsel, on Inc.com1. She also talked to asked Alexander Osterwalder and asked him the question why ‘designers who are fluent at business strategy’ and ‘business people who are fluent at design’ are so different to each other. He could easily name 8 differences between the two of them, but the article concluded with the statement that organizations are in need of both explorers and exploiters – or evolutionaries and revolutionaires2.

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The University in 2040: 6 trends & an infographic.

On November 23, I had the honor of giving a talk at the NRC Live event for Education. I was scheduled immediately after Bert van der Zwaan, rector magnificus at the University of Utrecht. Van der Zwaan launched his book that day: the result of sabbatical he and his wife took in 2015. During that sabbatical they traveled the world and tried to speak with as many educational visionaries as possible. It led to the work: The University in 2040, does it still exist?

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The Lean Scale-Up: Innovation & Entrepreneurship for New Ventures

The Lean Scale-Up: Innovation & Entrepreneurship for New Ventures

Traditionally, organization design (OD) is an area of expertise focused on the roles and formal structures of organizations. The main goal of OD would be to design the organization in such a way that it makes it possible for the company to reach its vision and thus facilitates the growth.

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The Early Bird Gets the Worm, But the Second Mouse Gets the Cheese: Non-Technological Innovation in Creative Industries

In the most recent edition of the Journal of Creativity and Innovation Management, I ran into an interesting article about being a startup versus being an early adaptor. The article suggests that early adaptors have a higher probability to succeed in the case of non-technological environments than the startups that proceed them.

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