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International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems

DESRIST 2015: New Horizons in Design Science: Broadening the Research Agenda pp 249–263Cite as

The Front End of Innovation: Perspectives on Creativity, Knowledge and Design

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Part of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNISA,volume 9073)

Abstract

While the importance of innovation as a dominant driver of societal and economic progress is well established, the processes and outcomes of innovation remain distressingly ad-hoc and unpredictable. In particular, the Front End of Innovation (FEI) provides many open questions as innovators are challenged to understand the opportunity context, generate novel ideas, and evaluate these ideas for the implementation of solutions. We propose an original model of the FEI with a nascent theory base drawn from recent perspectives in the areas of innovation, creativity, knowledge, and design science. A key insight is the application of a knowledge maturity lens to distinguish four categories of innovation – invention, exaptation, advancement, and exploitation. We conclude with an agenda for future research to extend innovation theories and with actionable advice for improving current practices of innovation.

Keywords

  • Innovation
  • Front end of innovation
  • Design science research
  • Knowledge
  • Creativity

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australia National University, Canberra, Australia

    Shirley Gregor

  2. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Alan R. Hevner

Authors
  1. Shirley Gregor
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  2. Alan R. Hevner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shirley Gregor .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland

    Brian Donnellan

  2. Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Markus Helfert

  3. Intel Labs Europe, Leixlip, Ireland

    Jim Kenneally

  4. Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Debra VanderMeer

  5. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

    Marcus Rothenberger

  6. Universität St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Robert Winter

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Gregor, S., Hevner, A.R. (2015). The Front End of Innovation: Perspectives on Creativity, Knowledge and Design. In: Donnellan, B., Helfert, M., Kenneally, J., VanderMeer, D., Rothenberger, M., Winter, R. (eds) New Horizons in Design Science: Broadening the Research Agenda. DESRIST 2015. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9073. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18714-3_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18714-3_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-18713-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-18714-3

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