Title: Related innovations management in organisations. A systemic approach illustrated with the example of cancer-treating innovations in healthcare

Authors: Antoniya Hauerwaas; Ursula Weisenfeld

Addresses: Institute of Corporate Development, ICD, Leuphana University Lueneburg, Scharnhorststrasse 1, UC 6.002, D21335 Lueneburg, Germany ' Chair of Innovation Management, Leuphana University Lueneburg, Scharnhorststrasse 1, UC 6.004, D21335 Lueneburg, Germany

Abstract: Successful diffusion and management of one innovation often requires or supports other innovations in related areas or, in other words, related innovations (RI). Applying insights from systems thinking to the context of innovation management in organisations, we propose, that innovation management demands understanding of how innovations interact and which relatedness between innovations influences the success of a focal innovation. If such relatedness is not taken into account, the (focal) invention may be denied development or non-adoption and mismanagement may lead to innovation failure. This article introduces the concept of related innovations management (RIM) as a holistic approach to implement systems thinking and illustrates its potential for organisations, taking innovations from healthcare sector as an example. RIM presents a proceeding for identification of crucial RI and their stepwise implementation. Developing a framework for RIM in organisations, the paper provides new insights into managing innovation's complexity.

Keywords: related innovations management; RIM; healthcare; systems thinking; innovations; systemic innovations; cancer-treatment innovations; diffusion; holistic innovation management; organisations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2017.087217

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2017 Vol.19 No.3, pp.350 - 377

Received: 01 Feb 2016
Accepted: 06 Apr 2016
Published online: 11 Oct 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article