Title: The human factor in innovation: implications for policies and practices

Authors: Valentina Patrini; Stavroula Demetriades

Addresses: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Wyattville Road, Loughlinstown, D18 KP65, Ireland ' European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Wyattville Road, Loughlinstown, D18 KP65, Ireland

Abstract: This article analyses innovation support measures that aim towards or have the potential of strengthening companies' structural (HR and work organisation-specific) or cultural characteristics, employee involvement, performance and well-being in the workplace innovation context. It examines how non-technological aspects of innovation are addressed in policy making, particularly through the provision of innovation support. The article combines an analysis of evaluation evidence of innovation policy measures in ten European countries with an examination of the contribution certain workplace practices have on innovation, based on quantitative analysis [European Company Survey 2013 (Eurofound, 2015a)]. A key finding of this work is that policy support measures at national (or regional) level tend to focus on technological innovation but neglect non-technological innovation.

Keywords: workplace innovation; organisational practices; work practices; public support; high involvement work systems; HIWS; job creation; working conditions; policy evaluation; European Union.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2019.099895

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2019 Vol.16 No.3, pp.268 - 289

Received: 05 Sep 2018
Accepted: 25 Dec 2018
Published online: 26 May 2019 *

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