Leveraging key inventors in lean development organizations: a patent based approach

Purpose and goal

Leveraging key inventors in lean development organizations: a patent based approachThe focus of the project is on the innovative individuals who still play a key role for firms´ long-term competitiveness, although their importance have been neglected by the overwhelming interest in the NPD-research on teams, structures and processes. The project will contribute to an increased understanding of the role of R&D management in integrating, protecting and leveraging these innovators in lean development organizations, and provide examples of successful practices. Methods for supporting and encouraging female innovators and patentees will be specifically addressed. The new role of patent departments as proactive partners in the innovation process within firms will be highlighted

Results and expected effects

Insights, inspiring examples and good practices will be diffused via trade journals and conferences, professional training organizers and university programs, including the advanced project management programs for practicing managers at Linköping University.

Approach and implementation

The project will proceed on the basis of previous studies at Scania and Sandvik Tooling, to start fieldwork first at SCA Personal Care and then Ericsson, using interviews with innovators selected from company-internal patent statistics, interviews with patent engineers, colleagues and their managers. Cross-company innovation seminars will be organized to develop and diffuse new good practices and inspiring examples. Conference papers will be co-written by academic and company researchers to refine and fine-tune results and new management ideas.