Henrik Florén Archives - InnovationManagement

HENRIK FLORÉN

Henrik Florén (henrik.floren@hh.se) holds a Ph.D. from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and is currently Assistant Professor of Industrial Management at Halmstad University, Sweden. His research interests mainly concern organizational change and renewal. This interest is currently expressed in research on management of the fuzzy front end, management of eco-innovations, and managerial behavior in fast-growing firms. His work has appeared in journals such as International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, Journal of Workplace Learning, and Leadership and Organizational Development Journal.

Achieving Success in the Fuzzy Front End Phase of Innovation

Activities in the front end of the innovation process are often difficult to anticipate, overview and perform. Yet they are critical to successful outcomes of the innovation process. In light of a growing managerial interest in the front end, this article identifies key success factors for managing the front end, balancing acts which innovation managers need to address, as well as key contingencies affecting front end activities. Proficiency in the front end is indeed no easy task, but will have an enormous positive impact on performance for those firms that succeed.