INFORMAL BOUNDARY-SPANNING COMMUNICATION IN THE INNOVATION PROCESS - AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY

The sources of ideas embodied within successful technological innovation have been a subject of interest in many studies since the 1950s. This research suggests that sources external, to the innovating organization account for between 34% and 65% of the inputs important to the development of successful innovation. In addition, studies have long highlighted personal boundary-spanning communication as an important mechanism for the transference of such ideas. Despite this recognition, there has been little systematic evaluation of the role and importance of informal boundary-spanning communication in the innovation process. This paper provides the results of an empirical study of the role and source of informally derived inputs into the development process of 35 commercially successful innovations. It was found that informal mechanisms were often employed to transfer ideas and information, as well as other resources, during the idea-generation, problem-solving and field-testing phases of these innovation projects. Indeed, the research indicates that the mobilization of informal boundary-spanning contacts and networks may often be an important, and sometimes critical: factor in successful innovation.