In Search of Innovation

Abstract

Theorists and practitioners have become institutionally committed to the development of efficient, and innovative processes. Nevertheless, fostering such activities demands a thorough understanding of knowledge creating procedures. Although different scholars have stressed the complexity of knowledge, this aspect seem to be forgotten in the continuously stream of research in the business and management area. One essential explanation can be deduced to the dominating rationalistic approach, which is based on a dualistic ontology, and an objectivistic epistemology. In this thesis a phenomenological approach is utilised in order to investigate how individuals interpret knowledge creating projects in search of innovation. The main objective is to examine and describe essential aspects of innovative procedures, and out of this enhance our understanding regarding organising in managerial settings. This is accomplished by utilising a single case study from a company in the pharmaceutical industry. In order to contribute to the general understanding of knowledge creating procedures in organisations, we expose what we consider to constitute central characteristics of knowledge creating processes leading to innovation.