THE INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP, INCENTIVES, DECISION MAKING AND CULTURE ON INNOVATION IN HI-TECH FIRMS

摘要

The impacts of leadership, incentives and culture on innovation are well known and while influence factors have been examined in the literature; the impacts of decision making is less examined. This paper explores these concepts using an art and artist allegory usable by the practicing engineering manager in communicating these concepts with senior executives. Culture is the canvas upon which the story of innovation is painted by the artistic brush of leadership. Incentives are the broad brush strokes. Decision making is a natural by-product of the context. The canvas represents both an opportunity and a constraint, whether big or small innovation or even leaps of fancy are to be pursued is dictated by the size and completeness of the canvas. And these factors in turn are determined by the stage of market development. Leadership ranges from the dreamer/entrepreneur, who sees the limitless themes in the market, to the late stage disciplined and analytical technocrat who exploits the barely visible openings left in the now well-painted canvas. Innovation itself evolves from product focus to marketing, into production and eventually to finance, with the themes going from the grand to the minute. This article also organizes these concepts into a systemic whole that traces the linkages between incentives, culture, decision making and leadership on one hand and the dominant characteristics of innovation on the other.