Perceived Managerial Functions in the Front-End of Innovation

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dc.contributorAalto-yliopistofi
dc.contributorAalto Universityen
dc.contributor.authorRekonen, Satu
dc.contributor.authorBjorklund, Tua A.
dc.contributor.departmentTuotantotalouden laitosfi
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Industrial Engineering and Managementen
dc.contributor.departmentDesign Factoryfi
dc.contributor.departmentDesign Factoryen
dc.contributor.schoolPerustieteiden korkeakoulufi
dc.contributor.schoolSchool of Scienceen
dc.contributor.schoolFactorytfi
dc.contributor.schoolFactoriesen
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-11T09:01:07Z
dc.date.available2016-04-11T09:01:07Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractPurpose: Exploring managerial functions and related activities of inexperienced projectmanagers in the front-end of the innovation process (FEI). Design/methodology/approach: Fifteen student project managers were interviewed while they were engaged in the front-end phase of their respective 8-month projects. 757 interview transcript segments on their perceptions of managerial functions were categorized based on thematic similarity of content.Findings: Four major managerial functions emerged: providing structural support, coordinating and acting as a link, empowering the team, and encouraging and providing social support. Out of these, traditional task-oriented managerial functions were emphasized. Research limitations/implications: Although limited by the small amount of participants in a university setting, the results suggest that task-oriented managerial functions are dominant even in the FEI for inexperienced project managers. More research is needed to understand the antecedents and consequences of such task- dominance, and whether it persists as more experience is accrued. On the other hand, domain knowledge seemed to play a smaller role than indicated by previous research. Practical implications: Project managers should pay attention to creating structure in the uncertain front-end phase. Swift familiarization with the capabilities and practices of each team member cannot be overemphasized, as otherwise the heterogeneity of the team might become a limitation rather than asset. On the other hand, domain experience of the manager may not be necessary in the FEI. Originality/value: The study addresses the gap in previous research on managerial functions specifically in the FEI. Task-oriented managerial functions emerged as way of novice project managers attempting to deal with the fluctuating contingencies in order to foster innovation.en
dc.description.versionPeer revieweden
dc.format.extent18
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationRekonen, Satu & Bjorklund, Tua A. 2016. Perceived Managerial Functions in the Front-End of Innovation. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. Volume 9, Issue 2. 18. DOI: DOI 10.1108/IJMPB-03-2015-0024.en
dc.identifier.doiDOI 10.1108/IJMPB-03-2015-0024
dc.identifier.urihttps://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/20088
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:fi:aalto-201604081720
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherEmerald Group Publishing Limiteden
dc.relation.ispartofseriesInternational Journal of Managing Projects in Businessen
dc.relation.ispartofseriesVolume 9, Issue 2
dc.rights© 2016 Emerald. This is the post print version of the following article: Rekonen, Satu & Bjorklund, Tua A. 2016. Perceived Managerial Functions in the Front-End of Innovation. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. Volume 9, Issue 2. 18. DOI: DOI 10.1108/IJMPB-03-2015-0024, which has been published in final form at http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/IJMPB-03-2015-0024.en
dc.rights.holderEmerald
dc.subject.keywordfront-end of innovationen
dc.subject.keywordproject managementen
dc.subject.keywordmanagerial functionsen
dc.subject.keywordmanagerial activitiesen
dc.subject.keywordexperienceen
dc.subject.otherManagementen
dc.titlePerceived Managerial Functions in the Front-End of Innovationen
dc.typeA1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessäfi
dc.type.dcmitypetexten
dc.type.versionPost printen
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