Complexity and Innovation in Organizations

People in organizations often speak of innovation as if it were the ultimate new idea, one that would finally deliver them from the pressures of competition if they could only make the right choice. Since they believe that innovation is the realization of a rationally chosen goal, it is difficult to explain, even to themselves, why they never reach this promised land, and must keep innovating. From the perspective of rational choice, one can only conclude that failure to identify an innovation in advance is due to incompetence, and this inevitably leads to frustration and anxiety. Complexity and Innovation in Organizations takes a different approach. Innovation is shown to be simply a new patterning of our experiences of being together, as new meaning emerging from ordinary, every-day work conversations. Viewed from a complex responsice processes perspective, innovation feels less menacing and becomes a challenging, exciting process of participating with others in the evolution of work.