Edinburgh Napier University

  Describes the results of an empirical investigation of the FTSE 100 which was undertaken to ascertain whether UK industry is taking steps to address innovation at a strategic level within its organisations. In the research study, the appointment of staff with a specific responsibility for innovation was taken as an indicator of an organisation's strategic commitment to innovation. The findings revealed that a significant minority of these organisations had invested in personnel with a specific brief for innovation. These were: directors of innovation; managers of innovation and cross-functional teams. It is suggested that to maximise the benefits from innovation: it must be given a strategic direction; that relevant metrics be developed to measure the success of the innovation strategy; that organisations are educated on the holistic meaning of innovation; and finally, that there is a freedom from traditional hierarchical structures in the management of innovation