Innovation, what innovation? A comparison between product, process and organisational innovation

Abstract

This article compares and contrasts three types of innovations, namely, product innovation, process innovation and organisational innovation. From similarities and differences between these three types, implications for the theory and practice of innovation management are inferred. Most of these implications seem to be generic, i.e. generally applicable whatever the type of innovation and organisation involved. Surprisingly few implications are contingent in that they are linked to the characteristics of the innovation involved.