Mobilizing organizations for innovation and value creation: an integrated model of the mobile company

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to provide managers and academics alike with valuable insights into how global organizations are able to manage innovation by the organization‐wide mobilization of knowledge resources.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is the result of an eight‐year in‐depth theoretical and practical research process mainly undertaken within Siemens AG, and is based on a total of 68 expert interviews conducted with distinguished experts in related fields. Consisting of three phases, the research stretched from analyzing the interrelation of mobility and innovation and deducing case studies towards the development of an integrated model of a mobile company.

Findings

In order to leverage on innovation as one of the most important sources of competitiveness and business success, organizations have to abandon outdated organizational models and engage into mobilizing their knowledge resources.

Originality/value

The results of this in‐depth work can be applied to the reality of a global business, networked across organizations, people, borders and cultures. By providing proof of the impact of people and business processes' mobility on knowledge creation, this article shows how to mobilize organizations for innovation and, consequently, value creation by suggesting an advanced organizational model called the “MOBILE company”.

Citation

Voelpel, S.C., von Pierer, H. and Streb, C.K. (2006), "Mobilizing organizations for innovation and value creation: an integrated model of the mobile company", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 10 No. 6, pp. 5-21. https://doi.org/10.1108/13673270610709189