The doctoral dissertations of the former Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) and Aalto University Schools of Technology (CHEM, ELEC, ENG, SCI) published in electronic format are available in the electronic publications archive of Aalto University - Aaltodoc.
Aalto

Innovation Commercialisation Process from the 'Four Knowledge Bases' Perspective

Seppo Hänninen

Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Science in Technology to be presented with due permission of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Helsinki University of Technology, for public examination and debate in Auditorium Antinsali at Lahti University of Applied Sciences (Lahti, Finland) on the 26th of February, 2007, at 12 noon.

Overview in PDF format (ISBN 978-951-22-8647-8)   [118 KB]
Dissertation is also available in print (ISBN 978-951-22-8646-1)

Abstract

In this dissertation, the innovation commercialisation process is studied from the perspective of four knowledge bases in product innovation: the technology knowledge base, end-user knowledge base, brand knowledge base, and business-logic knowledge base. In all, the doctoral dissertation consists of five substudies appended in full, and an introductory text integrating these substudies.

Substudy 1 develops the 'four knowledge bases and four knowledge levels' perspective in order to analyse the product innovation as a micro-strategy. Innovation-based diversification was found to be a very important reason to use the micro-strategy perspective. Substudy 2 describes the perfect technology syndrome and its solutions. The one-sided interest in technological development led to serious difficulties but was also solved by some companies. Substudy 3 analyses barriers in the innovation commercialisation process. The research results are summarised as seven hypotheses. Substudy 4 uses a multidimensional product-concept model that can enhance cross-functional knowledge creation in the product innovation process. Substudy 5 further develops the 'four knowledge bases' perspective by adding the consumer knowledge base and implementing this extended approach in the form of the Consumer Learning Roadmap. This substudy includes two case studies.

An important contribution of the present dissertation with its substudies is a deeper understanding of the innovation-based diversification. On the one hand, innovation-based diversification process can open to the company new successful markets. On the other hand, it can lead the company into unanticipated difficulties. In addition, the dissertation provides new insight into how the innovation commercialisation process can be developed by means of utilising the innovation-based micro-perspective.

This thesis consists of an overview and of the following 5 publications:

  1. Hänninen, Seppo and Kauranen, Ilkka. 2007. Product innovation as micro-strategy. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, Vol. 4, No. 4, accepted for publication.
  2. Hänninen, Seppo. 2007. The 'perfect technology syndrome': sources, consequences and solutions. International Journal of Technology Management, accepted for publication.
  3. Hänninen, Seppo, Kauranen, Ilkka, Serkkola, Ari, and Ikävalko, Jaakko. 2007. Barriers to commercialisation from the 'four knowledge bases' perspective: a study of innovation in the software development sector. International Journal of Management Practice, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 197-213.
  4. Hänninen, Seppo and Kauranen, Ilkka. 2006. A multidimensional product-concept model enhancing cross-functional knowledge creation in the product innovation process: the case of the Suunto t6 training wrist computer. Creativity and Innovation Management, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 400-409 (December 2006).
  5. Hänninen, Seppo and Sandberg, Birgitta. 2006. Consumer learning roadmap: a necessary tool for new products. International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, Vol. 2, Nos. 3/4, pp. 298-307.

Keywords: innovation commercialisation process, micro-strategy, knowledge creation, new product development

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© 2007 Helsinki University of Technology

Last update 2011-05-26