A1 Journal article (refereed)
Complexity in project co-creation of knowledge for innovation (2020)

Ruoslahti, H. (2020). Complexity in project co-creation of knowledge for innovation. Journal of Innovation and Knowledge, 5(4), 228-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2019.12.004

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ruoslahti, Harri

Journal or series: Journal of Innovation and Knowledge

ISSN: 2530-7614

eISSN: 2444-569X

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 5

Issue number: 4

Pages range: 228-235

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: Spain

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2019.12.004

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67899

Abstract

The European Union (EU) promotes collaboration across functions and borders in its funded innovation projects, which are seen as complex collaboration to co-create knowledge. This requires the engagement of multiple stakeholders throughout the duration of the project. To probe complexity in EU-funded innovation projects the research question is: How does complexity affect the co-creation of knowledge in innovation projects, according to project participants? The data for this study was collected from project experts in the form of short narratives, using a questionnaire based on the elements of complexity of Mitleton-Kelly (2003). The results indicate that complexity characterises the co-creation of knowledge in innovation projects in various ways. Most emphasis was put on the elements Self-organisation, Connectivity and interdependence, Co-evolution, and Creation of new order. Thus, although this study demonstrates that the elements of complexity can be used to gain insight into innovation projects, the results show that not all elements of complexity are equally important in this context and that they appear in a certain order. Moreover, understanding the complexity of collaboration for innovation in relation to the input-throughput-output model of organisational communication is a contribution to theory that may help future projects achieve faster innovation.

Keywords: innovation (activity); projects; international cooperation; European Union countries; complexity

Free keywords: co-creation; innovation projects; complexity; time-to-innovation

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1