Application of agile methods in the innovation process

Lea Hannola, Joel Friman and Jyri Niemimuukko

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2013, vol. 7, issue 1, 84-98

Abstract: The main objective of this study was to analyse the applicability of agile methods for improving the efficiency of the innovation process. The study was conducted by analysing both innovation and software development processes, their similarities and differences, and as well as comparing the criticism against them. As a result of the study, it was found that agile methods provide several improvements regarding to organisational practices, transfer of knowledge and know-how, and understanding of customer needs that could be applied to the innovation process. In addition, this study provides several agile guidelines to managers and project team members for improving the innovation process. These are, e.g., the usage of light user stories as a solution for the heavy documentation, giving up fixed implementations plans for enhancing an incremental product development process, the usage of, e.g., war rooms to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and know-how, and the integration of the fuzzy front end to the whole innovation process as continuous loops by means of customer involvement, short iterations and readiness for change.

Keywords: innovation processes; new product development; NPD; agile methods; software development; waterfall model; efficiency; organisational practices; knowledge transfer; know-how transfer; customer needs; agile guidelines; managers; project teams; team members; heavy documentation; light user stories; fixed implementation plans; incremental product development; war rooms; fuzzy front end; continuous loops; customer involvement; short iterations; change readiness; business innovation; business research. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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