Management innovation and its relation to innovation outcomes and firm performance: a systematic literature review and future research agenda

Abstract

PurposeThe main purpose of this review is to enhance the understanding of intellectual structure and outlook of management innovation research as an interesting and growing research field.Design/methodology/approachThis systematic literature review examines the question, what is the relationship of management innovation with the performance of companies and with other types of innovation? The work also pursues to summarize theories, contexts, characteristics of the papers and methodologies with the purpose of facilitating further development and opportunities and priorities for future research.FindingsThe results suggest that management innovation is an interesting and growing research field; in its relation to different types of innovation and performance, it is a field explored with theoretical approaches, contexts and methodologies that begin to form a consolidated body of knowledge. However, through a critical analysis, this review highlights the gaps in the literature and provides suggestions for future studies to further explore the field. This revision contributes to the literature on management innovation summarizing the findings and contributions of research published in the field and its relationships with innovation and performance. It then identifies three comprehensive research streams, namely, future research on conceptualization, definitions and measurements; research on the level of analysis; and future research on management innovation drivers, antecedents and use as mediator/moderator variables.Originality/valueManagement innovation is an emerging research field that is characterized as a branch of research long ignored by more orthodox lines dedicated to technological innovation and topics in product and service development research.