Perceiving Innovation: Who ‘Makes’ SAP Labs India and How?

Abstract

Systemanalyse und Programmentwicklung; Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing (SAP) Labs India is a very good example of innovativeness in products and attractiveness as an employer in a rapidly changing business environment. Especially the lack of an innovative culture in SAP Germany is compensated by SAP Labs India. The purpose of this study is to understand how SAP Labs India employees and scholars are perceiving innovation processes to which they contribute. A case study was conducted by using public available blog entries and discussing these within the concepts of perceptions, innovation and nudging. Being close to customers and feeling self-empowered are the consensus points; the latter one is reached by ‘nudge’. These perceptions can give new insights on successful innovation management, especially in absence of hierarchies. Furthermore, the study gives new ideas on how nudging is used in an innovative process.