Management of Innovation 301
Digital Report Assessment
4.0 Implementing Innovation
4.1 Managing innovation and operations management
4.1.1 Managing Uncertainty and Pearson’s Uncertainty Map
Managing Uncertainty can helps to reduce the uncertainty and create high value of
management for the firm. According to Trott (2012, 85), managing uncertainty is “a central
feature of managing innovation process”. There is a method to help the manager to solve the
uncertainty of the process, which is Pearson’s uncertainty map. Pearson’s uncertainty map is
“a framework that helps to analyse and understand the uncertainty and the process of
innovation” (Trott 2012, 86). As shown in Exhibit 5 (Refer Exhibit 5), Pearson’s framework
addresses of the uncertainty. The framework is based on two dimensions which are
uncertainty ends on the vertical axis and uncertainty about means on horizontal axis. The axis
is divided into 4. Based on Exhibit 5, GroupMap is under Quadrant 4. This is because
GroupMap had combined the market opportunity and they have the technical capability. The
market opportunity is lacking online group meeting tool and Brad Ward has the prior
knowledge on the ICT technology.
4.1.2 Organisational Characteristics that facilitate innovation
In order to have innovation in the firm, organisation needs to have some
characteristics. There are a few frim-related factors that contribute to innovation success for
the firm. For instance, organisational heritage, experience, R&D team, organisational
structure and so on (Trott 2012, 92) (Refer Exhibit 6). GroupMap’s main organisational
characteristics is coordination of a diverse range of skills. This is because GroupMap has
develop a marketable product which requires combining specialised knowledge like IT
knowledge. Brad Ward has the knowledge about the software and IT knowledge before he
created GroupMap. Therefore he has the ability to manage knowledge and skills that required
during the process of making the GroupMap technology.
4.2 New product development (NPD)
4.2.1 New Product Development as Strategy
New product development (NPD) means introducing new product to the existing
customer base (Simon 2010, 19). There are four types of NPD, which can be seen on Exhibit
CHONG JING TZE (16320341/7E2A9842)
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