Organizational politics in the front end of innovation : What types of organizational politics can be identified in the front end of innovation - an explorative study

Sammanfattning: New product development (NPD), represent a valuable source for companies’ futuresustainability and development. Previous literature underline the importance of managing theearly period of NPD, since this can increase the performance and consequently reduce theproducts time to market. Organizational politics is present during the whole innovation process,but especially in the front end where there is uncertainty or dissent about choices. For thisreason, contributing a developed understanding of organizational politics within the front end ofinnovation (FEI), is the aim of this study.The theoretical framework of this study combines prior theories that relate to the organizationalpolitics. The structure of it is based on two elements referring to the individual- and theorganizational elements. Organizational elements can further be particularised to structural- andstrategical elements.A qualitative study and a research design with six interviews, where conducted in six innovativefirms of all size. This choice of methodology reflects the explorative purpose of this research.The empirical data are only primary data, collected during the interviews with Research andDevelopment (R&D) managers and R&D subordinates.The analysis of empirical findings revealed relevant conclusions, which can bring value to theresearch area, and also to the practice. Our findings show that diverse sources of organizationalpolitics can be identified in the front end of innovation. Organizational politics both on theindividual and organizational level are identified. Further its we find that informal and formalpower is distributed both in the organizational level and the individual level.The study’s practical relevance consists in the advices and implications to decision makers ofinnovative companies and managers within R&D. By identifying and increasing knowledge inthe field of organizational politics in the front end of innovation, organizations can make frontend activities more efficient and therefore obtain competitive advantages. The theoreticalimplications reflect the organizational politics in the area of the FEI.