Sustainable innovation planning from successful practice: competence and business excellence considerations

Current innovation management literature and research describing innovation planning seems to disregard the possibility to continuously execute such an effort within a given enterprise. Resulting from a practice oriented research involving nine international enterprises, insights concerning needed competencies, an integrative process and business excellence for successful innovation planning are realized. The accelerating complexity of markets and the increasing dynamic of technological change are economic drivers leading to the increased importance of coordinating innovation related activities. This article's focus is laid on business excellence in innovation planning, including the competencies involved. It encompasses the integration of market, technology and business strategy activities, as well as continuous learning. The industrial examples regarded in this research are technology-based enterprises in supplier markets. Aiming at business excellence with a clear and repetitive innovation planning process enables the creation of sustainable competitive advantages. Entrepreneurial recommendations are given as a deduction from the performed research.