TY - JOUR

T1 - Sustainbility Innovation Cube

T2 - A Framework to evaluate Sustainability-Oriented Innovations

AU - Hansen, Erik G.

AU - Grosse-Dunker, Friedrich

AU - Reichwald, Ralf

PY - 2009/12

Y1 - 2009/12

N2 - Corporations increasingly subscribe to the principles of corporate sustainability, which is generally described as the integration of economic, environmental and social dimensions. Concerning innovation management, this emphasises the role of sustainability-oriented innovations (SOI). SOI is considered a tool both to address sustainability issues and to tap into new customer segments and markets. Yet SOI are very risky: both their market success and non-economic sustainability are uncertain. This paper presents a generic model termed the "Sustainability Innovation Cube" (SIC) for structuring innovations' sustainability effects in order to better inform corporate decision-makers about how to minimize the directional risk of SOI. The model includes the three dimensions: target, life cycle and innovation type. A qualitative expert study reveals the opportunities and challenges related to the developed model. Finally, practical implications are derived, limitations are discussed and a brief outlook is given.

AB - Corporations increasingly subscribe to the principles of corporate sustainability, which is generally described as the integration of economic, environmental and social dimensions. Concerning innovation management, this emphasises the role of sustainability-oriented innovations (SOI). SOI is considered a tool both to address sustainability issues and to tap into new customer segments and markets. Yet SOI are very risky: both their market success and non-economic sustainability are uncertain. This paper presents a generic model termed the "Sustainability Innovation Cube" (SIC) for structuring innovations' sustainability effects in order to better inform corporate decision-makers about how to minimize the directional risk of SOI. The model includes the three dimensions: target, life cycle and innovation type. A qualitative expert study reveals the opportunities and challenges related to the developed model. Finally, practical implications are derived, limitations are discussed and a brief outlook is given.

KW - Sustainability sciences, Management & Economics

KW - sustainability innovation

KW - product innovation

KW - sustainable development

KW - decision framework

KW - life cycle assessment

KW - Entrepreneurship

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=76449120219&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1142/S1363919609002479

DO - 10.1142/S1363919609002479

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 13

SP - 683

EP - 713

JO - International Journal of Innovation Management

JF - International Journal of Innovation Management

SN - 1363-9196

IS - 4

ER -