Within the past decade there has been a paradigm shift in complex innovation in organisations through the adoption of contemporary technologies, which has brought us into the age of digital transformation (DT). The authors adopt a conceptual approach to analysing complex innovation models based on bibliographic analysis and integrate existing concepts and theories related to complex innovation in the DT context. The main innovation models (e.g., 4Ps and open/closed) are analysed through the lens of DT and multiple perspective theory. The outcome of this chapter is the categorization of modern innovation models in DT from multiple perspectives (technical, organisational, and personal), which has revealed that DT is the foundation of the modern innovation ecosystem. The chapter's uniqueness is its conceptual nature, which does not rely on empirical data collection but instead integrates pre-existing concepts and theories such as DT, complex innovation, and multiple perspective theory.
TopIntroduction
In the late 20th century, digital technologies began to significantly infiltrate all aspects of society (Ali, 2019, 2020; M. Ali, 2019a, 2019b, 2021; Ali, 2022; Ali & Abdel-Haq, 2021; Ali & Edghiem, 2021; Ali et al., 2022; M. B. Ali, 2021; Ali et al., 2020a, 2020b). Experts and scholars began discussing the shift towards a new system of operation founded on digital technologies, referred to as “society 5.0 and “industry 4.0 (Bordeleau et al., 2020; De Felice et al., 2021; Ramírez-Montoya et al., 2022). Meanwhile, the effects of digital transformation (DT) are being felt by numerous nations, along with all economic sectors, industries, and types of organisations. The introduction of digital technologies has had a significant impact on the innovation process, a crucial aspect of technological organisation development (Ludbrook et al., 2019). The utilisation of advanced supercomputers, virtual reality (VR) technologies, and robotic systems in research, science, and production has resulted in significant modifications in the way innovation activities are organised. Digital technologies have hastened the dissemination of information, decreased the expenses associated with acquiring and exchanging information, and created the foundation for innovation models. In turn, innovations have also influenced the digital economy (Teece, 2018).
“Innovation” is a popular term used in many industries, particularly due to DT and disruption. It involves a creative process that introduces a new solution to the world and enhances entrepreneurship. Innovation is often associated with entrepreneurship and is the catalyst for creating world-changing solutions to problems. To ensure the long-term integration of innovations and their effective involvement in global transformation processes, it is important to consider the impact of major trends in the economy and society. This includes the widespread adoption of the idea of sustainable development. Contemporary scientific literature has begun to explore the links between Industry 4.0, Society 5.0, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Beltrami et al., 2021; Ejsmont et al., 2020; Piccarozzi et al., 2022). This represents the first effort to examine how these concepts are interrelated. The swift advancement of digital technologies is at odds with the existing models and techniques of innovation management. Furthermore, some countries and regions are already experiencing a discrepancy between the level of development of their digital infrastructure and the efficacy of their innovation management methods. This necessitates a re-evaluation of several conceptual approaches.