Overcoming the barriers of radical innovation
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Abstract
Objective: To propose the establishment of failure governance within companies and their ecosystems to implement radical innovation projects.
Current research status: Radical innovation processes are inherently prone to failure due to a series of uncertainties. However, research shows an anti-failure bias in companies, which hampers the initiation and completion of disruptive projects. This bias stems from the tendency to treat failures as errors – which are predictable and common in incremental innovation projects.
Originality: The article proposes four steps for implementing failure governance, enabling companies to effectively carry out radical innovation projects.
Impacts: The proposed failure governance model can be implemented by organizations starting or advancing radical innovation efforts and by managers and other actors in innovation ecosystems.
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Este artigo é baseado em uma pesquisa publicada na Research Policy, conduzida por um grupo de pesquisadores do Bridge. Para informações complementares, leiam: Gomes, L. A.V., Chaparro, X. A. F., Maniçoba, R. F., Borini, F. M., & Silva, L. E. (2025). Transformation of the governance of failure for radical innovation: The role of strategic leaders. Research Policy, 54(1), 105108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2024.105108
Gomes, L. A. V., Salerno, M. S., Phaal, R., & Probert, D. R. (2018). How entrepreneurs manage collective uncertainties in innovation ecosystems. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 128, pp. 164–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.11.016
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Gomes, L. A. V., Salerno, M. S., Phaal, R., Probert, D. R. (2018). How Entrepreneurs Manage Collective Uncertainties in Innovation Ecosystems. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 128, 164–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.11.016
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Gomes, L. A.V., Chaparro, X. A. F., Maniçoba, R. F., Borini, F. M., & Silva, L. E. (2025). Transformation of the governance of failure for radical innovation: The role of strategic leaders. Research Policy, 54(1), 105108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2024.105108
Gomes, L. A.V., Chaparro, X. A. F., Maniçoba, R. F., Borini, F. M., & Silva, L. E. (2025). Transformation of the governance of failure for radical innovation: The role of strategic leaders. Research Policy, 54(1), 105108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2024.105108