Proposed equation for fostering innovation in organizations

The pressures of globalization and technological availability has generated debates in governments, academic institutions, and in the offices of executives and managing directors, in the search for a better understanding of the factors that affect the innovation process. The actions of organizations to boost innovation do not appear to achieve the desired results. This work, using a qualitative study, contemplates the factors that lead to successful experiences, and proposes the factors that form the equation to boost innovation - company environment, the organization, management, the complementary elements, and the innovator, and its mental model-, and concludes that, to innovate, the organization must first approach these factors, identifying the employees with a strategic mental model conducive to confront the challenges and risks of innovation. (C) 2013 Universidad ICESI. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.