Innovation networks - establishment and test

The study shows that several things are important to get people motivated to participate actively in an innovation advisory board.

The participants need to experience that they are able to influence the decision makers (Danish Energy Association) which of course makes it important, that the decision maker plays an active role and provides feedback to the innovation advisory boards on deliveries.

They need to experience that they get new inspiration and new insights. This is highly valuable for the participant him or herself and to the organization that the participant is working for – and can justify the time used in the innovation advisory board.

They need to experience that it’s the right people who are on board. The right people gives the innovation advisory board prestige and status and of course new inspiration and new insights. This is especially so, when the innovation advisory board consists of people from different stages of the value chain. The importance of the right people on board, of course makes the recruitment process very essential to the success of an innovation advisory board.

The study also shows that the people who are relevant as participants are very busy people and they don’t really have the time to participate. This makes it very important to design innovation advisory boards that comply with the most important motivational factors.

The study also shows that it is important that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, that a high level of momentum is needed, and that clear and efficient work processes may help reduce the time usage for different assignments (and thus keep a high level of momentum) and heighten the innovation level.

It must also be concluded that remuneration is not very important for the ‘ordinary’ participant but might be more important for the chairman, as he/she has to fulfill time consuming obligations/deliveries.

By the end of the project recommendations to the adjustment of the existing setup and design is being made and new proposals for new setups is presented.