Short answer

Prioritize identifying and nurturing individuals with a strong intrinsic motivation to challenge the status quo and explore uncharted territories when building innovation teams or leadership structures.

Field: Innovation & Design
Source: Journal of Applied Business Research (JABR) (2015)
Method: Literature Review
Evidence: Strong effect

Leaders who drive innovation are characterized by a shared 'In-Factor,' defined by their intention and insistence on being trailblazers, regardless of their individual leadership styles or backgrounds. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Journal of Applied Business Research (JABR). Using Literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Prioritize identifying and nurturing individuals with a strong intrinsic motivation to challenge the status quo and explore uncharted territories when building innovation teams or leadership structures.

Study

Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Trailblazing Intent: The Core 'In-Factor' of Innovation Leaders

Journal of Applied Business Research (JABR) · 2015

Key Findings

01Leaders of innovation share a common 'In-Factor': the intention and insistence to be trailblazers.
02This 'In-Factor' transcends diverse leadership styles, backgrounds, and career paths (e.g., founders vs. successors, mavericks vs. problem-solvers).

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When assessing candidates for innovation roles or leadership positions, probe for evidence of a persistent desire to pioneer new ideas and approaches, even in the face of uncertainty or resistance.

Project actions

01When researching innovation leaders for your design project, look for evidence of their 'trailblazing' mindset in their biographies or interviews.
02Consider how this 'In-Factor' might influence the design decisions and outcomes of innovative products or services.

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the shared signature traits of individuals who successfully lead innovation, irrespective of their diverse backgrounds and leadership approaches?

MethodLiterature Review

ProcedureThe study involved a comprehensive review of academic and practitioner literature to identify common attributes among leaders of innovation, drawing inspiration from biographical accounts and case studies.

ContextLeadership and Innovation Management

Variables

IVLeadership Style, Background, Career Path

DVSuccess in Leading Innovation

CVThe 'In-Factor' (intention and insistence to be trailblazers)

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Synthesizes a broad range of literature on innovation leadership.
+Identifies a unifying concept ('In-Factor') across diverse leadership profiles.

Limitations

This research is based on a literature review, so it doesn't involve direct observation or experimentation with leaders.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of this insight depends on the consistency of findings across the reviewed literature. Validity is supported by the conceptual coherence of the 'In-Factor' across different examples of innovation leaders.

Think critically

To what extent is the 'In-Factor' a prerequisite for innovation, versus a characteristic that emerges as a result of successful innovation leadership?

Design Principles

"Cultivate a culture that values and supports the 'trailblazing intent' as a primary driver of innovation."

Understanding the fundamental drive behind innovation leaders is crucial for fostering environments that encourage and support groundbreaking ideas. Identifying this 'In-Factor' can inform leadership development programs and organizational strategies aimed at cultivating a culture of innovation.

What This Means for Your Design

People who are good at leading new ideas are usually driven by a strong desire to be the first or to create something completely new, no matter how they lead or where they come from.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this insight when discussing the characteristics of successful innovators or the leadership required for groundbreaking design projects.

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Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The 'In-Factor,' characterized by an intention and insistence on being trailblazers, is a common trait among leaders of innovation, transcending diverse backgrounds and leadership styles, suggesting that fostering this drive is key to successful innovation.

Source

Journal of Applied Business Research (JABR)

The "In-Factor": Signature Traits Of Innovation’s Leaders

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about trailblazing intent: the core 'in-factor' of innovation leaders?: Prioritize identifying and nurturing individuals with a strong intrinsic motivation to challenge the status quo and explore uncharted territories when building innovation teams or leadership structures. Evidence: Journal of Applied Business Research (JABR) (2015).
Why does "Trailblazing Intent: The Core 'In-Factor' of Innovation Leaders" matter for design?: Understanding the fundamental drive behind innovation leaders is crucial for fostering environments that encourage and support groundbreaking ideas. Identifying this 'In-Factor' can inform leadership development programs and organizational strategies aimed at cultivating a culture of innovation.
How can designers apply this research?: Prioritize identifying and nurturing individuals with a strong intrinsic motivation to challenge the status quo and explore uncharted territories when building innovation teams or leadership structures.
What were the main findings?: Leaders of innovation share a common 'In-Factor': the intention and insistence to be trailblazers.. This 'In-Factor' transcends diverse leadership styles, backgrounds, and career paths (e.g., founders vs. successors, mavericks vs. problem-solvers).
What research method was used?: Literature Review.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from Journal of Applied Business Research (JABR).
What should I do differently in my next project?: When assessing candidates for innovation roles or leadership positions, probe for evidence of a persistent desire to pioneer new ideas and approaches, even in the face of uncertainty or resistance.
What are the limitations?: The study relies on existing literature, which may be subject to biases in reporting or interpretation of leadership traits. The 'In-Factor' is a conceptual construct derived from literature, not directly measured through empirical observation of a defined group.