The Impacts of Innovation

Abstract

For an organization, innovation is the occasion for both risks and opportunities. The risks are obvious—the innovation may fail and the organization's investment in it thereby will be wasted. Much of the study of innovation has been about the nature of these risks and the probability of failure. This article discusses the failure of an innovation and analyzes its causes, but it goes further in considering the opportunities for organizational development that innovations provide. This way it weaves together three threads of organizational research: the studies of innovation, implementation, and organizational learning. This is done via an analysis of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) experience with a new, technologically advanced, rapid transit vehicle—the Boeing-Vertol Standard Light-Rail Vehicle.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Boeing Company (1974) "Reliability Verification Demonstration Plan, Standard Light Vehicle."

DEMORRS, H. (1976) "Getting the trolleys ready-to-run." Mass Transit (September): 27-28.

DOWNS, G. and L. MOHR (1979)"Toward a theory of innovation." Administration & Society 10 (February): 378-408.

FELLER, E. (1981) "Public sector innovation as `conspicuous production."' Policy Analysis 7, 1 (winter): 1-21.

FELLER, E. and D. MENZEL (1978) "The adoption of technical innovations by municipal governments." Urban Affairs Q. 13 (June): 469-490.

FRENDREIS, J. P. (1978) "Innovation characteristics as correlates of innovation adaption in american cities." Midwest Rev. of Public Administration 12, 2 (June): 67-86.

FRIEDMAN, L. (1976) "The evolution of bail reform." Policy Sciences 7: 281-313.

HACKNEY, D. (1979) "The bids come in and Boeing goes out." Mass Transit (March):

HAWTHORNE, E. (1978) The Management of Technology. London: McGraw-Hill.

10.

LAMBRIGHT, W. (1977) "Adaption and utilization of urban technology." National Sci. Foundaton (September):

11.

LRV Study Committee (1979) "Review of the light rail vehicle procurement program." MBTA (April 18).

12.

LRV Study Committee (1978) Transit Efficiency Program, Development of M. I. S. for Rail Equipment Department, (memorandum).

13.

LRV Study Committee (1973) Standard Light Rail Vehicle Specification Project, Final Report, February.

14.

MENZEL, D. (1978) "Intergovernmental support of technological innovation in local government." Administration & Society 10 (November): 317-334.

15.

MEYER, M. (1980) "The MBTA and transit service in Boston." Case CTS 80-2, MIT: Center for Transportation Studies (June).

16.

ORR, J. F. (1976) "Technology transfer and the diffusion of innovations." Vance Bibliographies. Illinois: Monticello.

17.

PARSONS, B. (1972) "Light rail vehicle specifications, justification of methodology." (February 29).

18.

Rail Equipment Department (1978) 1979 Budget Request, Program Narrative, (June).

19.

ROBEY, D. and M. M. BAKER (1976) "Factors influencing the adoption of management innovations in the CTA." Urban Mass Transportation Administration (July):

20.

ROGERS, E. and F. SHOEMEKER (1971) Communication of Innovation. New York: Free Press.

21.

Systems and Methods Office (1979) Operations Directorate, "Issues concerning carhouse repairmen specialists (May 1976-March 1979)." MBTA [March] (memorandum).

22.

WEIMER, D. (1980) "Federal intervention in the processed innovation in local public agencies." Public Policy 28, 1 (Winter): 93-116.

23.

WILEMAN, D. (1979) "The role of industry in urban technology transfer." National Science Foundation (November):

24.

YIN, R. , K. HEALD , and M. VOGEL (1977) Tinkering With the System. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath.