An agile innovation capability maturity framework to enhance public funding on ICT organizations

• Autores: Manuel Giménez Medina
• Directores de la Tesis: Francisco José Domínguez Mayo (dir. tes.) , José González Enríquez (dir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universidad de Sevilla ( España ) en 2023
• Idioma: inglés
• Número de páginas: 263
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en: Idus
• Resumen

  • The present thesis introduces an innovative approach to addressing public funding challenges for innovation in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies. Innovation, characterized by its chaotic, ubiquitous, unpredictable, complex, multidimensional, and non-linear attributes, has emerged as a crucial driving force behind modern economic growth and social development. However, the nurturing and management of innovation present intricate challenges, particularly in the realm of public funding, which play a significant role in financing innovation in Europe, surpassing private funding. The allencompassing and multi-faceted nature of innovation requires a nuanced understanding and approach that both recognizes and accommodates its innate chaos and spontaneity. The inherent traits of innovation stand in stark contrast to the characteristics of its primary funding source—public administration—which is slow and bureaucratic. Consequently, the evolution of strategies and models that align public funding with the non-linear dynamics of innovation is essential for enhancing innovation performance, fostering an environment of freedom that devoid existing constraints.

    This thesis aims to develop and validate this original approach to enhance the public funding process for innovation in the ICT sector. The overarching aim is to foster an environment that promotes continuous, competitive, free, and agile innovation, enhancing the strategic alignment of organizations with the broader funding landscape. This objective is pursued to ultimately enhance effective and efficient productive capacity, aiming to secure competitive advantages for ICT companies engaged in innovation projects.

    Through a comprehensive review of the current state of the art, several shortcomings in existing funding methodologies, such as ontological issues, linear and systemic approaches, bureaucratic inefficiencies, slow processes, and limited agility, are identified. These gaps are further explored through a Delphi method study involving industry experts. Building upon these insights, the study proposes a pioneering Agile Innovation Funding Framework (AIF²) and the Lego Strategy. AIF² Framework incorporates the assessment of innovative capabilities and maturity into the public funding process. Its aim is to establish a trust, competitive, agile, and unconstrained environment for innovation that departs from the linear principles underpinning current models. Lego Strategy provides a method to circumvent existing funding limitations by modularizing intricate innovation proposals, serving as a preparatory step before the full deployment of AIF² Framework. The effectiveness of these proposed solutions is validated within the operational context of a Spanish ICT consulting firm, Emergya Group. The results demonstrate significant improvements in efficiency, efficacy, productive capacity, and competitive advantages. However, despite the tangible benefits of the framework, limitations related to the readiness of public funders to reach higher maturity levels to complete AIF² are also acknowledged.

    The thesis represents a substantial contribution to innovation management, offering theoretical insights and practical tools to enhance innovation processes in ICT companies. The findings and proposed solutions provide a solid foundation for future research and practice in innovation funding.