Employee innovation of IoT applications: A framework to facilitate capability, opportunity, and intent

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to augment the understanding for how an organisation can facilitate the creation of applications of the Internet of Things (IoT) through increased involvement of employees in the innovation process. Method: This was an explorative study utilising qualitative data that was collected from a single case. Data was collected from a process manufacturing facility owned by a market-leading company through a combination of methods: questionnaire, documentation, observation, and interviews. Findings: It was found that the employee innovation process occurs in eight stages: problem-identification and communication, and idea-generation, communication, assessment, prioritisation, assignment, and implementation. It was also found that to successfully innovate, employees require knowledge, time, and motivation. Further, seven enabling and six inhibiting factors of employee innovation were identified. The process, requirements, and factors were utilised to build a framework to facilitate employee innovation for applications of the IoT. Theoretical contributions: This study merged two rather young bodies of literature, IoT and employee innovation, in a novel way. Innovation related to the IoT is close to unexplored, and employee innovation has never been studied specifically related to the IoT. Further, the eight-stage process of employee innovation is also novel. Managerial implications: There now exists a framework that managers can utilise to facilitate employee innovation in general, and innovation for the IoT in particular. The findings of this study can act as guidance for managers seeking to involve their employees in the innovation process