Certificication as an Innovation Management Professional - the new normal?

• Within the area of innovation management, an increase of new job roles, and development of standards and certifications, signals an ongoing professionalization. This paper shares findings from studying the emerging phenomenon of personal certification as innovation management professionals (IMP). The study aimed to investigate motivational factors related to entering (or not entering) a process of IMP certification, as well as perceived impact and effects on innovation management quality and practice from such certification. The study was conducted through interviews, including a comparative element interviewing both certified IMPs and non-certified IMPs. Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors for IMP certification were identified, but also amotivation related to not favouring standardization. Several examples of effects from IMP certification were reported, where the most significant was revolving around the IMP being more self-confident, based on both external validation and knowledge enhancement.

Nyckelord

innovation management professional; IMP; personal certification; voluntary certification; professionalization; exploratuory study; standardization

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