Innovation Management Journal

Innovation Management Journal

A Reflection on phenomenon of Symbolic Innovation; Hidden Threat to Achieving Organizational Sustainability

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
Abstract
Symbolic innovation can expose the organization to reputation and performance crises, because the gap between the appearance and the interior of the organization increases, and this gradually shows its negative effects. The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying and analyzing the negative consequences and strategies for dealing with symbolic innovation in the banking industry. This research is applied in terms of purpose and mixed in nature (qualitative-quantitative). The statistical population of the research consists of senior bank managers and university professors, who were selected as sample members based on purposive sampling method and theoretical saturation principle. In the qualitative part, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with experts and analyzed using content analysis in MAXQDA software, and the consequences and strategies for dealing with symbolic innovation in the banking industry were identified. On the other hand, in the quantitative part, data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and fuzzy cognitive map was used to analyze causal relationships and prioritize factors.. The findings indicate that with the help of content analysis, fifteen factors were identified as consequences of symbolic innovation and twelve factors as strategies for dealing with symbolic innovation in the banking industry. On the other hand, the results show that erosion of social capital, creation of the illusion of innovation, reduction of competitive ability, erosion of organizational culture, blockage of innovation, and reduction of organizational sustainability are the most important consequences of symbolic innovation, respectively. Also, encouraging open innovation, promoting an innovation culture, realistic innovation governance, blockchain-based big data analytics, and fostering critical thinking are the most important strategies to deal with symbolic innovation in the banking industry, respectively.
Keywords
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 11 July 2025
  • Revise Date 26 August 2025
  • Accept Date 11 October 2025