Innovation Management Journal

Innovation Management Journal

A framework for assessing the maturity of the organizational innovation system: A case study in the Iran's public sector

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Shohreh Nasri 1
Shiva Tatina 2
1 Assistant Professor, Science and Research Policy Department, National Science Policy Research Institute, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding author). nasri@nrisp.ac.ir
2 Assistant Professor, Technology and Innovation Policy Department, National Science Policy Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.tatina@nrisp.ac.ir
10.22034/imj.2025.521844.2905
Abstract
Assessing organizational innovation maturity is a key tool for identifying strengths and weaknesses along the path to innovation development and for learning from past failures. This assessment helps managers evaluate their organization’s readiness to develop, absorb, and implement innovation initiatives, and to identify gaps in innovation management. Without understanding the level of innovation maturity, it becomes difficult to plan for performance improvement, allocate resources effectively, or define robust innovation strategies. This study presents a comprehensive and systematic model for evaluating innovation maturity, developed using a framework synthesis approach. The framework focuses on potential failures in core innovation management functions and offers a multi-layered analysis of barriers faced by organizations. A distinguishing feature of the framework is its ability to monitor progress over time and provide a roadmap for advancing organizations to higher levels of innovation maturity. It also enables the extraction of systematic policy and strategic recommendations through the analysis of systemic failures. Application of the framework in a state-owned Iranian company shows that, while progress has been made, the organization still faces institutional, policy, and structural failures. To move toward a higher maturity level, the study recommends revising innovation strategies, enhancing capacities, restructuring, implementing a robust performance evaluation system, and fostering a culture of risk-taking, learning, and collaboration within a mid-term perspective.
Keywords
Innovation Maturity
Excellent Organization
Organizational Innovation Maturity
Maturity Assessment
Organizational Innovation System
Khuzestan Water and Power Authority (KWPA)
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 07 September 2024
  • Revise Date 17 November 2024
  • Accept Date 26 November 2024