Revisiting product and process innovations

Abstract

Copyright © 2019 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Since the seminal work of Utterback and Abernathy in 1975, many relevant studies have been developed around the phenomena of product and process innovations. Both activities are placed within the area of technological innovation to differentiate them from non-technological innovation such as organisational or commercial innovation carried out in a company. Traditionally, literature on innovation types has focused on the study of their determinants; however, the tendency in current studies is to introduce technological innovations related to the way innovation takes the environment into consideration onto the agenda of companies. Sustainable development and technological innovations must work together to achieve firms’ competitive goals.