A Project Management Decision Support Tool for Keeping Pace with the Dynamics of Corporate Innovation Projects

Abstract

Corporate innovation projects are typically characterized by a high dynamics of needs, insights and related solution approaches. In particular, the continuously increasing need complexity of innovation projects requires an approach to identify the project methodologies that are appropriate for a particular project, sub-project and their context, as well as to apply them correctly. This article proposes a practical decision support model for innovation project managers to select the management mode and method according to the current and evolving needs of an innovation project. This model has strongly been inspired by the experiential learning model of Kolb. This model is validated within the industrial environment of a German global key player in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry based on four selected innovation projects.