Fuzzy front end of innovation: Quo Vadis?

Abstract

Throughout this book, several approaches, tools and principles have been presented that allow managing the front end of innovation professionally. The management task in the front-end phase involves capturing vague opportunities and ideas as well as their professional transformation into clear concepts that can be transferred into the next stage of the innovation process. It is also the task of the manager responsible for the early innovation phase to reduce uncertainty and prepare the technological and market basics for the ensuing product or process development. Fuzziness is therefore a key concept that is incorporated at this phase.