Creative innovation requires a broad range of expertise. Lockheed’s “skunk works” is described as an early example of the creation of a specialist division bringing together a broad range of expertise. This approach is followed through Xerox PARC to the current interest in Google’s work organisation.
Nowotny, Scott & Gibbons, 2003, ‘Mode 2′ Revisited: The New Production of Knowledge, Minerva, Vol 41, 3, 179-194.
Nowotny, H The Potential of Transdisciplinarity, . Interdisciplines, May 2006.
Gwynne, P. (1997) Skunk works, 1990s-style, Research Technology Management; Jul/Aug 97, Vol. 40 Issue 4
Malcolm Gladwell Creation Myth, New Yorker, 2011. Article criticising PARC’s exploitation of their innovations.
Response from PARC to Gladwell article.
Google: Mobile, social, cloud changing the way we work Web article by Sebastien Marotte VP, Google Enterprise, EMEA showng how Google incorporate their work organisation model in products.
Nonaka, I. (1991). The Knowledge-Creating Company. Harvard Business Review, 69(6), 96-104.
Nonaka, I. (1994). A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation. Organization Science, 5(1), 14-37.