ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how to understand theoretically empirical experiences from approximately ten years of innovation research. It presents the research conducted in Norway in the sub-regions Hardanger and Sunnhordland, located on the west coast of Norway. Innovations are thus seen as the shaping or creation of variation, whether or not a favourable strategic choice is made between the newly produced alternatives. It is a further part of the innovation process to argue for or against strategic selections among the created alternatives and variations. A similar distinction related to process innovation is made between technological process innovation and organisational process innovation; the former addresses material, machinery, etc., while the latter focuses on aspects of work organisation. Collaboration with research prevented impressions arising that the TQM process was driven by the self-interests of consultants and management/owners.
