Intending Engineering Work: A Conceptualisation of Engineers´ Understanding of Innovation through the Encounter with their Own Practice

Innovation is arguably one of the present-day buzzwords pervading economic, social as well as cultural life. The innovation concept however is highly ambiguous. Nevertheless most (positivistic) innovation studies employ seemingly “clear-cut” notions of innovation circumventing its highly elusive nature. These “clear-cut” innovation concepts are built on pre-conceived ontological assumptions. Interpretive research on the other hand either falls into a rationalistic trap or assumes absolute precedence of language. What is lacking are studies which embrace the ambiguous nature of innovation. In the following paper I intent to conceptualise how engineers come to understand innovation and how the creation of a contemplative space induced by their own practices breeds multiple understandings of innovation and what implications this might entail for the organisation. For empirical illustration I draw on material from a longitudinal case study of a high-technology company.