Innovation Hurdle Race

Insights in Promoting the Innovation Capability of a Leading German Software Company

• Selina Endress
• Daniel Kiel

Problem outline and research question The importance of being innovative is indisputable to remain competitive in today’s globalized world due to increased (global) competition, shorter product lifecycles, technological trends, and capabilities, and constantly evolving customer demand. Innovation drives organizational growth laying the basis for corporates’ future success and longterm survival. Empirical analyses show that investments in innovation are positively correlated with productivity growth and companies’ performance and indicate a positive return on investment in the long run. Especially for software providers like DATEV, technological capabilities, and digitalization demand innovation activities to maintain their competitive advantage.