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This paper addresses how personal certification in innovation management can contribute to the ongoing professionalisation within the innovation management discipline. The empirical study focused a project in Sweden initiated to develop qualification, specifically personal certification, of innovation management professionals. The project resulted in a certification process and a first batch of certified innovation management professionals. The study aimed to capture the individuals’ reasons for, as well as results and effects from, choosing to acquire a voluntary personal certification within innovation management. A wide range of reasons for taking the certifications was reported such as willingness to learn more; willingness to formalise innovation management competence; a wish to clarify roles, but also to promote the discipline itself. Certification was apprehended as a trustworthy format to achieve this. Identified effects were establishment of a common language, increased visibility of individuals, and innovation management professionals to feel more confident in their jobs., QC 20220726

A professionalization within the area of innovation management is taking place, and this paper presents a study on the phenomenon of personal certification as an innovation management professional. The study has investigated motivations for taking a personal certification as an innovation management professional, and impacts from it, addressing certified individuals, their organizations, and potential contributions to professionalization. The study was conducted in Sweden related to the personal certification of innovation management professionals launched in 2017 by the Swedish Association for Innovation Management Professionals (Innovationsledarna) and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden as a third-party certification body. Identified motivational factors covered desired knowledge enhancement, measuring of competence level, a strive for legitimacy, and curiosity. Impact from taking the certifications were for example increased knowledge, enhanced professional communication about innovation management, boosted self[1]confidence, expanded network, and more opportunities to influence. The current situation was also analyzed from a professionalization perspective as well as discussed in terms of innovation maturity and innovation diffusion., QC 20210917

Purpose - Innovation management as a profession is gaining importance. Personal certification within the field has become a newly developing trend, however, this aspect has not been studied much. Therefore, our master thesis explores the individual level motivations and de-motivation to enter the professional certification within innovation management. In addition, the work aimed at identifying the perceived effects of having an innovation management professional certification on individuals and organizations. Finally, our master thesis discusses whether professionalization and IMP certification can contribute to innovation capabilities and innovation performance. Design/methodology - The study uses a comparative research design that includes semi-structured interviews of eighteen innovation management professionals (12 certified and 6 non-certified). The responses of the innovation professionals were thematically analyzed and categorized into nine final themes answering the research questions. Findings/result -Several motivations were identified, out of which the frequent were personal interest, knowledge enhancement, quality mark and innovation management terminology, the motivators to take up certification. While indifference, in-house certification and aversion for standardization are found to be strong de-motivators to not take up the certifications. After identifying the motivations, the perceived effects from taking up certification on an individual level are confirmation of knowledge, network expansion and pioneers in certification, and assignment of new tasks, effective communication was spotted as the perceived effects to the organization. It is however too early to arrive at a consensus whether professionalization and innovation management certification contributes to innovation capabilities and innovation performance. Conclusion - The certification process as a whole is considered as an attempt in terms of professionalizing the field of innovation mana