Social influences on disruptive innovation : a sensemaking perspective of biotechnology within a chemical manufacturing incumbent

This thesis explores how disruptive innovations are influenced through social influences when they are first being adopted. Disruptive innovations may reshape organisations due to the change in required equipment, expertise, and process management. The process of disruption shifts focus away from the needs of present customers and exploitation processes, and towards an uncertain and unpredictable future. During this change, disruptive innovations are associated with narratives that promise a future of increased sustainability and safety alongside considerations of what is ethical and what will be socially acceptable to customers. This creates a challenging environment for industry stakeholders to navigate. Using a single case study of a large chemical company transitioning to biotechnology, this thesis examines the challenges of disruptive innovation transitions using the example of how biotechnology uptake is influenced by processes of sensemaking, as well as the related concept of sensegiving. The analytical lens of sensemaking and sensegiving allows exploration into more tacit and uncodified reasons for why disruptive innovation may not be easily implemented. It focuses on how individuals contribute their own narratives and perspectives and in turn are influenced by narratives and perspectives of others which informs sensemaking narratives of disruptive innovation. Analysis of the findings uncovers that perceived futures of disruptive innovation adoption were framed using knowledge of established innovation processes, perceptions of past controversies, and the anticipated reactions of both external and internal actor groups. The implications of the research findings show that leaders need to proactively understand narratives that are emerging from both disruptive innovation specialist and non-specialist, as well as at different hierarchal levels. The findings also contribute to wider literature on disruptive innovation understandings of inertia and path creation whereby aspects that are considered tacit and unknowable can be researched through social perspectives such as sensemaking.