Wicked Problem Solvers

Area of Science:

• Organizational Behavior
• Innovation Management
• Cross-Industry Collaboration

Background:

• Modern companies increasingly utilize cross-industry teams to address complex challenges and drive radical innovation.
• These teams often face dynamic environments with shifting roles, uncertain goals, and diverse expertise, requiring effective leadership strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key leadership practices that facilitate successful collaboration within cross-industry innovation teams.
• To understand the unique leadership approaches necessary for managing diverse perspectives and fostering innovation.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of over a dozen cross-industry innovation projects.
• Identification of common leadership practices and challenges through case studies.

Main Results:

• Successful cross-industry teams benefit from adaptable vision, psychological safety, knowledge sharing, and collaborative innovation.
• Effective leadership requires flexibility, open-mindedness, humility, and resolve to manage diverse teams.

Conclusions:

• Specific leadership practices are crucial for enabling innovation in cross-industry settings.
• Adapting leadership styles to the unique dynamics of cross-industry collaboration is essential for overcoming wicked problems.