Managing complex networks - Key to 21st century innovation success

As technologies become more complex, organizational networks become the key s to successful innovation. During those periods when incremental innovatio n is the route to success, managers need to take a hands-off approach; they need to let the process of network self-organization proceed. The critical role for the manager is to monitor the possibility of major technology cha nges by looking for such indicators as: technical community disintegration, foreign invaders, new technology waves, and climate changes. When major te chnology changes are approaching or occurring, managers need to make sure t hat major organizational adaptations take place. Those adaptations are esse ntial to acquisition and creation of the knowledge needed for successful in novation.