‘Failure is future success’: expanding knowledge through learning practices in a continuous innovation process

Innovation is at the heart of modern working life in terms of both sustainability challenges and competitiveness. Knowledge – essential for innovations – in organisations is owned by different actors and embedded in their contexts and daily practices. To use this knowledge in innovation processes, it needs to be shared and expanded through learning practices at work. Literature still offers limited understanding of knowledge expansion and authentic learning practices in everyday innovation development. This study used a qualitative content analysis to draw on interview data from 31 participants, working in the high-technology company in Finland, to construct a model and description of innovation as a continuous process, viewed through the lens of knowledge expansion and learning practices. The findings of this study reveal that knowledge is at the same time a prerequisite for and the result of innovation expanded through specific collective learning practices of everyday work: participating, learning by doing and implementation. The knowledge built up through these practices became visible in decisions and a shared vision, in different raw versions and sketches, and in prototypes, pilots and final innovations. Findings are discussed considering prior research, with suggestions for future studies.