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The Manager as Pirate: An Inspection of the Gentle Art of Bootlegging
Author(s) -
Augsdorfer Peter
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
creativity and innovation management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.148
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1467-8691
pISSN - 0963-1690
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8691.1994.tb00158.x
Subject(s) - secrecy , covert , dimension (graph theory) , tacit knowledge , phenomenon , business , knowledge management , marketing , computer science , computer security , epistemology , mathematics , philosophy , linguistics , pure mathematics
Bootlegging is a special type of innovation involving covert research without the explicit approval of the responsible manager. It incorporates a dimension of secrecy as this research does not appear on project sheets drawn up by the management of firms. But it might also incorporate the dimension of conspiracy if the innovative activity is pursued by a research team, and perhaps with wider tacit support. Bootlegging exists as a phenomenon in a large number of companies. Interview findings suggest that the attitudes of management towards bootlegging are determined by prevailing perceptions of uncertainty and knowledge about the nature of decision processes.