Open Innovation

5Adaptation in situ: Levers for Manipulation

To understand managerial work (Chapter 3), I was naturally led to question the characteristics that define the structure of the CI (Chapter 4). Manipulation of a structure’s characteristics allows its adaptation. In other words, to carry out their work, the CI leader will manipulate the characteristics of the structure in the broad sense, that is, the tasks to be performed, the tools to implement, the objectives, the missions, etc., and also relevant interactions with actors. These latter will progressively align their representations of the CI with the particular context in which they develop and their respective interests. This adaptation is nothing more nor less than a “situated translation“ of the CI structure, which allows us to grasp the latter in its process of coming into being and disseminating itself, in short, in the process of finding its place.

What remains unclear is how these manipulations come about, that is, the levers influencing the manipulations to be implemented. I promised you a fine analysis based on my observations, my exchanges and my experiences in the broad sense. To fulfill this promise, in this brief chapter, I wish to discuss the various mechanisms through which this process of manipulation of characteristics is carried out, that is, the artifacts and the practices which make these manipulations of characteristics possible.

5.1. The role of adaptation

To properly carry out this analysis, which focuses ...