By Torben Haugaard Jensen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Louise Karin Hansen

Innovation is a necessity if Danish businesses are to compete in a global market. 

However, many companies fail when they try to develop new products or introduce new systems that could give them a competitive advantage.  

They brainstorm, create a project plan, and then expect innovation to happen on its own.

But it rarely works that way, says Jacob Brix, professor of innovation and management at AAU Business School and the new head of the MBA programme.

"Innovation is not something you do occasionally in a company – it should be part of the company's foundation and culture. It requires a long-term effort and the right management tools," says Jacob Brix.

Must Be Integrated into Daily Activities

Jacob Brix conducts research on how innovation works in practice within companies. He has seen how innovation can drive development in a company, but also how companies quickly deprioritize innovation. 

This is often due to the lack of a proper framework within the company. Innovation primarily involves establishing the right framework so that ideas can be transformed into concrete value.

"Innovation must be an integrated part of the company's daily activities, on par with marketing, finance, and strategy. You must work with innovation every day, otherwise, you won't develop the necessary competencies – neither in terms of processes nor management," says Jacob Brix.

Education Must Equip Future Managers

As the new head of the MBA programme at AAU Business School, Jacob Brix looks forward to passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of managers. 

The programme provides future managers with theoretical knowledge about innovation and teaches them how to implement innovation in practice. This applies both to their management style and the culture they create in their companies.

"I want to ensure that future managers understand how innovation can create value and that they gain the competencies to make innovation a continuous motivation in their daily management," says Jacob Brix.

Translated by Laura Sigaard Salomonsen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.