{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T11:31:38Z","timestamp":1791891098645,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":72,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]],"date-time":"2020-02-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1582502400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Information"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In the modern business environment, characterized by rapid technological advancements and globalization, abetted by IoT and Industry 5.0 phenomenon, innovation is indispensable for competitive advantage and economic growth. However, many organizations are facing problems in its true implementation due to the absence of a practical innovation management framework, which has made the implementation of the concept elusive instead of persuasive. The present study has proposed a new innovation management framework labeled as \u201cAbsolute Innovation Management (AIM)\u201d to make innovation more understandable, implementable, and part of the organization\u2019s everyday routine by synergizing the innovation ecosystem, design thinking, and corporate strategy to achieve competitive advantage and economic growth. The current study used an integrative literature review methodology to develop the \u201cAbsolute Innovation Management\u201d framework. The absolute innovation management framework links the innovation ecosystem with the corporate strategy of the firm by adopting innovation management as a strategy through design thinking. Thus, making innovation more user\/human-centered that is desirable by the customer, viable for business and technically feasible, creating both entrepreneurial and customer value, and boosting corporate venturing and corporate entrepreneurship to achieve competitive advantage and economic growth while addressing the needs of IoT and Industry 5.0 era. In sum, it synergizes innovation, design thinking, and strategy to make businesses future-ready for IoT and industry 5.0 revolution. The present study is significant, as it not only make considerable contributions to the existing literature on innovation management by developing a new framework but also makes the concept more practical, implementable and part of an organization\u2019s everyday routine.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/info11020124","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,25]],"date-time":"2020-02-25T04:21:26Z","timestamp":1582604486000},"page":"124","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":284,"title":["Innovation in the Era of IoT and Industry 5.0: Absolute Innovation Management (AIM) Framework"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3396-2276","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Farhan","family":"Aslam","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wang","family":"Aimin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mingze","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6518-3560","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Khaliq","family":"Ur Rehman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jik.2017.06.002","article-title":"Relationship between innovation capability, innovation type, and firm performance","volume":"3","author":"Rajapathirana","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Innov. Knowl."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1283","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2018.04.007","article-title":"Innovation and firm performance in developing countries: The case of Pakistani textile and apparel manufacturers","volume":"47","author":"Wadho","year":"2018","journal-title":"Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"41","article-title":"Impacts of superior formulation, and execution of strategy on the sustainability of Pakistani firm\u2019s growth","volume":"4","author":"Aslam","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Basic Appl. Sci. Res."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.55612\/s-5002-030-006","article-title":"Making IoT with UDOO","volume":"30","author":"Rizzo","year":"2016","journal-title":"IxDA"},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"S2592","article-title":"A Design perspective for IoT products. A case study of the design of a smart product and a smart company following a crowdfunding campaign","volume":"20","author":"Vitali","year":"2017","journal-title":"Des. J."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"848","DOI":"10.1080\/00207543.2017.1403664","article-title":"The evolution of production systems from Industry 2.0 through Industry 4.0","volume":"56","author":"Yin","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Prod. Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nahavandi, S. (2019). Industry 5.0\u2014A human-centric solution. Sustainability, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/su11164371"},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"307","article-title":"On the way from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0: From digital manufacturing to digital society","volume":"2","author":"Skobelev","year":"2017","journal-title":"Industry 4.0"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1089\/omi.2017.0194","article-title":"Birth of industry 5.0: Making sense of big data with artificial intelligence, \u201cthe internet of things\u201d and next-generation technology policy","volume":"22","author":"Hekim","year":"2018","journal-title":"OMICS J. Integr. Biol."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"422","article-title":"Lean innovation approach in Industry 5.0","volume":"2","author":"Ozkeser","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eurasia Proc. Sci. Technol. Eng. Math."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Leminen, S., Westerlund, M., Rajahonka, M., and Siuruainen, R. (2012). Towards IOT ecosystems and business models. Internet of Things, Smart Spaces, and Next Generation Networking, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-32686-8_2"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"453","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bushor.2018.01.011","article-title":"Understanding innovation","volume":"61","author":"Kahn","year":"2018","journal-title":"Bus. Horiz."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (2005). Oslo Manual-Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Innovation Data, Statistical Office of the European Communities."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1007\/s10961-006-9007-x","article-title":"Total innovation management: A novel paradigm of innovation management in the 21st century","volume":"32","author":"Xu","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Technol. Transf."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijis.2018.02.001","article-title":"Holistic innovation: An emerging innovation paradigm","volume":"2","author":"Chen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Innov. Stud."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Tidd, J. (2006). A Review of Innovation Models, Imperial College London."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Tidd, J., Bessant, J., and Pavitt, K. (2005). Managing Innovation Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change, John Wiley and Sons Ltd."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"356","DOI":"10.1177\/1534484305278283","article-title":"Writing integrative literature reviews: Guidelines and examples","volume":"4","author":"Torraco","year":"2005","journal-title":"Hum. Resour. Dev. Rev."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.1177\/1534484316671606","article-title":"Writing integrative literature reviews: Using the past and present to explore the future","volume":"15","author":"Torraco","year":"2016","journal-title":"Hum. Resour. Dev. Rev."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Walch, M., and Karagiannis, D. (2019, January 8\u201311). How to connect design thinking and cyber-physical systems: The s* IoT conceptual modelling approach. Proceedings of the 52nd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Maui, HI, USA.","DOI":"10.24251\/HICSS.2019.870"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fauquex, M., Goyal, S., Evequoz, F., and Bocchi, Y. (2015, January 14\u201316). Creating people-aware IoT applications by combining design thinking and user-centered design methods. Proceedings of the IEEE 2nd World Forum on Internet of Things (WF-IoT), Milan, Italy.","DOI":"10.1109\/WF-IoT.2015.7389027"},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Schumpeter, J. (1934). The Theory of Economic Development: An Inquiry into Profits, Capital, Credit, Interest, and the Business Cycle (Galaxy Books), Transaction Publishers."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"617","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2018.01.007","article-title":"Defining and measuring innovation in all sectors of the economy","volume":"47","author":"Gault","year":"2018","journal-title":"Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Joe, T. (2006). From Knowledge Management to Strategic Competence: Measuring Technological, Market and Organizational Innovation, World Scientific."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Isaksen, S.G., and Tidd, J. (2007). Meeting the Innovation Challenge: Leadership for Transformation and Growth, Wiley."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Myers, S., and Marquis, D.G. (1969). Successful Industrial Innovations. A study of Factors Underlying Innovation in Selected Firms."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Dosi, G., Freeman, C., and Nelson, R. (1988). Japan: a new national system of innovation. Technical Change and Economic Theory, Pinter."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1108\/02651339410057491","article-title":"Towards the fifth-generation innovation process","volume":"11","author":"Rothwell","year":"1994","journal-title":"Int. Mark. Rev."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"639","DOI":"10.1016\/0305-0483(75)90068-7","article-title":"A dynamic model of process and product innovation","volume":"3","author":"Utterback","year":"1975","journal-title":"Omega"},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"Von Hippel, E. (1988). The Sources of Innovation, Oxford University Press."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1007\/s10961-006-9005-z","article-title":"An analysis of the universality, flexibility, and agility of total innovation management: A case study of Hewlett-Packard","volume":"32","author":"Menke","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Technol. Transf."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.1109\/17.728579","article-title":"Perspective of technological innovation and technology management in China","volume":"45","author":"Xu","year":"1998","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Eng. Manag."},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"791","article-title":"Lead users: A source of novel product concepts","volume":"32","year":"1986","journal-title":"Manag. Sci."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Christensen, C.M. (1997). The Innovator\u2019s Dilemma, Harvard Business School Press."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"Verganti, R. (2009). Design Driven Innovation: Changing the Rules of Competition by Radically Innovating What Things Mean, Harvard Business Press."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Swann, G.P. (2014). Common Innovation: How We Create the Wealth of Nations, Edward Elgar Publishing.","DOI":"10.4337\/9781784714611"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nonaka, I., and Takeuchi, H. (1995). The Knowledge-Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation, Oxford University Press.","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780195092691.001.0001"},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Kim, L., Nelson, R.R., and Nelson, R.R. (2000). Technology, Learning, and Innovation: Experiences of Newly Industrializing Economies, Cambridge University Press."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1080\/17538960902860147","article-title":"Secondary innovation: The path of catch-up with \u201cMade in China\u201d","volume":"2","author":"Wu","year":"2009","journal-title":"China Econ. J."},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"34","article-title":"The era of open innovation","volume":"127","author":"Chesbrough","year":"2006","journal-title":"Manag. Innov. Chang."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"35","article-title":"The era of open innovation","volume":"44","author":"Henry","year":"2003","journal-title":"MIT Sloan Manag. Rev."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/19761597.2015.1019226","article-title":"Toward a new paradigm of technological innovation: Convergence innovation","volume":"23","author":"Lee","year":"2015","journal-title":"Asian J. Technol. Innov."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nicholls, A., and Murdock, A. (2012). The nature of social innovation. Social Innovation, Springer.","DOI":"10.1057\/9780230367098"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1080\/10720162.2012.660431","article-title":"The impact of Internet pornography on adolescents: A review of the research","volume":"19","author":"Owens","year":"2012","journal-title":"Sex. Addict. Compulsivity"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1002\/9781118551424.ch2","article-title":"A framework for responsible innovation","volume":"31","author":"Owen","year":"2013","journal-title":"Responsible Innov. Manag. Responsible Emerg. Sci. Innov. Soc."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1568","DOI":"10.1016\/j.respol.2013.05.008","article-title":"Developing a framework for responsible innovation","volume":"42","author":"Stilgoe","year":"2013","journal-title":"Res. Policy"},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"Radjou, N., Prabhu, J., and Ahuja, S. (2012). Jugaad Innovation: Think Frugal, be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth, John Wiley & Sons."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li-Hua, R. (2014). Competitiveness of Chinese Firms: West Meets East, Springer.","DOI":"10.1057\/9781137309303"},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"Li-Hua, R. (2019, September 08). China\u2019s Embracing Innovation Leads to the Future. Available online: https:\/\/unchronicle.un.org\/article\/china-s-embracing-innovation-leads-future."},{"key":"ref_50","unstructured":"Taratukhin, V., Yadgarova, Y., and Becker, J. (2018, January 24\u201327). The Internet of things prototyping platform under the design thinking methodology. Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Salt Lake City, UT, USA."},{"key":"ref_51","unstructured":"Dermol, V. (2019). Industry 5.0-The expected impact of next Industrial Revolution. Thriving on Future Education, Industry, Business, and Society, Proceedings of the MakeLearn and TIIM International Conference, Piran, Slovenia, 15\u201317 May 2019, ToKnowPress."},{"key":"ref_52","unstructured":"(2019, September 08). Industry 5.0. Available online: https:\/\/www.eesc.europa.eu\/en\/agenda\/our-events\/events\/industry-50."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"688","DOI":"10.1016\/j.procs.2019.09.104","article-title":"Industry 5.0 and human-robot co-working","volume":"158","author":"Demir","year":"2019","journal-title":"Procedia Comput. Sci."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.4236\/jcc.2015.35021","article-title":"Internet of Things (IoT): A literature review","volume":"3","author":"Madakam","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Comput. Commun."},{"key":"ref_55","unstructured":"Gershenfeld, N.A. (2000). When Things Start to Think, Henry Holt and Company."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pan, M.L. (2016). Preparing Literature Reviews: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315265872"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8691.2005.00345.x","article-title":"Embracing innovation as strategy: Corporate venturing, competence building, and corporate strategy making","volume":"14","author":"Vanhaverbeke","year":"2005","journal-title":"Creat. Innov. Manag."},{"key":"ref_58","unstructured":"Pasisi, J., Gibb, J., and Matthews, J.H. (2014, January 3\u20135). Approaching wicked problems through design thinking. Proceedings of the 28th Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Conference (ANZAM 2014): Reshaping Management for Impact, Sydney, Australia."},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.2307\/1511637","article-title":"Wicked problems in design thinking","volume":"8","author":"Buchanan","year":"1992","journal-title":"Des. Issues"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1016\/j.destud.2011.07.006","article-title":"The core of \u201cdesign thinking\u201d and its application","volume":"32","author":"Dorst","year":"2011","journal-title":"Des. Stud."},{"key":"ref_61","unstructured":"Stacey, R.D., Griffin, D., and Shaw, P. (2000). Complexity and Management: Fad or Radical Challenge to Systems Thinking?, Psychology Press."},{"key":"ref_62","first-page":"84","article-title":"Design thinking","volume":"86","author":"Brown","year":"2008","journal-title":"Harvard business review"},{"key":"ref_63","unstructured":"Gault, F. (2015). Measuring Innovation in All Sectors of the Economy, United Nations University, UNU-Merit."},{"key":"ref_64","unstructured":"Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) (2007). Innovation and Growth-Rationale for Innovation Strategy, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)."},{"key":"ref_65","unstructured":"Kelley, T., and Kelley, D. (2013). Creative confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All, Crown Publishing Group. Currency."},{"key":"ref_66","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brenner, W., and Uebernickel, F. (2016). Design thinking for innovation. Research and Practice, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-26100-3"},{"key":"ref_67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shamiyeh, M. (2010). Creating desired futures: How Design Thinking Innovates Business, Walter de Gruyter.","DOI":"10.1515\/9783034611398"},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1108\/02756660910942454","article-title":"Beyond good: Great innovations through design","volume":"30","author":"Sato","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Bus. Strategy"},{"key":"ref_69","unstructured":"Martin, R. ( Rotman Management Magazine, 2006). Designing in hostile territory,  Rotman Management Magazine."},{"key":"ref_70","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1016\/S0142-694X(97)00030-6","article-title":"Design research: Building the knowledge base","volume":"19","author":"Owen","year":"1998","journal-title":"Des. Stud."},{"key":"ref_71","first-page":"52","article-title":"The quest for resilience","volume":"81","author":"Hamel","year":"2003","journal-title":"Harv. Bus. Rev."},{"key":"ref_72","first-page":"98","article-title":"Match your innovation strategy to your innovation ecosystem","volume":"84","author":"Adner","year":"2006","journal-title":"Harv. Bus. Rev."}],"container-title":["Information"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2078-2489\/11\/2\/124\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T09:01:14Z","timestamp":1760173274000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2078-2489\/11\/2\/124"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]]},"references-count":72,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,2]]}},"alternative-id":["info11020124"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/info11020124","relation":{},"ISSN":["2078-2489"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2078-2489","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,24]]}}}