Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas
- Queen’s University of Belfast
- Head of Management School
May you live in interesting times – the innovator’s response
Few would disagree that businesses, irrespective of size and sector, are operating in ‘interesting times’. The pace of change, whether political, economic, social or technological is rapid and the convergence of these forces presents significant challenges to innovation strategy. In this keynote we consider how businesses in the sports sector are responding through their innovation activities to the potential for disruption in their markets. Specifically, we look at evidence on the type of innovation that sports businesses are pursuing. Is radical innovation the only way to remain competitive? Furthermore, what are the implications of these disruptive forces for how businesses undertake innovation? Ultimately, are ‘these interesting times’ a blessing or a curse to business survival and growth in the world of sport?
