Creative errors and heroic failures: capturing their innovative potential

Purpose – To highlight an unconventional way out of the “innovation dilemma,” relevant to many business organizations, innovative management and risk friendliness are necessary, but the way in which failure is handled and the resulting fear of making mistakes block the (innovative) efforts of specialists and managers.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on theoretical as well as empirical work: first, the seemingly crystal‐clear concept of “error” is elaborated and the rare category of “creative errors” is introduced. Second, illustrative findings from a case study in the automotive sector are reported.Findings – Suggests that a culturally exacerbated antipathy towards errors leads ultimately to a situation of pronounced innovational incompetence in which creative behavior is avoided. Points out, that not an “absolution of mistakes” is required, but a tolerance for legitimate errors which should only occur under exceptional circumstances. Underlines, that fairness in dealing with errors is consid...