Managing Global Innovation

[ CHAPTER TWO ]

The Optimized Footprint

Most innovation footprints comprise a series of bricks-and-mortar sites. These physical sites undoubtedly play a vital role: they provide a colocated environment in which companies can develop complex ideas and concepts. They provide grounding in a local environment where companies can build and manage relationships with external players. And they provide the continuity that enables companies to amass and leverage deep expertise. Always at the heart of how companies “do” innovation, bricks-and-mortar sites have remained the default option when companies are expanding or restructuring their innovation footprints. But how close to an optimized footprint is this default option?

Far too many companies have ...