Abstract
With the widespread practice of using digital tools to work from home (WFH), it is not clear how this impacts innovation. While some scholars argue that digital tools limit the spontaneous conversations that are essential for innovation, others consider them the solution for innovation in a hybrid work environment. We suggest that the current confusion about the impact of digital tools on innovation is due to researchers (a) treating innovation as a homogeneous activity, rather than focusing on specific innovation activities, and (b) ignoring the nature of specific jobs of employees participating in this process. This study explores how marketing and sales professionals use digital tools during innovation ideation. The findings show that various digital tools are used for idea generation, assessment, and development. During each of these stages, marketing and sales personnel use a different mix of digital tools – serving different purposes – and face different challenges. Study findings contribute to our understanding of how digital tools impact innovation and help managers to improve innovation ideation in hybrid work environments.
•In hybrid work environments firms use digital tools for innovation ideation.•Use and impact of tools vary across idea generation, assessment and development.•Each ideation stage focuses on specific tools resulting in unique challenges.•Firms must stimulate psychological safety, norms for tool use, and digital skills.