Innovation labs strategy: unfolding the multifaceted role of strategic intent
通过三个大学实验室的案例研究，揭示了战略意图如何以“融合”和“保护”两种姿态影响创新实验室的演化，为管理者在复杂环境中制定战略提供实用框架。
Innovation labs play a critical role at the intersection of science, industry , and society, fostering collaborative efforts to drive knowledge exchange and innovation. Despite these labs' growing presence, our understanding of the strategic mechanisms guiding their development remains limited. This study addresses this gap by examining how the enactment of strategic intent influences the evolution of innovation labs. Through a multiple-case study of three university-based labs, we uncover two strategic intent stances—amalgam and shield—that shape lab trajectories in stable and changing contexts. Further, we identify the multifaceted functions of strategic intent, showing how it integrates diverse goals or preserves the lab's ethos under varying external pressures. Our findings offer a practical framework to help innovation lab managers, decision-makers, and other stakeholders navigate complex environments and guide strategic decision-making. This research also advances the understanding of intra-organizational processes in innovation labs, providing both theoretical and practical insights into their sustainability and long-term impact.