Table 1 The participant and nonparticipant group’s innovation understanding, before and after the formal innovation training

Innovation strategy

(S1–S3)

SI

Understanding of current organization strategy

2.20

3.78

0.0001

***

2.10

2.91

0.0194

*

S2

Long-term strategy

2.60

3.11

0.0414

*

2.52

3.33

0.0230

*

S3

Time allocated towards thinking differently

2.47

3.33

0.0045

**

2.45

3.25

0.0165

*

Idea generation

(IG1-eIG2)

IG1

Internally, the openness of the working environment

2.93

3.S9

0.0099

**

3.50

3.92

0.0574

IG2

Internally, the extent of the organization to think differently

2.93

3.89

0.0201

*

3.24

3.67

0.0370

IG3

Internally, the quality of the organizations’ ideas

2.40

3.44

0.0001

***

2.73

3.00

0.1846

IG4

Internally, the extent to which we partner with other departments

2.73

3.22

0.1078

2.81

3.18

0.0535

IG5

Other firms on normal and innovative projects

3.29

4.11

0.0062

**

2.95

3.33

0.0904

eIG1

Importance of external ideas

3.00

2.44

0.0592

3.05

3.33

0.0903

eIG2

Value given to ideas that come from outside the firm

2.64

2.67

0.4169

2.S6

2.50

0.0581

Conversion

(Sell-D3)

Sell

How easy it is to bring an idea forward to the org

2.53

3.44

0.0020

**

2.57

2.75

0.3079

Sel2

The importance of each individual’s opinion in selection

3.40

4.11

0.0715

3.18

3.50

0.1113

Sel3

The importance of the group’s opinion in selection

3.50

4.00

0.1708

3.45

3.75

0.0723

Sel4

The org understands why a particular idea is chosen

3.21

3.78

0.1290

3.41

3.75

0.1045

Sel5

Is the more conservative or risky idea more often chosen

2.13

2.00

0.2760

2.48

2.33

0.2643

D1

Using formal innovation processes to measure progress

3.00

3.00

0.4032

3.05

3.18

0.2328

D2

Ideas are generally developed on time, without delays

3.07

3.00

0.3638

2.81

3.00

0.2292

D3

Management generally has strong support in developing

3.21

3.78

0.1063

3.10

3.33

0.1368

Diffusion

(Diff1–Diff5)

Diff1

How fast the org is at bringing idea to the market

3.20

3.22

0.5000

2.95

3.33

0.0740

Diff2

How quickly our ideas are copied (e.g., by competitors)

2.92

2.89

0.3417

2.73

2.33

0.3291

Diff3

Extent maximizing value (e.g., markets, customers)

2.67

2.67

0.2873

2.70

2,91

0.2232

Diff4

Extent org discusses lessons learned with developing team

2.57

3.11

0.2292

2.57

2.92

0.1103

Diff5

Extent org discusses lessons learned with entire org

3.20

3.33

0.3802

3.19

3.42

0.2220

Innovation attitude

(A1–A2)

Al

Personal enthusiasm towards innovation

4.07

4.33

0.4696

3.45

3.17

0.1404

A2

Optimistic attitude towards innovation education course

3.75

4.44

0.1087

2.75

2.33

0.3939

Control question

C

Experim. group has spoken to control group about

2.S3

4.33

0.0025

**

2.47

2.00

0.0702