A qualitative research on innovation management capability in the digital age: Case of textile dye finishing factory smart process

For businesses to take an active role in a competitive environment, they need to use and manage smart systems effectively. In this process, managers need to make strategic decisions and implement these decisions in the business environment. Managers have great responsibilities to control and observe innovation practices in businesses. In this context, it is necessary to determine why innovation applications are needed in the digital age, how businesses manage their innovation practices, and what kind of feedback the innovation practices in the global competitive environment offer to businesses. In this study, it is aimed to reveal the factors that determine the innovation management ability of businesses in the digital age. In the study, a descriptive case study was carried out within the framework of a qualitative paradigm. The data was developed through semi-structured interviews and documents formed by a group of six participants. The data obtained in the study were subjected to content analysis. Findings show that technological process innovation and organizational innovation are prominent in the digital age in the enterprise where the research is carried out. Factors that trigger innovation in the digital age; It has been determined that it is the responsibility of providing energy saving, environmental social responsibility, and protecting employee health and ensuring worker safety. Based on the opinions of the participants; learning capability, research and development capability, production capability, marketing capability, organizational capability, resource allocation capability and strategic planning capability have emerged as the determinants of innovation management capability in the digital age. Finally; in the findings related to effective innovation management in the digital age, it was determined that the contribution of effective innovation management to the businesses in the digital age and the obstacles to effective innovation management in the digital age were emphasized. This study, which reveals in a thorough manner scrutinising an innovation management process integrated with the prominent production technologies of the digital age, is expected to contribute to the relevant literature by providing a basis for future research with its comprehensive results.