Framework for Managing Innovations in Supply Chains of ICT Products

Information and communications technology (ICT) industry has transformed the lives of many across the globe in ways that one would have never conceived of a decade ago. One of the fundamental reasons for the growth in the ICT industry is attributed to innovation. The survival and growth of ICT companies are affected by extent they adapt innovation to provide newer and wider variety of product. Due to the innovative nature of ICT products and competitive nature of the industry, products have shorter life cycle, which further increases unpredictability of demand and risk of obsolescence. In addition, the ICT product companies have started competing on global scale through their supply chain, which requires not only being efficient and responsive, but also innovative. For ICT companies the innovations are crucial not only at the product level, but also at the process and supply chain levels. The innovations in supply chain should not be restricted to the focal firm, but would stretch to suppliers, channel partners as well as retailers.  Firms having effective management of innovations in their products and also in supply chain will lead the industry and will have global outreach.  This paper examines the literature and explores the various innovative practices followed by the ICT companies to establish the relationship between innovation and its management across the supply chain.  The paper provides a conceptual framework for managing innovations in the supply chain of ICT products.