Measuring Individual Innovation Capability: A Comparative Qualitative Analysis of Existing Measurement Models and Frameworks

Abstract

Individual innovation capability is increasingly recognized as central to organizational and societal innovation. This study provides a comparative qualitative analysis of five prominent models, Individual Innovative Behavior, Individual Innovation Process, Innovative Work Behavior (IWB), Innovative Behavior and Innovation Support Inventories, and Amabile’s Componential Model of Creativity and Innovation, examining how they define innovation, conceptualize its dimensions, incorporate context, and operationalize measurement. While all frameworks view innovation as multidimensional and dynamic, they differ in emphasis on observable behavior versus capability, the integration of contextual factors, granularity, and temporal perspective. Insights from this comparison inform theory, measurement, and practical approaches to fostering individual innovation.