Innovation Units as Organisational Resources in the Transition Towards Sustainability : A Case Study in the Oil & Gas Sector

Purpose – This study observes the starting up process of Innovation Units in firms as a strategic tool to access green markets and experience a sustainability-related transition, exploring implications at the intra and interorganizational level.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology relies on the in-depth qualitative study of a single case project-based firm operating in the Oil & Gas sector. A longitudinal approach explores the key phases characterizing the launch of an Innovation Unit.Findings – The analysis identifies three phases constituting the process of launching Innovation Units; every phase requires adequate time, planning, and resources, adding complexity to the entire process.Originality – The launch of IUs supporting sustainability-oriented transitions has not been explored yet. An IMP perspective based on resource interaction helps disentangling the phenomenon, from which theoretical and managerial implications emerge