The different shades of innovation emergence in smart service systems: the case of Italian cluster for aerospace technology

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the emergence innovation in smart service systems conceptualize how actor’s relationships through technology-enabled interactions can give birth novel technologies, processes, strategies and value. objectives study are: detect different enablers that activate systems; these lead dynamically patterns. Design/methodology/approach empirical research adopts an approach based on constructivist grounded theory, performed observation semi-structured interviews investigate development Italian CTNA (Italian acronym National Cluster for Aerospace Technology). Findings identification re-elaboration novelties emerged from analysis allow elaboration a diagram classifies five shades innovation, introduced some related theoretical propositions: technological; process; business model data-driven; social eco-sustainable; practice-based. Originality/value embraces synthesis view detects enabling structural dimensions (the “what”) way which be combined create new resources, values rules “how” dimension). classification kinds contribute enrich extant value co-creation shed light given technologies relational produce varied outcomes according diverse stakeholders engaged.