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Continuous Innovation (CI) has become one of the hot topics in innovation management field. However, studies focusing on the comprehensive and detailed explanation of CI concept are still limited. This paper aims to elaborate on CI concept using three fundamental questions: WHAT (what is the definition of CI and what are the determining factors?), WHY (why do companies need CI?), and HOW (how can companies develop CI?). The purpose of this paper is also to contribute in giving an understanding that is more exhaustive on CI definition, the importance of CI for companies, necessary elements in determining CI capability, and various strategies for CI development. From this literature study, a new and more comprehensive definition of CI was found, which categorized the reason why the companies need the CI and identified essential elements in determining CI capability. In addition, the mapping process produced a description of the proportion of CI development strategy as follows: technology-based (11%), People based (15%), organizational & system based (32%), strategic-based (11%), knowledge-based (22%) and collaborative & connectivity based (9%).  It can be observed that current CI development strategies still focus on organizational, system based approach, and most of them (81%) rely on the internal resources of the company.  Future perspectives, in this digital and internet era, which provides connectivity and the shift of the concept of, own economy to sharing economy; companies will have big potentials to work on innovation collaboratively. CI concept development should consider open innovations instead of today’s “do-it-yourself” mentality (closed innovation).

Continuous Innovation (CI) has become one of the hot topics in innovation management field. However, studies focusing on the comprehensive and detailed explanation of CI concept are still limited. This paper aims to elaborate on CI concept using three fundamental questions: WHAT (what is the definition of CI and what are the determining factors?), WHY (why do companies need CI?), and HOW (how can companies develop CI?). The purpose of this paper is also to contribute in giving an understanding that is more exhaustive on CI definition, the importance of CI for companies, necessary elements in determining CI capability, and various strategies for CI development. From this literature study, a new and more comprehensive definition of CI was found, which categorized the reason why the companies need the CI and identified essential elements in determining CI capability. In addition, the mapping process produced a description of the proportion of CI development strategy as follows: technology-based (11%), People based (15%), organizational & system based (32%), strategic-based (11%), knowledge-based (22%) and collaborative & connectivity based (9%).  It can be observed that current CI development strategies still focus on organizational, system based approach, and most of them (81%) rely on the internal resources of the company.  Future perspectives, in this digital and internet era, which provides connectivity and the shift of the concept of, own economy to sharing economy; companies will have big potentials to work on innovation collaboratively. CI concept development should consider open innovations instead of today’s “do-it-yourself” mentality (closed innovation).

Continuous Innovation (CI) has become one of the hot topics in innovation management field. However, studies focusing on the comprehensive and detailed explanation of CI concept are still limited. This paper aims to elaborate on CI concept using three fundamental questions: WHAT (what is the definition of CI and what are the determining factors?), WHY (why do companies need CI?), and HOW (how can companies develop CI?). The purpose of this paper is also to contribute in giving an understanding that is more exhaustive on CI definition, the importance of CI for companies, necessary elements in determining CI capability, and various strategies for CI development. From this literature study, a new and more comprehensive definition of CI was found, which categorized the reason why the companies need the CI and identified essential elements in determining CI capability. In addition, the mapping process produced a description of the proportion of CI development strategy as follows: technology-based (11%), People based (15%), organizational & system based (32%), strategic-based (11%), knowledge-based (22%) and collaborative & connectivity based (9%).  It can be observed that current CI development strategies still focus on organizational, system based approach, and most of them (81%) rely on the internal resources of the company.  Future perspectives, in this digital and internet era, which provides connectivity and the shift of the concept of, own economy to sharing economy; companies will have big potentials to work on innovation collaboratively. CI concept development should consider open innovations instead of today’s “do-it-yourself” mentality (closed innovation).