Motivated by the relevance of innovation communities and the significance of informal roles in this context, this book presents three interrelated studies that contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of innovation communities from a role theory perspective. The studies address the following research questions: (1) What are the phases and related key activities of community-based innovation processes?, (2) What are the central informal roles in corporate innovation communities and how do they interact throughout the innovation process?, and (3) What are the antecedents of role stress (i.e., role conflict and role ambiguity) of members in corporate innovation communities?

During the last decade, pressure on companies to transcend the focus on economic success and technological innovation in order to address more ecologically and socially desirable outcomes has increased. Commitment to sustainability-oriented innovation is still rare in the textile and apparel industry, but there exist first case examples of highly eco-innovative companies. This article presents an in-depth case study of the sustainable company manomama which manufactures individualised clothes for women, men and children in Southern Germany. Ecologically harmless material, most of which is organic, is procured only regionally, and highly experienced workers from the ancient textile region have been provided with secure full- and part-time jobs. The article discusses the major challenges of manomama when entering business (knowledge and experience, site and machinery, suppliers, staff and supporters) and presents the innovative solutions the founder identified to address these. In addition, the article derives implications for traditional companies.