This paper investigates the phenomenon of the organisational innovation laboratory. These carefully designed facilities are intended to offer a more controlled approach to some of the most problematic, yet crucial, organisational processes; specifically innovation. Despite increasing popularity, these labs have generated relatively little empirical or theoretical work. This paper presents six exploratory case studies (including corporate, academic and governmental applications) and evaluates their role, design and operating processes.

These laboratories appear to support a company's processes for learning and resource reconfigurations, offering practical benefits to participants and address several of the conceptual objections to social science laboratories. Given its preliminary nature, the paper concludes with some suggestions for further work.