Defensive Future Studies

Defensive Future Studies

Skunk works scoping Review: Agile Innovation Model for Future Security Challenges

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
omid ardalan 1
seyed mohamad taqi mirdamad 2
1 Associate Professor of Human Resource Management, Command and Staff University of the Army, Tehran, Iran
2 PhD Student of Human Resource Management, Command and Staff University of the Army, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/dfsr.2025.2061284.1909
Abstract
Objective: In a situation where organizations are faced with rapid technological changes, environmental uncertainty, and innovation pressure, agile and innovative structures such as Skunk works have been proposed as a flexible model for managing sensitive and innovative projects. This study aimed to comprehensively review the existing literature on the Weasel Structure and explain its features, applications, and challenges.
Methods:This study was conducted with a scoping review approach and based on the five-stage framework of Arces and O'Malley. A systematic search was conducted in 5 reputable international databases, and after screening, 127 studies were selected for analysis. Also, "Trend analysis" used for a more in-depth analysis.
Findings: In 9 axes including: focus of studies on defense sciences and strategic management, qualitative research methods and their type of scientific-research articles, emphasis on documents and interviews, geographical focus in America and Europe, examination of the level of perception, independent and small structures, greater focus on government and military organizations, and the majority of research production in this field in the decade 2010-2020.
Conclusions: The Skunk structure can be an appropriate response to the need of organizations for rapid innovation and management of sensitive projects; however, its generalization to different contexts requires attention to the cultural, structural, and managerial context of each organization
Keywords
Skunk works
scoping review
agile
innovation
future
security challenges

Subjects

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Defensive Future Studies
Volume 10, Issue 39
Winter 2025
Pages 1-34