This is an introductory chapter. It defines innovation as the introduction of a new idea or the process of introducing something new, specifies the primary elements of innovation in the studies of organizational innovativeness, and refers to the parameters of the book within the broad domain of innovation research. A brief history of innovation as an idea is presented to put into perspective the current understanding of innovation, its positive connotation, and expected outcomes. The theoretical perspectives and conceptual models commonly used in research on innovation in organizations are introduced. They will be detailed and applied throughout the book. Structural forms, taxonomies, and configurations that included an innovation component are reviewed to provide a more holistic view of organization design and management and place innovation among other organizational activities. Organizations are relatively complex socio-technical systems, innovation is one activity among many that organizations undertake, and is thus, conditioned by and linked to those activities. Overall, this chapter lays the ground on research on innovations in organizations to help understanding more specific topics and studies that are presented in the following chapters.