Promoting Innovations in Work place
Successful organizations are normally
those that innovate new products, systems and processes ahead of competition thereby
giving their customers better experience. Innovations can be radical or
incremental. Radical innovations bring extra ordinary changes in the market
place but they are sometimes difficult to commercialize. Most organizations
thrive on very few radical innovations and more of incremental ones.
Innovations disrupt product offerings as well as value chain systems giving the innovator competitive advantage. For
example Toyota succeeds through good product design and excellent management of
the value chain from inputs to output and after sales support. Apple wrestled
market share from Nokia by formulating radical innovations in the operating
system of mobile phones(iphones) and tablets (ipads). IOS operating system is
far superior to competitor systems resulting in competitive advantage edge. As long as Apple
continues to come up with superior innovations, competitors will struggle to
catch up. At worst, competitors can be overpowered and made extinct.
Many organizations desire their
staff to be innovative but they rarely do so. As a result I explore factors
that promote innovations in the work place.
1.
Strong Teams
Innovations
rarely come from individuals but teams that complement and collaborate with
each other. Self organizing teams can sustain high energy levels sharing
information and knowledge to resolve work challenges or create new products.
Innovations are usually combinatorial. You combine various innovations which
can be simple and ordinary, but the aggregation could bring significance. Also an innovation in an
unrelated field or system could bring breakthroughs in other departments. This
is only possible if teams work together and strongly support each other.
2.
Idea
Markets
Innovative companies establish
idea markets where good ideas and innovations are harnessed and financially
supported. Anyone in the organization can come up with a new idea to improve
products, processes or systems. An idea market is more than a suggestions box.
It’s a culture and philosophy to harness knowledge from everybody regardless of
age, gender, grade or other inhibitive factors. The best idea excels. The
challenge of most organizations is believing innovation comes from a special
breed. No! Innovation is everyone’s business. The lowest ranks can resolve big business
challenges if they are given the right ear and support. New ideas thrive in an
atmosphere of trust, risk taking and knowledge sharing.
3. Culture
of Experimentation
Innovations bring something new
to the organization or market place. By nature new things come through
experimentation or trying new structures, designs, configurations or
formulations. To promote innovations, organizations should allow their staff to
be flexible enough experiment. Experimentation without being reckless should be
encouraged all the time. Instead of punishing failure some organizations
embrace it move forward with good lessons. Some organizations even celebrate
failure. They do not want innovators to feel humiliated for taking a step
backwards before the great leap forward. By nature innovations can succeed or
fail. It’s part of the game. Therefore successful organizations fail a lot but
once they succeed they can take enviable market positions.
4. Flat
and flexible Structures
Hierarchy is good for
administration and control but it stifles innovations. Bureaucratic
organizations rarely innovate. New ideas die on their way to the top because
there is normally a manager who believes the best answer to protect himself is to
say No. Feedback also delays so competitors launch new products while you wait
for feedback from bureaucrats. Therefore, flat and flexible structures enable
fast movement of information and knowledge sharing thereby enabling innovations
to be quickly developed and commercialized. If you want to increase innovations
in your company rule of thumb is eliminate another management level.
5. Rewarding
Innovators
It goes without saying that
behaviour that is rewarded will be repeated. If you want to accelerate
innovations in your company prepare meaningful rewards and give them transparently.
There is no better way to invoke the competitive and innovative spirit in an
employee, than to offer something over and above the normal salary. The
reasoning of most company executives is that they employ everyone to innovate
so there is no need for extra rewards. My usual question is are you happy with
your innovation funnel? The large majority normally replies, No that’s why I
recommend innovation specific rewards. Even public recognition or
acknowledgement can be motivator to innovate. At least you have appreciated
that someone has brought something you cherish.
The only way to overcome
competition or to sustain your market position is to innovate new products and
services. In today’s fast moving market environment yesterday’s levers of
success cannot guarantee tomorrow’s success. Sustainable advantage is hinged on
creativity and innovation of products and systems that deliver customer value.
Organizations should do their best to promote the factors of innovations.
Dr Andrew Nyambayo (PhD. MBA, Bsc Eng) is a business leader, strategist, coach and motivational speaker with over 20 years experience in the telecommunications and service industry. He is the author of famous books, "Integral Marketing: Enhancing Livelihoods" and "Succeeding in Turbulent Times"
