Innovation is important to business survival. Organizational innovation is the ability of employees to find different methods that improve the way that work is performed and the organization functions. While innovation can increase productivity and business success, it means change, and people naturally resist change. Managers need to encourage innovation and manage the change that comes with it.
Organizational Innovation
Organizational innovation is used to improve a process, product, service, technology, or administrative practice. There is, however, a necessary process to take that will help support organizational Innovation.
Process:
- Identify opportunities: Pinpoint internal opportunities in a SWOT analysis.
- Determine direction: Identify which direction to take those opportunities.
- Brainstorm ideas: Come up with different innovative concepts.
- Analyze ideas: Analyze the different ideas to determine their effectiveness.
- Apply innovations: Use the innovations in the appropriate setting.
Why Innovation Matters
Innovation allows companies to remain competitive. Advancement requires an atmosphere of acceptance toward innovation. This allows people to think outside of the normal parameters, experiment, and discover new ideas that will benefit company performance and employee culture. Innovative ideas and knowledge can be passed on to employees and ensure that the new concepts are accepted and possibly used to create further innovations and advancements.
Managing Innovation
Managers need to be aware of innovation in order to successfully manage innovation and teams. There are steps managers can take to help support innovation within their companies.
Steps:
- Managerial support: Innovation requires the support of managers. Managers should encourage employees to take risks and work across fields.
- Creative teams: Managers should identify and build creative teams.
- Monitor teams: Once teams are created, monitor them for the success.
- Apply: Create strategies to apply any helpful innovations.
- Evaluate: Evaluate how effective the innovations are and make changes as necessary.
Organizational Change
Organizational change is any change to the way that a business or team operates. These changes are made to help reach organizational goals and can be the result of innovation. Organizational changes are not made simply for the sake of change itself. People naturally resist change, which makes the management of change essential to its success. Why Change Occurs and Why it Matters
Organizational change can occur for a variety of reasons. It can be due to company growth, cutbacks, technological changes, product changes, changes in leadership, or HR changes. No matter the reasons for the change, it is important that middle managers successfully guide their employees through the transitions. Often, unsuccessful company changes are the result of a poor implementation and management rather than the change itself.
Managing Change
Managers need to responsibly oversee the change process. It is important that people understand the reasons for the change and how the changes relate to the overall goals and objectives of the organization.
The Process:
- Share goals: Share how the change is essential for achieving continued success and reaching the company’s goals and mission.
- Communicate: Explain the changes in detail, and respect different points of view.
- Involve people in the process: Encourage employees to be responsible for the organizational changes.
- Develop structure and schedules: Clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of each employee.
Often times we all know we need to innovate. But we struggle for access for innovation. The access lye in taking different perspectives of the circumstances. Business Value development analysis, discovery of your Business Value pillars and drivers gives you this access for positive outcomes. Thanks for very Nice article @ Harvard square.