Applied Knowledge & Innovation
Company Policy
- The company should have an open door attitude to new
ideas. Even small companies should have at least one person who is responsible
for bringing in new ideas.
- Make senior staff responsible for the environment and
measure the new ideas and suggestions that are generated within a managers
area.
- Innovation across organisational boundaries or from outside of the organisation
can inject new ideas to established practice. Work with other companies
and support organisations.
- Recognise that often, the greatest innovative leaps come from unknowledgeable
sources from outside of the main stream of activity. Don't simply
ignore ideas from unqualified staff.
- Simple but often highly rewarding improvements come from those with a
deep knowledge of working practice. Make sure staff are well educated.
- Remove as many constraints as possible. Don't let the
consequences resulting from failure quash expressiveness. Make sure that
teams are not held back by obstructive individuals. Avoid restrictive regulations.
- Support and encourage staff to develop and have a positive and
realistic attitude to work. Many people can have innovative ideas.
It is the environment that unlocks this capacity.
- Try to see problems as opportunities to innovate.
Encouraging factors
- Good Team Composition.
- Supportive regulations
- Wars (commercial wars) promote or accelerate innovation.
Stifling factors
- The most serious of these things is the existence of a culture of blame
within an organisation.
- Poor Team Composition
- Negative Regulations.
- Constraining Pricing Policy
Who Creates the Environment ?
It is important that senior staff create an environment for innovation, this
may be more important than being innovative themselves.
Attitude of staff
Staff should have a positive attitude towards innovation and change.
The Atmosphere
An expressive atmosphere encourages innovation but potential innovators must
be sure that their ideas will be taken seriously.
What should happen in the environment?
Staff should have a positive attitude and should be allowed to experiment
without fear of blame.
What will the correct environment achieve?
Many people have the capacity to be innovative but it is necessary to have
the correct environment to unlock this capacity
External Forces
Uncontrolled influences can either erect barriers to innovation or can be
seen as an opportunity to innovate.
