These elements can help you accelerate innovation and achieve greater ROI on tech investments
Digital transformation is happening at an unprecedented pace. Today an organization’s success depends more on its ability to innovate and the skills of its employees than its tangible assets.
To help companies accelerate innovation and achieve greater ROI on their digital investments, ManpowerGroup has identified nine key traits that determine a company’s readiness for innovation. These key characteristics provide a roadmap of behaviours to nurture in the digital age and maximize value.
“A culture of innovation is a work environment cultivated by leaders to nurture fresh thinking, apply new processes and encourage innovation to drive long-term value for the business,” said Linda Teo, Country Manager at ManpowerGroup Singapore.
“Against a backdrop of constant change, innovating and adapting is a baseline expectation. Creating a culture of innovation is a critical investment for a company’s future. Ultimately, an organizational culture should be more than an abstract concept, but instead produce measurable and quantifiable change. When innovation and culture are done well, employers can expect a significant and swift return.”
If a company creates a culture with each of these elements, they are likely to be innovation-ready.
1. Trust is the safety net that allows for new thinking and enables innovation by providing an atmosphere that allows and accounts for inevitable mistakes
2. Curiosity is the lifeblood of creativity. To build a culture of innovation, organizations should create a climate that nurtures critical thinking, where challenging authority and speaking up are encouraged, even if it means creating discord
3. Experimentation: Organizations succeed when they keep experimenting while focusing on the horizon as the dynamic environment continuously changes
4. Persistence: A successful organization provides support, guides and adapts as issues arise
5. Grit: People with grit show courage, strength of character and resolve during inevitable difficulties, making this a key differentiator in today’s marketplace
6. Collectiveness: Observing the balance of roles in a team offers insight into its dynamics. It also indicates the likelihood of success or failure for an assigned task
7. Diversity: For innovation to happen you need diverse perspectives to navigate a rapidly evolving world
8. Learnability: What you know is less relevant than what you may learn and knowing the answer to questions is less critical than having the ability to ask the right questions in the first place
9. Communication: Leaders should articulate this openly and regularly to set the parameters for new ideas. Great communication also means sharing ideas and understanding opposing viewpoints.
