Blended Learning Resources
Facilitated Activity
Leading Innovation in Your Own Organization –
Assessment Activity
Innovation is having new ideas and successfully implementing these ideas. It's often the result of
gradual change; but innovation can also be revolutionary, the result of a breakthrough. Businesses
with an innovation culture have several common characteristics. They show an organization-wide
commitment to the business and to innovation, they experiment proactively, they manage risk, they
implement ideas quickly, and they produce and cultivate innovators. As a leader, you can determine
whether your company embodies the characteristics of an innovation culture by asking questions based
on each characteristic's indicators. This will tell you whether your organization is strong or weak on a
given characteristic.
You can use this activity to analyze innovations you have led in the past by identifying the
characteristics which were strong, those that needed improvement, and how you can improve them.
You can also use this activity to analyze current and future innovations you are leading.
Characteristics of an Innovation Culture
Businesses with an innovation culture have several common characteristics. For your own organization,
you should consider five characteristics of a business innovation culture.
Show organization-wide commitment to the business and to innovation
This commitment is achieved by making innovation a stated and modeled priority. In a culture that
shows a commitment to the business and to innovation, people care deeply about their work, their
coworkers, and their company. They're committed to the innovation that sustains the company and
improves their workplace. It would be great if every employee fit this model, but that's usually not the
case. Every organization has people who embrace innovation and others who will always resist change.
Experiment proactively
Companies that experiment proactively have a tendency to challenge the status quo. They think
outside the box of industry standards and redefine value factors. Experimenting proactively also means
having a willingness to take risks and try new things. Sometimes this involves taking a chance on an
untested business proposition or pursuing a need in the market that's currently not being met.
Manage risk
Being an innovator doesn't mean blindly taking risks. Yes, risks are often a necessary part of any
innovation project. But you must strike a balance between unrestricted risk taking and an overcautious
aversion to risk. The balanced approach is to realistically assess the risks before moving ahead with
new ideas.
Implement ideas quickly
Sometimes the winner isn't the company with the best new product, but the one that launches the
product first. Being "quick" is about constantly being on the lookout for opportunities and quickly
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making decisions at all stages of the innovation process. Speed in execution is also important – you
must be able to rely on available resources and have competent, efficient teams.
Produce and cultivate innovators
In many organizations, great ideas often fall victim to the obstructive culture that prevails. You can
have the best strategies and ideas, but if your company's leadership resists change, is
uncommunicative, and lacks trust, your ideas won't help the company reach its true potential.
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Assessment Activity
This activity provides you with an opportunity to reflect on and analyze innovations you have led in
your organization. It can also assist you in assessing current and future innovations.
Fist, rate your organization for each characteristic of an innovation culture, and then answer the
questions and complete the tables that follow.
Ratings: 1 = Poor; 2 = Fair; 3 = Good; 4 = Very good; 5 = Excellent
Characteristics
Rating
Show organization-wide commitment to the business and to innovation
1
2
3
4
5
Experiment proactively
1
2
3
4
5
Manage risk
1
2
3
4
5
Implement ideas quickly
1
2
3
4
5
Produce and cultivate innovators
1
2
3
4
5
What particular characteristics are strong?
Characteristic
Reason for strength
Show organization-wide
commitment to the
business and to innovation
Experiment proactively
3
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SKILLSOFT BLENDED LEARNING RESOURCE
Manage risk
Implement ideas quickly
Produce and cultivate
innovators
4
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SKILLSOFT BLENDED LEARNING RESOURCE
Identifying weaknesses
Which characteristics
need improvement?
What questions can
you ask to discover the
reasons for weakness?
Identify the reasons
for weakness.
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What actions can you take to address the weak areas?
Characteristic to
improve
Action to take
Show organization-wide
commitment to the
business and to innovation
Experiment proactively
Manage risk
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SKILLSOFT BLENDED LEARNING RESOURCE
Implement ideas quickly
Produce and cultivate
innovators
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© 2011 SkillSoft Ireland Limited