INNOVATION:
THE ELIXIR OF SUCCESS
Innovators
need support from the organisational ecosystem
Spearheading innovation and researchbased activities is a crucial factor in the survival of any organisation today. In an economy and industry that is fast-changing, it is imperative to maintain an unwavering commitment to deliver new and better solutions that directly address customer needs. The dynamics of the digital world have changed how businesses are being run. The rapid technology changes and market needs are forcing innovation to be more than a necessity; rather a key differentiator in providing timely solutions to growing customer needs.
Today, successful companies have recognised that innovation is a mainstream activity, which brings together their workforce and a range of different partners
from beyond the organisation. Innovation is steadily moving up the boardroom agenda as companies recognise its vital importance in sustaining growth. Innovation, however, cannot be external to the organisation. For companies to succeed by innovating, it’s not enough to come up with great ideas that can change your market. The organisation as a whole must be ready to absorb innovation. Ideas seldom emerge from a vacuum or in the midst of executive-mandated initiatives alone. They happen when passionate individuals from various disciplines pool their resources and begin building; most of the time out of nothing; whose intent is to improve the current status quo.
To deliver effective solutions that address customer challenges, a company should focus on empowering teams and setting pivotal standards and processes that drive innovation. The culture of innovation within an organisation can be created through rigorous idea generation, prototyping, piloting and scaling through the use of development methodologies, and challenging the status quo in a constructive manner. Optimal organisational innovation requires translating the business strategy into an overall organisational strategy, with proper mechanisms to ensure successful innovation performance.
The importance of putting innovation at the heart of the business and involving the core of the organisations – its employees, lies in the right leadership moves and organisational culture. Areas of culture such as the capacity for creativity, willingness to collaborate and readiness to challenge norms are highly crucial to ensuring an innovative workforce. Creative outcomes are not always the result of chance, but of a thoughtfully designed talent infrastructure that delivers the desired results.
For implementing innovation in the organisation, leaders must take part and show active involvement. Individuals at all levels should be encouraged by the top managers to think independently and creatively, and share their personal knowledge with others. To innovate, companies need to ensure a culture that supports new ideas and encourages new ways of doing business. It is critical for an organisation to establish a framework to help employees pursue ideas to their logical closure. Usually, idea authors are passionate about pursuing their vision but they certainly need support from the ecosystem through mentoring, intervention of subject matter experts, insight to collaborate with allied business units and identifying of stakeholders. It is not always necessary that the idea is implemented, but achieving a logical closure for every idea, will provide immense satisfaction to the idea owner and fuel more innovation.
Making innovation an organisational imperative is important, but it is just the first step. Innovation should be approached in a thoughtful, holistic manner to continuously make progress. To achieve the same, talent must be valued and embraced by the management and nurtured, so they have the required institutional knowledge.
There has never been a more important time to innovate in the face of global competition. Entire new industries and many existing ones have changed to become creators of valuable ideas and experiences. Innovation is the only elixir to help businesses differentiate themselves in crowded markets and position them for years of success ahead.
B RUDRAMUNI Director and head of Dell India R&D
Spearheading innovation and researchbased activities is a crucial factor in the survival of any organisation today. In an economy and industry that is fast-changing, it is imperative to maintain an unwavering commitment to deliver new and better solutions that directly address customer needs. The dynamics of the digital world have changed how businesses are being run. The rapid technology changes and market needs are forcing innovation to be more than a necessity; rather a key differentiator in providing timely solutions to growing customer needs.
Today, successful companies have recognised that innovation is a mainstream activity, which brings together their workforce and a range of different partners
from beyond the organisation. Innovation is steadily moving up the boardroom agenda as companies recognise its vital importance in sustaining growth. Innovation, however, cannot be external to the organisation. For companies to succeed by innovating, it’s not enough to come up with great ideas that can change your market. The organisation as a whole must be ready to absorb innovation. Ideas seldom emerge from a vacuum or in the midst of executive-mandated initiatives alone. They happen when passionate individuals from various disciplines pool their resources and begin building; most of the time out of nothing; whose intent is to improve the current status quo.
To deliver effective solutions that address customer challenges, a company should focus on empowering teams and setting pivotal standards and processes that drive innovation. The culture of innovation within an organisation can be created through rigorous idea generation, prototyping, piloting and scaling through the use of development methodologies, and challenging the status quo in a constructive manner. Optimal organisational innovation requires translating the business strategy into an overall organisational strategy, with proper mechanisms to ensure successful innovation performance.
The importance of putting innovation at the heart of the business and involving the core of the organisations – its employees, lies in the right leadership moves and organisational culture. Areas of culture such as the capacity for creativity, willingness to collaborate and readiness to challenge norms are highly crucial to ensuring an innovative workforce. Creative outcomes are not always the result of chance, but of a thoughtfully designed talent infrastructure that delivers the desired results.
For implementing innovation in the organisation, leaders must take part and show active involvement. Individuals at all levels should be encouraged by the top managers to think independently and creatively, and share their personal knowledge with others. To innovate, companies need to ensure a culture that supports new ideas and encourages new ways of doing business. It is critical for an organisation to establish a framework to help employees pursue ideas to their logical closure. Usually, idea authors are passionate about pursuing their vision but they certainly need support from the ecosystem through mentoring, intervention of subject matter experts, insight to collaborate with allied business units and identifying of stakeholders. It is not always necessary that the idea is implemented, but achieving a logical closure for every idea, will provide immense satisfaction to the idea owner and fuel more innovation.
Making innovation an organisational imperative is important, but it is just the first step. Innovation should be approached in a thoughtful, holistic manner to continuously make progress. To achieve the same, talent must be valued and embraced by the management and nurtured, so they have the required institutional knowledge.
There has never been a more important time to innovate in the face of global competition. Entire new industries and many existing ones have changed to become creators of valuable ideas and experiences. Innovation is the only elixir to help businesses differentiate themselves in crowded markets and position them for years of success ahead.
B RUDRAMUNI Director and head of Dell India R&D
ET131210
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