How To Foster Innovation And Save Your Flat-Lining Business
Stuck in a business that's unable to branch out? This could be why:
In an environment where business is constantly changing, it is necessary as a manager to take account of all possibilities, to take the initiative and to seek out new business (including new products and services). However, many managers are too busy juggling the work they have in front of them to even consider effectively branching out in any direction.
It seems there may be other things getting in the way of seeking out new business, aside from being busy. Let us take for example a parts manufacturer affiliated with an automobile maker. Looking back over their way of working over a number of decades, the premise of their business has been corresponding to the demands of their affiliate company. Through concentrating wholeheartedly on this one aim, their technological strength and ability to respond to demands has developed greatly.
On the other hand, what they have lost is the ability to think for themselves and suggest ideas, to create new markets and to view things from the perspective of the market and the end user rather than in terms of their production. In other words, they're lost the ability to think in an innovative way. This lack of ability can be considered as an obstacle to seeking out new business. The question of how they can expand their innovative thinking ability begins with seeking out new business, as it is no exaggeration to say that it could determine the fate of the enterprise.
Business is always changing. What should you focus on?
In a business world which has changed dramatically over the years and which will only change further as time goes on, businesses need to focus on the following:
- Providing employees with the tools they need in order to seek out new business
- Coming up with ways to create new products and services
- Developing an organizational culture which will foster innovative ideas and respond to ever-changing business climates
These needs have come to the forefront in the last few years, and can be seen as lacking in the example of the automobile parts manufacturer cited above. While providing training to employees with the purpose of fostering creativity and innovative thinking is an effective method, such training won't go very far if the culture of the organization itself doesn't allow for these qualities to grow once training is complete.
Creating a new organizational culture? Start from the top.
A culture of growth and innovation has to first be created at the management level. If the thought process of management is not changed first, there is no hope for long-reaching organizational change. Innovation is difficult to put in place before the mindset of those "higher up" is first altered. Only then can the effects trickle down through the rest of the organization.
Is your company taking it upon itself to develop employees' innovative thinking ability and to bring about new awareness in its managers? Is your organization's culture promoting innovation?
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