Many business experts argue that companies that make a substantial commitment to innovation and entrench it deeply throughout their culture will perform exceptionally well. But how can innovation be facilitated within the organizational framework? The following are some examples of characteristics that lead to successful innovation.
Accept Mistakes as Part of the Process
A Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing researcher was looking for ways to improve the adhesives used in 3M tapes that he discovered an adhesive that formed itself into tiny spheres. At first, it seemed as though his work was a failure. However, the new adhesive was later used on Post-it notes—a great innovation and business success for the company. Being receptive to new business ideas means being receptive to mistakes as a necessary, and sometimes even crucial, part of the process.
Keep an Open Mind and Think Laterally
Possibilities for innovation exist everywhere. To realize them, everyone in the business needs to keep an open mind and develop the capacity to look at things with fresh eyes.
The classic example of a company that completely transformed itself as a result of lateral thinking is the Finnish company Nokia, whose original core business was wood pulp and logging. When the collapse of communism opened the Russian market to the west, Nokia's core business was seriously threatened by cheaper imports from Russia's seemingly limitless forests. In the deep recession of the early 1990s, Nokia's management concluded that the only real competitive advantage they retained was a very efficient communications system developed in the 1970s that helped them keep in touch with their remote logging operations. That single realization transformed the company into one of the world's most successful vendors of communications equipment.
Nokia cell phone
Nokia successfully transformed itself from a logging company to an electronic-communications company through innovation.
Managerial Implications
As is usually the case, these principles are easier said than done. Managers must carefully consider what type of work environment they project for their subordinates. Managers must understand that employees too mired in routine work and who are criticized for trying new methods will inherently fail to create innovations that may drive organizational growth. There is therefore a balancing act between enabling employees to try new things and take risks vs. ensuring that tasks are completed on time with reasonable success.