Newsletter-October2006

The characteristics of successful workplace change and innovation are coming into sharp focus. The organizations that will thrive in a dynamic, knowledge-based economy are those that can achieve a high degree of organizational ‘fitness’, which is defined as:

	High levels of innovation, change and performance;
	Organization-wide commitment to innovation; and
	Openness to new organizational models and new ways of gaining a competitive advantage.

Our workplaces need to become adaptive – anticipating and triggering change through innovation and new business models. Workplaces that have successfully accomplished this:

	Take an approach to management that is participative rather than hierarchical;
	Consider employees to be essential to innovation;
	Invest in employee skills and training in the context of the workplace;
	Treat diversity as a source of competitive advantage;
	Value better work-life balance; and
	Build leadership capability at all levels of the organization.

Research carried out in Ireland has provided evidence that innovation in how work is organized and employees are treated can lead to improved performance, with positive results for organizations and employees. Areas where benefits were gained included: improved operating efficiency; improved market performance and customer satisfaction; enhanced product and process innovation; more effective exploitation of investments in new technologies; easier management of fast growth; and enhanced overall capacity to respond to changes in operating conditions.

What are you doing in your organization to "push the envelope"? Are certain people tasked with being innovative or is it considered to be an exciting benefit of every person's job function? What could you do to move your organization towards these innovative practices?...Now go do it!

Janet Stewart-Lussier

Member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers