What is Innovation Management?
Innovation management is really, like all aspects of management, about people. In this case it is usually about establishing the right environment for people to do something that they generally find uncomfortable doing – that is taking risk.
Yet by creating the right environment, the culture, the strategy and ensuring that there is the opportunity to network and to learn then people are able to innovate as part of their normal day to day route – probably even without realising it.
Innovation is relevant at the highest corporate levels and at the lowest, it applies across all parts of individual organisations and across all industry sectors. It is important therefore that the management of innovation is not the preserve of the elite or the ‘chosen few’ it needs to be embedded within all who work within an organisation – whether they have a formal management role or not.
But surely innovation just happens? That’s true if you are an entrepreneur or working in a small organisation where innovation is about growth and survival. In larger organisations there is often a feeling of security; that things will continue the same as before if quality and service can just be maintained OK. Of course nothing stays the same and that’s the time when innovation needs to be managed – before it’s too late.
What is Innovation Management?
The management of innovation within your organisation will help with its long term survival, it will provide a continual renewal mechanism and help protect it against the unexpected.
By considering innovation as a point of focus within your organisation that has a dedicated level of resource (usually primarily time) you will be able to;
- Establish and communicate clear strategies
- Construct clear organisational and process paths
- Provide learning frameworks
- Support the management of internal and external networks
- Monitor innovation effectiveness performance
Above all you will be able to create a supporting environment where there is no fear of failure and that all of your staff are able to contribute to the future of your (and theirs) organisation.
