Assignment:
Part I: Innovation drivers and implications
Prepare an analysis of the current drivers of innovation and consider the implications of these for your practice environment, or another identified workplace or organisation. There is no set format for the analysis, which will cover the topic areas outlined in the section below, but you may wish to prepare it as a report that could be presented to organisational managers or relevant stakeholders.
Q1. Identify an organisation that you can use to consider innovation drivers and their implications. This may be your practice environment or another organisation or workplace to which you have access.
Q2. Research and analyse trends shaping the organisation’s current and future thinking and practice. You will need to consider:
a. current and past theories and thinking about innovation and creativity
b. global and local innovation drivers and enablers, both internal and external to the organisation
c. he impact of the organisation’s mission, objectives and current strategies on innovation performance
d. specific conditions required for innovation
e. issues that impact on individual and collective innovative thinking and creativity.
Q3. Evaluate the overall context for individual and collective innovative thinking and creativity within the target organisation, including consideration of:
a. potential barriers and risks to innovation
b. the impact of legislative frameworks, such as those relating to copyright and intellectual property
c. current innovation performance and opportunities for developing strategies to improve innovation.
Q4. Reflect on the leadership role that you could play to improve innovation in the target organisation. You should consider:
a. your own leadership skills and leadership style and the impact these can have on fostering innovation
b. opportunities for enhancing your personal effectiveness to promote a culture of ongoing learning and development
c. strategies for modelling innovative thinking and practice.
Q5. Identify a number of options for improving innovation in the target organisation. These options should take account of:
a. strategies to respond to identified organisational barriers and risks
b. management techniques and tools for encouraging creative thinking and for converting creative thinking into innovation
c. theories, processes and practices for organisational transformation
d. strategies for managing the stages of change.
Q6. Compile your analyses, evaluation, reflections and proposed options into a paper or report that could be used by the target organisation to inform the development of a plan or strategy to improve innovation performance.
Part II: Lead and sustain innovative thinking and practice
Compile work samples as evidence of your role in the following:
Q1. Planning the introduction of innovative thinking and practices in the target organisation, including:
a. identifying and accessing adequate resources for innovation to occur
b. establishing organisational mechanisms, systems and processes to support innovation
c. initiating and fostering communication, consultation and engagement with key stakeholders, as necessary.
Q2. Supporting the introduction of new practices by:
a. using team development approaches to build skills that support innovation
b. using a range of techniques and tools to generate new ideas and thinking
c. devising and implementing mechanisms to promote knowledge transfer
d. establishing ways to capture, communicate and share innovative ideas and practices
e. promoting innovative practices, processes, products or services appropriate for organisational requirements.
Q3. Leading innovative practices in the target organisation by:
a. introducing and promoting creative thinking techniques to foster personal and team innovation
b. fostering a workplace culture that encourages innovation
c. developing and using processes to monitor individual and collective contributions to innovative thinking and practice.
Q4. Sustaining innovative thinking and practice in the target organisation by:
a. managing risks associated with innovation
b. using change management strategies to overcome organisational barriers and capability gaps.
- During the competency conversation with your assessor you will be asked to reflect on:
- relationships between theory and thinking on innovation and creativity and the reality of your experience introducing innovative practices in the target organisation
- the effectiveness and impact of risk assessment and management strategies in the context of innovation
- processes for promoting innovative thinking and practices in an organisational context
- the effectiveness of your own leadership style and practices for modelling and supporting innovation.
Your answer must be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font (size 12), one-inch margins on all sides, APA format and also include references.