Creativity in Innovation and Change Management

Innovation Management

When business leaders hatch a brilliant strategic plan, they use it to help inform the next level of objectives and key results. Once goals are set, innovation comes next — but efficient innovation can’t occur without an innovation management process. Typically, radical innovation ideas come from the frontline workers closest to the details. So, it makes sense that the best innovation management process should always include a mechanism for crowdsourcing ideas from employees.

Today, in the age of digital transformation, businesses must innovate more frequently and effectively than ever before. Implementing an innovation management process can lead to predictable growth. So, it should not be a surprise that introducing an innovation or change management process, when followed correctly, provides a steady pipeline of new profitable improvement ideas.

The written history of innovation management begins in 1930s America. It started with teams in product development, then moved swiftly into advertising, and before long, innovation management was relevant in every aspect of a business. Soon after, fields like change and risk management emerged, which helped inform the current recipe for successful innovation management.

Change Management

Successful change management is an essential component of implementing any new business idea. But perhaps, because managing change is often too elusive and intangible to pin down, or concentrating on it produces a less than immediate payoff, it is not a top priority.

Most business leaders understand the change management process, but successful change management can be challenging due to a lack of repetition and formal standard operating procedures. As a result, change leaders are leveling up by operationalizing their processes and adopting purpose-built change management software.

Multiple studies have shown systems and software’s importance in driving ideation among peers.* In addition, these systems help shape an inclusive culture by giving employees a platform to voice their ideas and knowledge.(*Curry & Stancich, 2000; Damsgaard & Scheepers, 2001).

Getting Creative

Creativity consists of two distinct elements: originality and usefulness. For example, a new product might use a creative idea that builds on existing features – making it low on originality but highly useful in satisfying consumer needs.

Creative ideas come naturally through these three processes: repetition, finesse, and flexibility.

• Repetition is about surfacing new ideas regularly and knowing some are bound to be brilliant.
• Finesse involves digging deeper and using “in-the-box” thinking to make delicate changes.
• Flexibility means gathering different perspectives and thinking “out of the box” to stimulate radical innovation.

Creativity in innovation management emerges from the process of collecting new ideas, socializing them around the organization, and gathering the necessary feedback. Employees with lofty career ambitions are notorious for surfacing great improvement ideas. Of course, these A-team players warrant the airtime, but more than that, they deserve a platform that positions them for long-term career growth. With the proper visibility and recognition, these rockstars will constantly innovate.

How do we encourage creative thinking? What makes it possible for teams to achieve radical innovation? Of course, we can put creativity and innovation at the center of our focus, but that must also come with the freedom for our employees to explore new ways of thinking. A manager who champions innovation knows that part of their job is regularly finding ways to improve. Crowdsourcing ideas is an excellent method for gathering improvement ideas. With the proper innovation management process in place, employees will feel empowered, sharing unique ideas with the confidence to bring them to the table.

Innovation and Change Management Solutions

Employees at all levels can provide significant insights into the effectiveness of business process management. They are constantly coming up with ways to improve processes and increase efficiency. Most job titles don’t include innovation, but the most effective employees constantly innovate. If businesses don’t foster a culture of innovation management, they may miss out on a significant source of big ideas.

The Agreed process, where innovation management is geared toward producing and executing improvement ideas from company workers, is one innovation management process that has emerged as a top option for change management software.

Most successful businesses list innovation as a core value. Strong leaders know that providing a foundation for the best innovation management process means giving all employees a voice. When employees know they are heard, they do their best work. This culture shift is why organizations are starting to use innovation management software to collect input, which helps generate a continuous stream of profitable ideas from internal and external stakeholders.

It is necessary to have a formal change management process in place. Because successful change management bridges the gap between brilliant improvement ideas and tangible results. Guidance and feedback stimulate a consistent flow of ideas, the first step. The best change management process includes change management, risk management, and innovation management.

Businesses that embrace change, and plan for it accordingly, typically stay ahead of their competition. Change management is about having a formal process for adapting to change. An excellent change management process will analyze who, what, when, where, and why things change.

Again, this needs to be emphasized. For a business to have the best change management process, it must also manage risk and innovation. A big challenge for any organization is maintaining a steady level of team ideation. Even the most innovative workers will burn out if their voice isn’t heard.

Innovation management encourages teams and individuals to explore new ideas and concepts. But, without collaboration, innovation cannot thrive. Collaboration is the key to making new initiatives work and grow. Building consensus around ideas encourages teams and individuals to work together. Laying a solid foundation for innovation and collaboration stimulates intrapreneurship. Companies see tremendous value when they introduce a formal change management process.

Employee independence increases the likelihood of innovation. But knowledge sharing and collaboration are essential parts of innovation management. Those who fear openness will intentionally or unintentionally suppress innovation. Conversely, organizations that break down these barriers will see an influx of great improvement ideas.

Creative workers need change management software, like Agreed, to socialize and grow their ideas. Laying the foundation for radical innovation will foster a culture in which people are willing to listen, learn, improve, and share.

Last word

As an executive, you set the framework for innovation management. By empowering employees with a mechanism for continuous innovation, you will see them flourish. And if getting creative about innovation and change management is your goal, then using Agreed is the idea that gets you there.