It can be concluded with great certainty that certain organizational cultures inhibit creativity and innovation whilst others foster it. Some organizations are just better at identifying problems, generating and selecting valuable ideas and developing and commercialising them - this is why those firms tend to maintain competitive advantage and remain leaders in their field.
Another way to look at the problem is in terms of blocks. Certain organizations create or enhance blocks that prevent their human capital from working to its potential. Some of the many blocks include:
a) Conformity and risk aversion
b) Culture dictating behaviour
c) A sense of inappropriate behaviour
d) Negatively assessing own ideas
e) Logical thinking, scientific, cause and event thinking
f) Rejection of ideas without adequate valuation processes
g) Competition inhibiting behaviour
h) Fear of being perceived as being unoriginal
i) Fear of being perceived as being unintelligent
j) Problems have an illusion of difficulty
k) Waiting for inspiration
l) Lack of resources
m) Lack of tangible progression of good ideas
n) Lack of focus or goal
Simply from an analysis of the above, it is apparent that a number of areas require the attention of leaders, including:
a) Management of personalities and individual blocks
b) Management of organizational blocks
c) Management of ideas from problem identification to commercialisation
d) Distinctions and management of cultural and structural inhibitors
Resolution techniques include broad categorisation – many blocks can be viewed as evaluation apprehension, and general solutions include:
a) Psychological safety (Vernon, 1980) – accepting the individual as unconditioned worth – recognising that the individual is capable of producing but that their value is not based on producing
b) Psychological freedom (Vernon, 1980) – eliminating a climate in which external evaluation is absent; understanding empathetically – understanding the individual from their point of feeling and view.
These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com
Kal Bishop, MBA
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Organizational Culture & Leadership
Improving organizational culture has become a necessity in today's ever-changing business environment. People want to work for a company where they can be happy and balance work and life. Organizations who treat their members well have experienced a better retention rate, an increased productivity and a happier overall culture.
Improving organizational culture can be a big challenge for the organization and its members. Focusing on a few important steps will help you get started in improving organizational culture Getting the right training for your employees is the first step toward improving organizational culture. The other important steps for enhancing organizational culture include:
Analyze your organization's existing culture and compare it with customers' expectations and perceptions.
Form a diverse team of interested and enthusiastic people in an organization to enhance the organizational culture.
Get your team to discuss the current culture and explain the parts of the culture that are already great and need to be supported. Then create a vision of the culture you want to create, taking into account the entire current picture of the organization.
Provide the appropriate training to the team members regarding the vision of the culture.
Communicate to everyone to bring awareness about the team and organizational leadership, that this isn't a band-aid, quick fix; but an ongoing, strategic intention to build a more attractive culture that fits the needs of the organization and that can improve its culture.
Get the cultural team excited. Help the team recognize that not everyone else in the organization is going to think that these efforts are worthwhile immediately. Remember that enthusiasm is contagious. Do what you can to keep the enthusiasm of your team high. If their excitement falters, remind them of the vision they created to re-invigorate them.
Culture improvement is like any other change, as it requires champions. The champion needs to be someone who is passionate about creating the new culture.
Any change will have a greater chance of success with momentum. Thus, get started but be committed to building momentum and staying with it. It will be one of the most rewarding efforts you and your team will ever engage in and with this you can bring great improvement in your organizational culture.
The above-mentioned lists are the specific tips that have enhanced and improved the organizational culture of various organizations. Obviously, these are not the only things you can do to enhance your culture , but these will provide you with a good starting point.
For further assistance, contact the Organizational Culture Center. Organizational Culture Center is a leader in implementing or changing the organizational culture of organizations, whether a profit or nonprofit entity. To receive special reports on organizational culture that includes resources, ideas and advice you can log on to www.organizationalculturecenter.com
Both Kal Bishop & Linda Devis are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kal Bishop has sinced written about articles on various topics from Brain, Leadership and Leadership. . Kal Bishop's top article generates over 301000 views. to your Favourites.
Linda Devis has sinced written about articles on various topics from Organizational Culture. Linda Devis, expert in building high performance cultures and organizational development, is the author of this article on behalf of organizational culture center and if you want to know more about organizational culture then visit:. Linda Devis's top article generates over 590 views. to your Favourites.
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