PHWP: Abstract Detail: Who has innovative ideas? Employees.

Focuses on the issue of innovation, especially as it relates to identifying ways to enhance company growth, cut costs, and grow profits. The authors argue that the best way to generate innovative ideas is to involve employees, as employees are in the best position to identify truly innovative ideas. The authors suggest creating innovation communities to assist in generating those ideas. They suggest tips for creating innovation communities: (1) give employees space and time to innovate, (2) allow people with different perspectives (and from different units) to interact, (3) ensure that senior management participates with employees in the innovation community, and (4) encourage participation but do not make it mandatory. They also argue that untapped potential is an important element of effective innovation, that sometimes these communities can produce collateral benefits, and that innovation communities need to demonstrate value to the organization (so measurement of benefits becomes important).

Spender, J. C., & Strong, B. (2010, August 23). Who has innovative ideas? Employees. Wall Street Journal [Online]. Retrieved August 23, 2010, from online.wsj.com.