Bob J. Holder
Gray Matter Production
620 ROOSEVELT DR., EDWARDSVILLE, IL. 62025
(618) 692-0258
Fax (618) 692-0819
In the 21st Century, effective organizations will focus on constant innovation, not only in the development of products and services, but also with respect to their operations. They will be concerned with both the development of the firm and the world's ecosystem. They will strive for a humanistic integration of individuals with their technologies. The workplace will be a place of learning, development and meaning. Innovation will be a way of life.
The characteristics of the innovative organization are only beginning to surface on the current organizational landscape. The blooming of the innovative organization will be stimulated by changing lifestyles and values, the growing importance of global and ecosystem issues, and the changes taking place in the existing scientific paradigm.
Innovative organizations will be radically different from most organizations. The forerunners of innovative organization are only beginning to appear. They are noticed. However, they tend to be viewed as deviants. An excellent analog is the reaction of a typical observer to emerging mammalian forms in the time of the dinosaurs. Although the observer would notice the mammals, he would focus on the dinosaurs because of their large size and perhaps comment that the little mammals will be eaten and eliminated by the larger reptiles. After all, like IBM, the dinosaurs are so much more powerful and could probably eat up the smaller life forms. The observer might think of the disadvantages associated with the dinosaurs' size regarding their adaptability, but the observer would focus his attention on the small-brain dinosaur.
The environmental focus and stakeholder relations of innovative organizations will be future-directed as well as grounded in present realities. Innovative organizations will be focused on world markets and the discovery of new opportunities. They will not be competitive. Financial goals will be long term or nonexistent. Meeting human needs in an effective, healthful and efficient manner will be their primary focus.
The overall effectiveness of the organization will be measured in terms of both the quality and quantity of stakeholder energy that is developed and attracted by the organization and its products and services. The firm's specific measures of effectiveness will be focused on its long-term ability to meet the needs of its stakeholders and the quality of relationships with them. Its performance measures will also provide feedback regarding its contributions to enhancing the quality of life and the discovery of opportunities.
Innovative firms will devote a large amount of energy to designing processes which ensure an interdependency between present and future environments. The process will utilize the knowledge of all stakeholders. It also will attend to and balance their various needs. A significant amount of executive energy will be devoted to tuning the internal energies and resources of the firm. Executives also will devote their energies to communicating and clarifying the vision. Attention will be given to obtaining ongoing feedback regarding the fit of the vision statement.
The organization's visioning process will support the continuing exploration of its beliefs and rituals to ensure that they do in fact support innovation. This vision development process will cultivate the integration of polarities. For example, a firm's culture may support both collaborative and individualized entrepreneurial efforts.
In the innovative organization, all participants will demonstrate a strong commitment to service and innovation with respect to the quality of life of their stakeholders. Stakeholders will be drawn to the organization because of its vision and its commitment to higher values and quality of life. The firm's planning, marketing, research and development, design and control systems will maintain a close relationship with customers.
Truth and trust in one's self, in one's work team and in the organization will be the guiding and practiced beliefs of the culture. Open communication within the organization and with the external environment will be supported. Members will recognize that organizational, team and career boundaries are only temporary structures. Youth will be respected for its energy and freshness. Age will be respected for its accumulated wisdom. Fear, manipulation and control will be replaced by abundant opportunities, shared authority, personal security, freedom and creativity. Failure will be viewed as a form of learning. Risk-taking, creativity, creative rebellion and self-exploration will be supported.
The innovation organization's culture will focus on meaningful work which incorporates personal growth, a sense of dignity and the experience of spiritual fulfillment. Work design also will be based on the beliefs that individuals perform most effectively when they design and love their own work. Play and fun will be recognized as key motivational factors for creativity. The culture also will support the idea that service to others is beneficial to the individual, the enterprise and humankind.
Executives will reflect in their behavior an enhanced awareness of the continuing need for enriched information with respect to their associates, stakeholders and the environment. They also will be concerned with making wise decisions that will create a healthful environment for present and future generations. The necessary systems for ensuring high quality information will be thoughtfully designed, implemented and reviewed. Information will not be limited to numbers. It also will include metaphors, stories and qualitative symbols of human communications.
Organizational members will be sensitive to knowledge creation blockages and will be committed to their elimination. Electronic and human networks will be essential elements of the innovative organization, providing high quality information to all participants. Networks will facilitate the process of information collection and dissemination. Opportunity discovery, problem anticipation, discovery and resolution will be greatly enhanced through computer-assisted brainstorming, multi-discipline telecommunication conferences, information-search networks and expert systems. Organizational scouts will discover individuals and organizations involved in creative activities. These individuals will exchange information with the organization's members and stakeholders for the purpose of creating a healthful future.
