One of the most significant enablers or inhibitors for innovation is corporate culture. Many cultures have characteristics that embrace innovation. These organizations encourage change and seek new opportunities.

On the other hand, most organizations have cultures that inhibit or block innovation, by focusing on operational excellence, reduction of risk and elimination of failure. These concepts are reinforced in the way people are evaluated and compensated.

Innovation Culture

We work with our clients to ensure the corporate culture becomes an enabler for innovation, rather than a roadblock, by emphasizing compensation, evaluation, rewards and communication.

Evaluation

People commit their time and effort to what they enjoy, and what they are evaluated against. Too often organizations ask people to participate in innovative activities yet evaluate their efforts and work on existing evaluation metrics which don't reflect innovation.

Compensation

Compensation is tightly tied to evaluation, so individuals often put their compensation and bonuses at risk to work on innovation projects.

Communication

Given the risky and uncertain nature of innovation, it is important for senior executives to clearly and consistently communicate their goals for innovation, to demonstrate commitment and buy in from the executive ranks.

Rewards

While it is important to reward and recognize the innovators in your organization, you must balance rewarding "ideas" versus rewarding participation and involvement. Often rewards don't have to be monetary to be attractive.

Read our paper on building an innovation culture in your business.

OVO can help your organization build and implement strategies to ensure innovation has a chance to succeed within the corporate culture. Few factors are able to limit or terminate an innovation program like a resistant corporate culture.

Contact us to learn how to adapt your culture to your innovation goals.