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Innovation - Competency

Definition: Innovation is the process of creating or developing new methods, products, or solutions. It involves seeking and finding creative ways to change and improve to solve problems. It requires a willingness to be flexible and to challenge current processes through a critical analysis. Innovation needs to be supported and promoted since it may be disruptive. It can sometimes help to offer rewards/recognition for innovative ideas. It may be necessary to provide guidance, empower or incentivize employees as well as to coordinate and focus resources, training, and the efforts of cross-functional teams.
Job Skills
Analytical
Administrative Skill
Decision Making
Quality
Problem Solving
Initiative
Innovation
Goals
Time Management
Change Management
Juggling Multiple Responsibilities
Achievement
Results Oriented
Commitment To Result
Technical
Technology Use/Management
Clarity
Excellence
Objectives
Risk Management
Safety
Regulatory/Compliance
360-Feedback Surveys Measuring Innovation:
Survey 1 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 2 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 3 (5-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 4 (5-point scale; radio buttons)
Survey 5 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 6 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 7 (5-point scale; competency comments; N/A)
Survey 8 (3-point scale; Agree/Disagree words; N/A)
Survey 9 (3-point scale; Strength/Development; N/A)
Survey 10 (Comment boxes only)
Survey 11 (Single rating per competency)
Survey 12 (Slide-bar scale)
Survey 13 (4-point scale; numbers; floating anchors)
Survey 14 (4-point scale; N/A)
Performance Assessments that include Innovation:
Assessment 1 (5-point scale; IDP Comments)
Assessment 2 (3-point scale with Comments)
Assessment 3 (Manager Assessment; 360-Feedback)
Assessment 4 (3-point scale; Rating Limits)
Assessment 5 (3-point scale; Rating Limits)
Assessment 6 (5-point scale with Comments)
Assessment 7 (Comment Boxes Only; IDP)
Assessment 8 (Comment Boxes Only)
Assessment 9 (3-point scale with Letter Grade)
Assessment 10 (360-Feedback; Bonus/Merit Pay)
Assessment 11 (Core Values & Job Competencies)
Assessment 12 (4-point scale; 6 Comment Boxes)
What is Innovation?
Innovation is the pursuit of novel ideas and approaches to enhance products, services, and processes. It thrives on a culture of curiosity and adaptability, where individuals and teams challenge the status quo and explore uncharted territories. This journey demands an open mindset, a readiness to embrace and learn from failures, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Effective innovation requires fostering an environment where creative thinking is nurtured and collaboration across diverse teams is encouraged. Recognizing and rewarding contributions to innovation, providing the necessary resources and training, and aligning efforts towards shared goals are key to transforming visionary concepts into impactful realities.
Why is Innovation important in the workplace?
Innovation is a vital skill for several reasons:
  • Expanding Markets: Innovation enables individuals to create new opportunities for growth and position their department/company as industry leaders.
  • Problem-Solving: Innovation helps an individual to view problems new perspectives offering new methods/techniques for solving problems; conducting a more critical analysis of the problems can yeild unexpected potential/novel solutions.
  • Efficiency: Innovations can make your organization more efficient and capable of generating products/services.
  • Resilience: Implementing novel solutions/processes/procedures can increase an organization's resilience to changes and setbacks.
  • Customer Service: Innovations can give customers more tailored products/services to better meet their needs.
  • Enhanced Brand Image: Innovations enable customers to view your products/services a leading edge which can also attract viral content and news coverage.
What are key aspects of Innovation?
  • Creating and Developing solutions/products/services
  • Finding and seeking novel solutions and ideas
  • Solving problems with a fresh perspective
  • Challenge current processes and procedures
  • Analyze the situation and the issues
  • Remain flexible in considering options and ideas
  • Innovations may be disruptive
  • Employees may need support in resources and training
  • Empower employees and offer incentives
How can I improve my Innovation Skills?
  • Stay Curious and Open-Minded: Ask Questions: Always be curious and ask questions about how things work and why they are the way they are. Challenge Assumptions: Don't take things at face value. Challenge existing assumptions and consider alternative perspectives.
  • Continual Learning: Continuous Education: Pursue courses, workshops, or certifications in areas that interest you or are relevant to your field. Read Widely: Read books, articles, and research papers on a variety of topics to broaden your knowledge base.
  • Foster Creativity: Brainstorming Sessions: Regularly engage in brainstorming sessions, either individually or with a group, to generate new ideas.
  • Collaborate and Network: Cross-Functional Teams: Work with people from different departments or fields to gain diverse perspectives and ideas. Attend Conferences: Participate in industry conferences, seminars, and meetups to network with other innovators and learn from their experiences.
  • Experiment and Take Risks: Develop and test prototypes: Develop prototypes of your ideas and test them in real-world scenarios to gather feedback and refine them. Embrace Failure: View failures as learning opportunities and use them to improve your future efforts.
  • Stay Informed: Industry Research: Stay updated on industry trends, customer preferences, and emerging technologies. Understand the Competition: Analyze what competitors are doing and identify areas where you can innovate to offer better products/services.
  • Create an Innovative Environment: Encourage Innovation: Foster a culture of innovation within your team or organization by encouraging creative thinking and recognizing innovative efforts. Allocate Time and Resources: Dedicate time and resources to innovation projects and provide support for experimentation.
What questions could be included on a 360-degree survey that measure innovation?
When creating a questionnaire to measure innovation, be sure to include items that measure creating, seeking, and finding solutions to problems. Include items that measure the willingness to challenge assumptions; be flexible; be open to disruptive changes. These questions are grouped into different facets of innovation. When creating a 360-degree or other performance assessment, try to select one or two items from each group.

Questionnaire Items to Include



Creates and Develops
Creates and Develops focuses on origination and implementation. This dimension highlights the ability to actively produce new ideas, methods, solutions, or products and bring them to life. It involves generating creative and practical approaches to solving problems, developing systems, and fostering a culture where innovation is actively shaped and executed within an organization.


Finds and Seeks
Finds and Seeks emphasizes exploration and discovery. It centers on looking externally and internally to identify opportunities, innovative ideas, and untapped potential for improvement. This dimension involves seeking out inspiration, leveraging new technologies or market trends, and finding ways to apply external insights to foster growth and adapt to change.


Solves Problems
Solves Problems focuses on action-oriented and practical innovation. It emphasizes identifying fresh approaches to challenges, implementing best practices, and taking calculated risks to generate effective solutions. This dimension is centered on leveraging innovation to address immediate, specific problems, improve efficiency, and seize opportunities in a tangible and results-driven manner.


Challenges Current Processes
Challenges Current Processes emphasizes incremental innovation and improvement by reevaluating existing systems. It involves questioning assumptions, simplifying procedures, and fostering diverse ideas to enhance efficiency, productivity, and value within established frameworks. This dimension encourages "thinking outside the box" and cultivating environments where creative solutions to existing problems can thrive.


Analytical
Analytical highlights systematic evaluation and strategic foresight. It involves reviewing processes, analyzing data, assessing competitive environments, and setting measurable goals to optimize innovation outcomes. This dimension reflects a more reflective and structured approach, using insights and metrics to guide decisions and continuously refine systems.


Flexible
Flexible emphasizes adaptability and refinement in the innovation process. It involves tailoring ideas to fit organizational needs, adjusting strategies to align with goals, and optimizing solutions for maximum impact and feasibility. This dimension reflects a focus on evolving and fine-tuning concepts to ensure their successful application, as well as the willingness to adapt to changing conditions and feedback to achieve better outcomes.


Disruptive Innovation
Disruptive Innovation focuses on transformational and groundbreaking change that redefines markets and industries. It advocates for radical ideas that challenge traditional business models, create new opportunities, and push boundaries to develop innovative products, services, or strategies that significantly shift market dynamics. This dimension prioritizes major breakthroughs and embraces unconventional approaches to seize competitive advantages and meet evolving customer needs.


Supports and Promotes
Supports and Promotes focuses on actively encouraging and championing innovation at all levels. It highlights creating a supportive environment where employees feel empowered to contribute ideas, promoting creativity and risk-taking, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and curiosity. This dimension reflects a proactive commitment to implementing and advocating for innovative changes as a strategic priority within an organization.


Willing and Receptive
Willing and Receptive emphasizes open-mindedness and readiness to embrace innovation. It highlights the ability to entertain new ideas, accept unconventional approaches, and adapt to changing circumstances. This dimension is centered around being approachable and open to innovation as a mindset, ensuring an environment where diverse perspectives and experimental efforts are valued.


Empowers and Incentivizes
Empowers and Incentivizes highlights enabling and motivating individuals to contribute to innovation. It focuses on creating an environment where employees feel supported and encouraged to experiment, take creative risks, and implement their ideas. This dimension also emphasizes recognizing and rewarding contributions, providing the resources and skills needed for innovation, and fostering a culture where innovation thrives through empowerment and incentives.


Coordinates and Focuses


Training and Resources


Provides Guidance


Shares Information
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