The Innovation-Friendly Organization: How To Cultivate New Ideas And Embrace The Change They Bring

This book explores five cultural traits – Diversity, Integrity, Curiosity, Reflection, and Connection – that encourage the birth and successful development of new ideas, and shows how organizations that are serious about innovation can embrace them. Innovation—the driver of change and resilience—depends on culture, the social environment which shapes how ideas emerge and evolve. Ideas need room to breathe, and culture determines the quality of the environment. If it's restrictive and lacks openness, then no idea, however brilliant, will live long enough to fulfill its potential. Creating these innovation-friendly conditions is a key challenge for organizations today, especially as they focus on efficiency and control. Anna Simpson argues that innovation begins with diversity of thought and the opposite of conformity and standardization. She shows how large organizations can adapt their culture to enable the exchange of different perspectives; support each person bringing their whole self to work; embrace the aimlessness that fosters creative experimentation; and take the time to approach change with care, ultimately developing the collective strength to face challenges.