Understand an organisation’s culture

• Describe the underlying culture within the organisation

• Explain how this influences the management style and team structure

• Explain own responsibility in promoting the organisation’s vision and helping to shape the culture

Understand the importance of values in underpinning the culture for innovation and improvement

• Explain how your own values and beliefs affect how you deal with change and innovation

• Explain own responsibility to manage your personal behaviour, actions and words to reinforce an innovation and change culture

• Explain the importance of being aware of other’s needs, feelings and motivations to minimise the resistance to change and innovation

Understand the roles of different functions in supporting innovation and change

• Identify possible tasks of the innovator during the innovation process

• Explain the role of managers during the innovation process

• Explain the role of senior members of the organisation in defining the strategy for innovation and encouraging potential innovation activity​

Know how to develop a culture that supports the growth and implementation of ideas​

• Describe how to encourage individuals to think innovatively and contribute ideas in the work place

• Explain the importance of giving constructive feedback to innovators in order to sustain their energy and input

• Explain how to provide the support and guidance needed to implement ideas

Understand the importance of risk management in creating a culture that supports creativity and innovation​

• Describe how to recognise and manage risk in innovation

• Explain how to develop the organisational culture so that people are risk aware but prepared to take acceptable risks in undertaking activities

• Explain the importance of communicating information on identified risks to relevant people across the organisation

• Explain the need to comply with legal requirements, industry regulations, organisational policies and professional codes when dealing with innovation activity

Understand the important role of communication during the innovation process​

• Explain the importance of establishing and communicating a clear and well understood vision of the future for your team and/or area of responsibility resulting from an innovation activity

• Explain the purpose of an elevator pitch to secure sponsorship for innovation ideas

• Describe the key actions required when developing an effective business case promoting the benefits of an innovation idea in order to secure ongoing support from sponsors and the work team

• Explain the importance of communicating outcomes of innovation activities to maintain momentum and interest

Indicative Content

Part 1:

• Types of organisational culture and how they are manifest in terms of structure of teams and management style

• Concepts of values and vision and their relevance to the first line manager role

Part 2:

• Different management styles and the effects they have on the culture of a business

• The importance of valuing diversity to support innovation activity

• Understanding what resistance to change is and how to work with it

• The importance of management commitment to ensure sustainability

Part 3:

• The two key phases of innovation activity – exploration and exploitation

• Preferences and limitations of innovators

• Providing the space to innovate

• The role of senior management in setting a strategy for innovation

Part 4: ​

• The factors that motivate people (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs / Herzberg’s motivation and hygiene factors)

• The challenges and benefits of introducing reward and recognition systems to support creativity and innovation

• The use of simple tools to evaluate and validate ideas so as to provide balanced feedback for innovators

• Developing an effective business case to promote the innovation idea

Part 5: ​

• Stage gate processes and how they support decision making

• The importance of defining when to stop and walk away

• Creating an environment that is aligned to ‘learning from mistakes’

• The importance of Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Rights

• Controlling trials and experimentation to minimise risks

Part 6: ​

• The role of communication in motivating others

• Engaging staff by sharing the vision

• Building momentum by communicating the benefits and success of quick wins

• Gaining the support of key sponsors by presenting your ideas / concepts in a limited time frame

• How to develop a business case to clarify the benefits of your ideas / concepts