The current business global arena is escalating at an alarming rate. The products and services getting into the market have an edging competition that meets or even attracts the eye of the consumers. For a firm or a company to survive in the market competion, several mitigations have to be put in place. The key aspect is the innovation of the products and services. Bessant, J and Tidd, J. (2007, pp121-123). The managers have a bigger challenge of finding out ways to surpass their competitors. It is with no doubt that, this paper try to elaborate the management of the innovation given the entrepreneurial environment, using the four strategies namely proactive linkages, generation of ideas, selection of ideas and implementation.
Firstly, innovation process has to entail the culmination of ideas from various individuals and sets of mind. This brings the managers to the task of evaluating valid suggestions that would see the organization make more profit and be viable at market place.Martins (1994). For instance, Google company have had linkages with companies such as, Google maps,zillow.com and Amazon which provide alternative services of selling online books. These combined efforts bring about new ideas that, interrelate on the creativity of its firm. The third parties use the feature to market Google. The choice of selecting proactive linkages boosts the marketability of the firm. It is with no doubt that Google is enjoying the vast growth due to the correct choice of partners. The power of the data should not be left unrecognized the choice of the consumers and their interest should be met and the products should meet their expectation. This is achieved through the research that is carried out to test the interest and wants of the customers.
Never the less, the innovative organization would generate creative ideas that would propel the organization to further heights. The recruitment of staff should be done in a proper way to ensure only the right employees, who are productive fits, the firm. Google has developed a system whereby, they evaluate the employee’s performance and rate them. This keeps the service delivery high as such Christiansen (2000). Creativity has to do with the fundamentals of motivation. The intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors are keys that, the managers should put in mind to ensure their staff performs to their very best. In a business set up the intrinsic motivation is more preferred because, the deep drive of a solution is drawn from the ideas of understanding the cost. It does not necessarily depend on the amount of money given. Though extrinsic motivation serves the purpose well, but it does not enable one understand the underlying problems leading to less innovativeness.
Consequently, the manager’s decision, in selecting the right ideas from the data presented should be effectively done. The goals selected should not be altered as this kills or disorient the creativity of the employees. The managers should ensure that the strategic patience is observed, so as to have an ecosystem that embraces market spanning.This makes a firm which is on the upper hand as compared to other companies’. Moreover, there should be infrastructure that gives a favorable environment of innovation to take place. Bessant.(2007). The end result of these is a boost economy of scale and, the third parties would be faced off with competition.
The managers have a task of ensuring that, the staffs have diverse background and, enthusiasm to implement a specific goal. Staff members should understand the diverse skills of various employees’ so as to work in harmony.In addition, they should be willingly to assist each other in their task to be carried out. Selecting a homogenous team poses a challenge as innovativeness is not boosted. This yields in similar ideas leaving no room for other options.
Implementation process of the stated strategies is usually the determinant factor to the success of the organization. However, this has been a challenge for most managers in various companies. For instance, Google may have researched and found out that, by the next three years the number of email users would have doubled. The implementation of the proper solution has to come with the proper analysis of the consequences of the outcome. The best option majorly is to assign the employees with their expertise in the field they are talented in. This is followed by giving them intrinsic motivation. The employees should have autonomy in deciding what they want to do. This gives them an open mind and be creative enough. Google has achieved this by allowing its employees generate their ideas and email to the management. Dealing with a problem in an autonomous manner, enables employees deal with the problem in an expertise way.
Moreover, the set out strategies should not have the goals diversified. This tends to kill the innovativeness as their targets would be mixed up. Managers need to do proper allocation of time to the projects that have to be accomplished. The allocation of time determines how effective a given project would succeed. Terziovski, M. (2009, pp120-132). Too little time makes the employees feel under pressure and, may tend to ignore pertinent issues that may lower the effectiveness of a given project.The act of innovations takes time and should not be harried during its implementation. In addition, the firm has to determine if is capable of meeting the required resources. The resources should be allocated to ensure that each and every task has to be met. The resources should not be overestimated or under estimated as this would kill the innovativeness of the employees. The resource of the work space is virtually important as it gives room to the employees to have spacious working environment which grants freedom amongst workers.
Proper implementation would require managers to monitor each and every activity that takes place. The tradition of managers being over busy should be avoided, as some of the project would not be observed. They should also reward every effort put forward by the staff in order to boost their intrinsic motivation. For instance, a US company known as ‘company central’ awarded its diligent staff despite having lots of failure. This boosts the morale of the employees and they would be able to perform better. It becomes a challenge at times when the manager faces different ideas from employees and, does not know the correct decision Burns, T (1961, p231). It is advisable to take time to react and evaluate to such issues rather than, overreacting on those issues.
During implementation communication is a vital tool as it determines the mutual understanding between employees. Various issues that arise may only be sorted out through effective communication skills. As a manager politics around work place should be avoided as it downgrades the innovation character and may lead to conflicts amongst employees. Some employees may think that their job is at risk from a fellow workmate which is very dangerous.
In conclusion, the management of innovation would require proper criterion on implementation of the chosen strategies. The complex practices have to be thoroughly evaluated and, employees need to be motivated to achieve their best. Indeed an innovative organization is a successful organization.
Reference
Bessant, J and Tidd, J. (2007). Innovation and Entrepreneurship. West Sussex: John Wiley and sons.
Burns, T and Stalker T. M. (1961). The management of Innovation. New York: Oxford press.
Christiansen, J. (2000). Competitive innovation and management techniques.1st ed. London: Macmillan press.
Martins, J. M. (1994). Managing innovation and entrepreneurship. Canada; John Willey and sons.
Terziovski, M. (2009). Energizing management through innovation and entrepreneurship.New York: Rout ledge press. pp 120-132.