What is Innovative Change Management?
- May 5, 2020
- 3 min read
'Being innovative' is a sought-after trait many brands are fighting to present as a part of their core values. But what does being innovative mean and how does a company implement innovative change?
When you conduct a quick internet search of the word innovation or examples of innovation, over 1 billion results pop up. Everyone knows not to trust everything on the internet, so a large percentage of these results are not accurate. Furthermore, a quick internet search does not reveal all of the information on the topic found in academic works. It can be assumed that innovation is a popular theory.
The definition of innovation is varied and highly debated. To some, innovation means something, whether it's a product, service, or process, that is entirely new to the world. Think about the introduction of the microwave [1]. The microwave is definitely innovative, but would it not also be considered an invention?
This is the problem with the definition of innovation. There is a lot of grey area between the ideas of innovation, invention, and introduction.
For the purpose of this article, and how I, also, described the topic in my master's dissertation, innovation is defined as the introduction of a new idea (product, service, or process) that adds value to the firm.
Innovation adds value to a firm through the introduction of a new idea, whether it is from products, services, or processes.
I chose this definition because I believe it best illustrates how innovation can be applied to all businesses. A decades-long, successful small business that introduces an online time tracker for their employees for the first time in 2020 is not a leader in the online time tracker market per se, but the introduction of the new system could be innovative to them.
There are major companies who are leading the way when it comes to innovation. Think Apple, IBM, Amazon, and Alibaba. These companies have presented products, services, and processes to the world that have changed the way we, and businesses, interact every day. These companies invest heavily and have dedicated innovation teams, something that not every business can afford.
I believe all businesses can introduce innovation into their workplace. Whether producing new innovations for the market or adopting innovative processes from others, firms can add value to their business by shifting their focus to innovation.
Have you introduced a new innovation to your workplace? Was it successful? Did you find adoption of the new innovation faced resistance from your employees?
While I find it is important to introduce innovation into your business, I also believe the proper steps should be taken to ensure success.
Innovative change management is a combination of project change management and culture change management.
As part of my master's dissertation, I wrote extensively about the idea of Innovative Change Management (ICM), which H. James Harrington presented in his book Innovative Change Management (ICM): Preparing Your Organization for the New Innovative Culture. Harrington's 2018 book outlined the idea of ICM as a framework used to manage changes in order to drive results.
Change can be oriented around company culture, business structure, or systems and processes [2]. The idea of ICM can be applied to every aspect of the business, whether it is sales, marketing, IT, or legal. People, processes, knowledge, and technology are the four key factors addressed in the ICM framework [2].
The main aspect of ICM is the overlap of project change management and culture change management. The attention to detail and time spent by project managers to ensure project success also needs to be applied to the changes people will face. Without the proper time investment into understanding the needs and wants of employees, customers, and potential customers, any innovation will face resistance.
As with any type of change, it takes time. Research needs to be conducted and open lines of communication need to be created.
Innovation partnered with Innovation Change Management should be included in business plans for companies of all sizes. It is important to conduct research, communicate, and invest in what is right for the business. If it does not add value, what is the point? Often companies jump too quickly into introducing something new that does not apply to their business model or current/future plans. By knowing your market position, having clear goals, and understanding your company culture, the change will face less resistance.
What are your thoughts on innovation and innovative change management? Let me know in the comments below!
Resources:
[1] Greatest Accidental Inventions of All Time
[2] Harrington, H. J. (2018). Innovative change management (ICM): Preparing your organization for the new innovative culture.
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