25% of employees don’t provide a single innovative idea
1 out of 4 employees do not provide any new innovative ideas for their employers, according to a new study released today.
This is sobering news given that innovation is so important for small businesses, especially as over 1 in 5 (21%) companies admitted that 70%+ of their revenue comes from products or services which did not even exist five years ago.
The research, carried out by the organisers of Fresh Business Thinking LIVE! which takes place on the 8th September, is based on a detailed survey with 100 small business owners and entrepreneurs.
When asked what the key drivers behind their innovation plans, top of the list was trying to increase sales (70%), and differentiating themselves from the competition (68%).
The top three barriers suggested by those surveyed for what was stopping them innovating more was lack of funding (64%), that they were too busy sorting out everyday business (42%) and lack of time (33%). And when asked whether they thought it is harder for a small business to be innovative just under half said that it was.
For more information on the Fresh Business Thinking LIVE! survey please phone 01993 823011, www.freshbusinessthinkinglive.com.
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Very interesting that it focused on small businesses, because i wonder how "big" businesses would compare?
There is the other side of the coin, how many of the ideas provided are simply ignored, or how many people are too afraid to speak up to provide a solution fearing the reprimand and curt "none of your business get back to work!" or the age old boss stealing my ideas!
I work for the MoD and there are no end of "good ideas" both in technology and day to day cost saving, but one of the biggies in Government is the boss nicking the idea and presenting it him(her)self.I hear it time and time again in my current job......this links into the recent government strategy of asking Civil Servants to provide the cost savings, a good idea but how easy to implement the findings and getting passed the Senior Civil Servants?!
Interesting. I would say that the fact that 75% of people DO contribute ideas is something of a success. How does that compare with past studies of this type? As Stu says, the implementation rate of ideas would also be of interest as surely that is of greater importance to a business.
Can this be true? 1 in 4 employees make no creative, thus constructive, long term contribution?
http://www.managers.org.uk/practical-support/management-community/blogs/25-employees-don%E2%80%99t-provide-single-innovative-idea
While it is true, and indeed fairly obvious, that not all jobs require innovation, I don't think the article is meaning scientific, state of the art advances! Innovation need not be rocket science but can be straight forward, cost saving, process improving proceedures. To this end, everyone should have an "innovative" idea. They are paid by and therefore have a responsibility to, their employer. Wonder how this compares to other West Europe countries. I would like to think more favourably....
Not a huge sample either is it? To be honest though I'm a little surprised that the number is as low as it is. I've worked in lots of places where hardly anyone makes a creative contribution.
Maybe it has something to do with our schools. It reminded me of this blog by Margaret a while back and how things like creativity and innovation weren't the things headteachers looked for, instead preferring nice kids that didn't cause any disruption. Guess you reap what you sow.