1.2.1. Company information and the company in relation to radical innovation capabilities
This company has been a subsidiary of a very large brewery since 2008. This large brewery has 70.000 employees worldwide, of which 12.500 in Europe. The vision of this company discloses that they believe in the power of beer in the beverage market. Their mission describes that the company will break the homogeneity and will give the product back their premium status.
Some recent radical innovations that took place within this company:
- The introduction of the new beer bottle in 2007. There was a great homogeneity in the beer market. With the change of the colour of the bottle from brown to green, this homogeneity was radically broken. The goal was to stand out in the competition with this green bottle.
- The introduction of ‘Cheersch’ in 2008. This is an innovative home draft system with a 2 – liter PET bottle. You can put this tap head each time on a new bottle of beer.
1.2.2. Various concepts within the company 1.2.2.1: Radical innovative capability
For the development of radically new products this company uses an innovation funnel. This innovation funnel is a kind of stage – gate model and has a decision point after each stage. It looks like this:
When this subsidiary implements radical new changes it will be in cooperation with the parent company.
An important aspect to achieve a good radical innovative capacity is the fact that people must have the time available to develop their creativity. Some employees must be made 100% free for the development of radical innovations. If you are to develop radical innovations together with your normal daily activities the chance of success is limited.
The company ranks the determinants of radical innovative capability as follows: (10 = very important, 1 = absolutely not important)
1.2.2.2: team learning
In this company the employees critisized each other at each stage in the innovation funnel. In addition, they speak to each other about things that do not go well. In this way you can learn a lot from each other.
When you want to come to a good team learning climate working in project teams is important. Because all experts are placed in these teams, you can learn a lot from each other.
Important aspects to develop a good project team are:
-There should be a budget available. This is necessary for attending courses and training. - Make sure that the staff has sufficient time available for the project team.
- Provide adequate information and good communication between the employees. Good communication is the core of team learning.
The company ranks the sub processes of team learning as follows: (10 = very important, 1 = absolutely not important)
1.2.2.3: support leadership
Within this company they have two types of leaders: a project sponsor and project manager. The project sponsor is a board member. This member defines the major frameworks of the project, for example the budget. In addition, he checks if the innovation project fits within the company’s strategy.
Determinant: Score: Extra information:
Autonomy capability 9 You should not inhibit the team.
Integration capability 9
Openness capability 8
Experimentation capability 8 This comes naturally within an innovation team.
Sub process: Score: Extra information:
Information distribution 9 It is very important to find the right method.
Organizational memory 8
Knowledge acquisition 8
The project manager is the leader who follows the daily routine. It is also important that this project manager defines the roles that everyone has within a team. If there isn’t a role description, this could work demotivating. This project manager should also at any time be available to answer questions of the members of the project team.
Important aspects for good supportive leadership are: - Be accessible.
- Make sure you have time for your employees.
- Make sure that you are clear about functions and responsibilities. The company ranks some aspects of support leadership as follows: (10 = very important, 1 = absolutely not important)
1.2.2.4: teamwork cohesion
A team must be open and creative when you want to create a good cohesion. Everyone needs to understand the field of study, but personally you can differ. Different characters within a team can have a positive impact on the results, because this leads to better cooperation.
It is important that people within a team challenge each other. Sometimes a lot of questions may be irritating, but for the development of good radical innovations, they are very important.
To ensure a good team cohesion and good relationships between the different people a team leader must provide the following:
- He or she should be send to a team that functions well. - He or she is responsible for a team’s right information.
An individual member of a team should contribute to the following to achieve a good team cohesion and a good relationship between the different people in a team:
- Accept each other.
- Be open to a good cooperation
- Have sufficient time available to think about innovation.
The company ranks some aspects of teamwork cohesion as follows:
Aspect: Score: Extra information:
Giving positive feedback to the employees.
9 It is of great importance in order to be fair. Giving positive appreciation to
the employees.
9 As a leader you should encourage your team.
Giving an additional reward to employees when they perform well.
8 The most common is a team reward. It is important to inform everyone before the project starts about the project and the ‘bonus’ connected to it.
1.2.2.5: team climate
The team climate within this company is okay, people enjoy working. To achieve a good team climate the following two things are important:
- People should be fully dedicated to the work, to the development of radically new things. - Everyone should pursue the same goal.
The company ranks the core elements of team climate as follows: (10 = very important, 1 = absolutely not important)
Aspect: Score: Extra information:
Team members must be willing to sacrifice for the team, they should be open for business cooperation.
10
Team members must follow the group perspective and not do what they want themselves.
9
Core element: Score: Extra information:
Focus on the target 9
Social – emotional support 9 It is very important to be open, honest and respectful.
Task support 8 This is very important. Otherwise you hinder your work.
Guidance on an extra pay 7 It is important to look at the whole team when you give a reward. Emphasis on the resources 6
1.2.3. Relation between the different concepts
The manager has a suggestion for adapting our research model. This adjustment suggestion relates to the variable ‘team climate’. The manager said that he would shift the variable team climate within the model. He also indicates that team climate is related to more variables than is the case in the current model.