Creating an innovative organisation

I am pretty curious about what makes certain organisations sustain an innovative culture while most others struggle and stagnate. This led to me to explore Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship as one of my research areas.

Since teaching is a good way to learn, I also teach topics around my research interests. One such new course is what I recently taught titled “Designing and Leading the Entrepreneurial Organisation” for the post graduate students of The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII). Since the course refers to a lot about how to create and sustain entrepreneurialness within organisations, our discussions revolved around two problems — stopping bad habits (those that stop innovation) and cultivating new habits (ones that catalyse innovation)! While most courses discuss the latter, very few discuss the former. Without taking care of the former, the latter may not really work. Is that really why many new initiatives to sustain corporate innovation not result in results?

Though the course is formally over now, here are links to two articles that I would have (will use in the next edition of my course) shared with my students:

How to banish bad habits from your company? — Link: https://www.strategy-business.com/article/How-to-Banish-Bad-Habits-from-Your-Company

Creating a culture of innovation — Link: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/creating-an-innovation-culture

While many of our readings are from journals and magazines, both my students and me keep sharing newer materials to supplement our learning. These also help us enhance the quality of our discussions inside and outside the classroom.

I thought it might be useful sharing it here so that we could hear from what you, the reader, thinks as well.

What according to you helps create an innovative organisation?