Almost every organization is faced with an increasingly dynamic
environment and changing circustances. The need to respond quickly to changing conditions implies the need
for "innovation" in several area's and is therefore increasingly important. The ability to respond
quickly to changes in the environment is also called "agility".
Due to ongoing
changing developments agility demands, therefore, for an innovative way of
looking at work, deploying qualities of co-workers responding to questions of
the changing circumstances. In other words, a combination of innovation-, adaptability and (talent) development- management.
In times of a crisis and post crisis period, most organizations are still
focussed on re-arranging operational processes, cost and efficiency measures.
It
basically boils down to resizing strict procedures, applying standardized skills
in the form of job profiles and frameworks for departmental budgets and staff
size. In general terms, most organizations have a ratio of operational / project
work of 90/10. Although always necessary to remain focussed on efficiency
improvements it might limit the agility of organizations to adapt the new or
future circumstances.
Agile organizations however tackle challenges due to
changing circumstances in a much more flexible, project oriented approach making
clever use of the (other) talents and (other to be developed) skills of co-workers. To remain
successful and agile, organizations should not be only focussed on
product/service innovations, technological
innovation, internal procedural matters related to efficiency etc. but should focus also on
"social innovation", whereas external developments and needs within ongoing
changing circumstances leads to the ratio between operational / project work
shifts from 90/10 towards 60/40.
Anticipating and preparing on "tomorrows day", future success is determined by the organization innovation capability and agility.
Successful innovation is only 25% due to technological and R & D "investments" and for 75% in the field of organization and the human agility!