Testing 21st Century Innovation Indicators in South African

organisations

Outline of these Results

1. Framework of Dipstick Questionnaire

2. Demographics

3. Overview of Results

4. Free-format text return

5. Concluding Remarks

Framework of Dipstick Questionnaire

• The innovation dipstick questionnaire tests the following dimensions of the innovation process at a high level:

– Innovation Strategic Intent;

– Innovation Environment Management;

– Organisational Innovation Capability;

– Innovation Process Management; and

– Return on Innovation.

• In addition, in a free-format question, respondents were asked for their innovation “success formula”.

Demographics0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Commercialisation

Executive Leadership

Finance

Human Resources/Human Capital

Innovation

Marketing

Media Liaison/PR

Operational Leadership

Technical/Operations

Tertiary education

Overview of results [1]0% 50% 100% 150% 200%

My organisation has an Innovation strategy

Staff know what the focus areas for innovation are

Innovation is driven by senior/executive leadership

Policies and systems are in place to guide innovation

Staff are committed to innovate whenever possible

Our operational climate is conducive to innovation

Roles/ responsibilities in innovation are well-managed

Skills/competences are developed/maintained to facilitate and ease innovation

Internal teams are established for innovation

Networks are maintained with external experts to stimulate innovation

The innovation process is well-managed

Innovation opportunities are pursued by all staff

Innovation ideas are screened to select those with the potential to make a major impact

Innovation makes a major contribution to our success

Our organisation is known for its innovation successes

In the negative

In the positive

Overview of results [2]0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Innovation Strategic Intent

Innovation Environment Management

Organisational Innovation Capability

Innovation Process Management

Return on Innovation

There is plenty of room for

improvement, especially in the

enabling area, that is, innovation

environment and process

management and in the innovation capability area.

Free-format text return

• Only 40% of the respondents completed this question,

and of those, many indicated that their organisation

either did not have a success formula yet or are not

achieving any innovation successes;

Free-format text return [1]

• Those who did respond, highlighted the following types of

issues:

– A focused innovation strategy is developed and

implemented;

– Some form of innovation structure has been put in

place and roles and responsibilities are clearly

defined;

– A clear channel for new ideas, whether from internally

in the organisation or by scanning ideas, research and

development from outside the organisation;

Free-format text return [1]

• Those who did respond, highlighted the following types

of issues:

– A focused innovation strategy is developed and

implemented;

– Some form of innovation structure has been put in

place and roles and responsibilities are clearly

defined;

– Supportive systems, approaches and processes,

through which to guide the innovation process;

Free-format text return [2]

• Those who did respond, highlighted the following types

of issues (continued):

– Clear communication with all staff about the

rationale for innovation; and an ongoing dialogue

(two-way) on the topic;

– Appropriate skills development to prepare staff for

the challenges of an innovative organisation;

Free-format text return [3]

• Those who did respond, highlighted the following types

of issues (continued):

– A clear channel for new ideas, whether from

internally in the organisation or by scanning ideas,

research and development from outside the

organisation;

– Innovation metrics are included in the normal

performance management metrics and/or balanced

scorecard;

Free-format text return [4]

• In short (summary), in the words of one of the respondents:

People's passion, clear strategy,

appropriate systems and processes,

appropriate skills development and

measurement of outputs

=

SUCCESSFUL INNOVATION

Concluding Remarks

• Although this innovation dipstick could only by

necessity measure at a high level,

• it has been shown that there are still significant

challenges to introducing a vibrant innovation culture

and strings of successful innovation outcomes to

South African industry,

• especially if one considers that the participants in this

Innovation Festival are presumably already thought

leaders in this regard.

Thank you!