Chapter 231 Quality Innovation Chapter 23 Achieving Quality Through Continual Improvement Claude W. Burrill / Johannes Ledolter Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999 Prepared by Dr. Tomi Wahlström, University of Southern Colorado

Chapter 232 Improvement Versus Innovation Process improvement is an important technique for improving product quality, but it has limitations –Innovation is needed Innovation means radical change –Requires change which can cause anxiety –Must be followed by improvement efforts

Chapter 233 Examples of Innovation Product innovation –Depends on invention and technical progress Process innovation –Process reengineering Management innovation –Participative management –Self directed work teams –Quality assurance in place of quality control

Chapter 234 Cross-Functional Innovation Requires participation by: –The prime mover –Those supplying knowledge and ideas –Those supplying resources –Those sanctioning the innovation –Those who might block it –Those who provide training and guidance to the innovators

Chapter 235 Environment for Innovation Innovation is made possible by: –An environment favoring collaboration and teamwork –Structures that enable and assist change –The availability of power to achieve innovative change Kanter’s two types of environments: –Segmented or integrative

Chapter 236 Structure for Innovation Structures that facilitate innovation are characterized by: –Assignments are couched in terms of results –Job charters are broad –Multiple reporting relationships (matrix mgmt) –Resources are decentralized –Devices to facilitate networking exist –Territories intersect

Chapter 237 Power of Innovation Power is the capacity to mobilize people and the resources to get things done –Three basic tools are: Information (knowledge power) Resources (economic power) Support (political power) Quality innovation requires empowerment –The access to power

Chapter 238 The Innovation Process Prepare –Define problem –Build coalition –Evolve and install innovation –Institutionalize change Diffusion of innovation the biggest challenge in the innovation process

Chapter 239 Generating Innovations Triggers for innovations: –Crisis or galvanizing event –Departure from tradition –Strategic decision –Institutional mechanism –Individual “prime mover” –Simply by asking, “is there a better way”

Chapter 2310 Organizational Changes Organizational changes that foster innovation: –Encourage experimentation –Remove inhibitors to new, creative ideas –Make specialists generalists –Break down the hierarchies –Make information available –Reserve some time to think

Chapter 2311 Techniques for Generating Innovations Examine competitors Employ techniques for generating ideas Examine other industries Think opposite Expand your range of thinking Gather ideas and examine the relevant data Solicit ideas

Chapter 2312 Innovation and You Everyone should practice innovation –Right here and now! –Start by thinking of the products you produce right now Which are the most important? For which products is quality an important consideration? Of the processes you use to produce your products, which are the most important? Which do you think should be much better?

Chapter 2313 Questions?

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