1. UGBS 101 Introduction to Business Administration
Session 7 –Bringing innovation into the business setting
Lecturer: Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS
Contact Information:

2. 1. Characteristics of a creative business environment
a) Freedom
The ability or opportunity to exercise some freedom in the business environment is critical to the creative process.
The option for creativity grows not so much from freedom in what we do, but how we do our work.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

3. Cont. Characteristics…
b)Encouragement Management must provide encouragement for the development and exploration of ideas. A status quo mentality, or an inability to accept new ideas, will not promote an imaginative culture.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

4. Cont. characteristics…
c)Recognition Rewards or salary structures in which employees progress in orderly increments over a long period of time may generate loyalty rather than achievement. The challenge for businesses is to provide a range of measures and rewards such as peer recognition, different work opportunities, a better working environment and access to equipment.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

5. 3. Identifying and Assessing business opportunities
d) Desire to achieve a creative culture
-  Must understand imagination and how it works.
-  Should ensure there are no non-examinable rules.
-  Offer opportunities for growth.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

6. 2. Building innovative capability
a) Ensuring the commitment of the leadership team
The key to building an innovative business organisation is firstly to ensure the constant commitment of top management. Top management must ensure it is willing to be committed to the goal of becoming an innovative business unit.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

7. Cont. Building…
b)Ensuring adequate management capability It is important that the managerial leadership has enough horsepower to get the work done.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

8. Cont. Building… c) Identifying key skill gaps
Taking the time to understand and identify the gaps and how they can be filled is an essential part of top management’s role.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

9. Barriers to Innovation
a) Underestimating what is required It is not unusual for top management to underestimate the extent of the change needed to become an innovative enterprise and the adequacy of capabilities to achieve the task.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

10. Cont. Barriers…
b)The organisational web Businesses need to exhibit flexibility and adaptability in order to compete effectively.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

11. Cont. Barriers… c)Identifying strands
   What is it that makes someone come to work?   
  What is it that really excites and motivates the workers?
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

12. Cont. Barriers…
d) Fear of failure One of the most significant reason why creativity is unrecognised is the fear of failure or the fear of an idea not living up to the complete promise.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

13. Cont. Barriers… c) Inadequate resources for the change process
Many businesses struggle to access resources. Moreover, good help rarely comes cheaply.
Dr. Daniel Quaye, UGBS

14. Reading list
Introduction of Business Administration Distance Education Manual- Dr Daniel Quaye.
Madura, Jeff (2007), Introduction to Business Administration, South-Western College
Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS