Everyday innovation report - Nesta

16
Key findings:
• Innovation is currently a highly valued imperative for organisations in the UK.
• 78 per cent of survey respondents reported that innovation was now ‘very’ or ‘extremely
important’ to their organisation’s agenda.
• 70 per cent of respondents reported that the focus on innovation will be reinforced
in the current climate with almost half of all respondents indicating positive change
e.g., ‘team members will become more co-operative’ and ‘individuals will be given more
freedom and opportunities to innovate’. However, over half also believe ‘control will be
more centralised’ with significantly more organisations adopting this approach in the
public sector.
• Interviewee responses indicate that, given the current economic climate, organisations will
focus on certain types of innovation (e.g. incremental innovation) which require fewer
resources.
• Survey and interviewee responses indicate that the public sector is less focused than
other sectors on promoting innovative working arguably at a time when it is most
needed.
• Evidence shows promoting and encouraging innovative working contributes to long-term
organisational survival.
• In a recession many businesses sacrifice the financial resources required to promote
innovative working.
Implications:
• Innovative working is regarded as one of the few proactive strategies an arganisation can
adopt to survive a recession.
• More effective and targeted use needs to be made of the scarce resources available within
organisations to promote innovation.
• Promoting innovative working within the public sector could be a focus for the future.