Responses

Reply to at least two peers with a counterargument. Does leadership always influence the success and rate of adoption of change? 

Respond 2 classmates discussion

speak in first person. Speak as you are talking to each classmate directly

Lucas Discussion:

There are many different definitions for innovation and as I was going through this week’s readings and researching other sources, I came across a definition I was drawn to and I feel its applicable to higher education as well. Digital Intent defines innovation as, “Innovation is the process of creating value by applying novel solutions to meaningful problems” (Dwyer, n.d.). What separates innovation from just a good idea is the ability to facilitate that idea into a tangible item or service that creates a benefit for others. Leaders need to embrace innovation as it pertains to change, but data shows this doesn’t happen very often among corporate leaders. According to a study highlighted by the Harvard Business Review, only 15% of senior executives don’t delegate creative work to others (Dyer, Gregersen, & Christensen, 2009). Innovation really refers to the disruption of the status quo which encourages change inherently.

 

From the readings, I’d say two of the most impactful characteristics of innovative leaders are actively seeking new ideas and opportunities and surround themselves with a diverse group of people to hear different viewpoints/opinions and experiment innovations with. This lends itself to the successful adoption of change as those who are more involved in the change will likely be more accepting of it. Part of that is building toward a culture that prioritizes innovation. As for communication strategies, the Institute for Public Relations recommends providing communication tools, facilitating conversations about mistakes, and motivating those who want to be innovative (Formanchuk, 2020).

 

This week’s reading from the University of Washington’s faculty illustrates the affects internal and external factors have on conformity regarding change. One such example was Arnold Berger, Associate Professor, Science and Technology, UW Bothell and his integration of online learning tools for his students. He took an external factor being new technological capabilities that could foster remote-learning and how non-traditional students of the program often had difficulties getting to class after work during rush hour traffic, an internal factor (University of Washington, 2013). I think Berger used the capabilities of technology as some component of a solution to address the need for flexibility for the program’s students. I believe internal forces are better initiating change as they often evoke the need for it or it at least leads to the pursuit of finding ways to make improvements. It also incorporates motivation which can be encouraged by external forces, but ultimately is an internal decision. Leaders who can influence others and get them on-board with the change can facilitate a quicker adoption to it.

 

References:

 

Dwyer, J. (n.d.). What is innovation: why almost everyone defines it wrong. Retrieved from 

https://digintent.com/what-is-innovation/

 

Dyer, J., Gregersen, H. & Christensen, C. (2009, December). The Innovator’s DNA. Retrieved from 

https://hbr.org/2009/12/the-innovators-dna

 

Formanchuk, A. (2020, January 6). SIX WAYS TO ENHANCE INNOVATION THROUGH INTERNAL COMMUNICATION. Retrieved from 

Six Ways to Enhance Innovation Through Internal Communication

.

 

University of Washington. (2013, March). Innovators Among Us:

How UW Faculty are Enhancing Teaching with Technology. Retrieved from 

https://web.archive.org/web/20190713042938/https

://

www.washington.edu/provost/files/2013/02/edtrends_InnovatorsAmongUs

 

Rachel Discussion:

Hello,

Innovation is more than just an idea or creatively thinking about what needs to change. Innovation is was takes place during the creative idea all the way through to executing a well thought out change plan. In the workplace, just a good idea isn’t going to make the cut when it comes to change. People have ideas about issues in the workplace all time but they don’t go the extra distance to analyze the issue and solve how it can be fixed. That’s where being innovative comes in. Thinking big and doing the extra work to make change happen is key to success in an field. 

The University of Washington’s article “Innovators Among Us: How UW Faculty Are Enhancing Teaching With Technology” shows how the idea of reaching more students through technology with innovative ideas, planning, and execution successful.  The article talks about freeing up class time to focus on harder material rather than just going through the learning material in order. With more online learning materials that students could go through at their leisure it allowed students and professors to have more time to focus on material the students were questioning more. Giving students access to multiple learning platforms allowed students to focus more on what they needed help with instead of material they easily picked up on their own. Revision of how students were being taught and how they should now be taught in our changing world so students get the most out of their lesson plans was the idea, but how they executed that idea was a huge process that took innovative thinking. 

University of Washington. (2013, March). Innovators Among Us: How UW Faculty are Enhancing Teaching with Technology. https://web.archive.org/web/20190713042938/https://www.washington.edu/provost/files/2013/02/edtrends_InnovatorsAmongUs

2

Innovation Vs. Good Idea

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course

Instructor’s Name

Date Due

Innovation Vs. Good Idea

Everyone is amazed by a good idea. However, a good idea does not have to be an innovation, even if it appears creative. Innovation comes in with converting the idea into a product or a service that people want to buy. Thus, a good idea can win creativity contest but may fall flat in the market if people are not willing to buy, and it will only remain a good idea. Innovations can shake and change markets s they affect how consumer feel about quality, enhancing life, look, feel and even price (Dahlander et al., 2021).

Leadership plays a significant role in communication strategies that help in the adoption of innovation. The correlation of different interplays brings about innovation, and communication initiates how the employee and all stakeholder view innovation. A good leadership communication strategy seeks to meet market penetration aspects, building the relationship with employees, understanding competitor and factors with partners. IF the communication between leaders and employees is weak, the ability to pull together resources to shit an excellent idea to innovative idea will be ineffective (Kremer et al., 2019)

A good example is the innovations that have been in place, majorly in transformative changes in educational systems, which are more about innovating ways to keep students engaged in the digital age when technology has revolutionized the ability to learn. A good example is a shift from the standard chalk and talks to more learning management systems, such as massive open online course and ideas like flipping the classroom. All the innovative ideas only worked if the entire organization’s internal and external factors had to work on their concerns. Interior characteristics, most specifically the teacher and the students, are the most primary in initiating change because they serve the direct rule in interaction and bringing the idea to life and showing it to external factors why taking the concept is the best option. If the internal factors are ready for change, then implementation can be made with speed. However, if they do not understand the concept or even feel that the idea would not serve the purpose, they may not support it wholly (WayBack Machine, 2013).

References

Dahlander, L., Gann, D. M., & Wallin, M. W. (2021). How open is innovation? A retrospective and ideas forward. Research Policy, 50(4), 104218.

Kremer, H., Villamor, I., & Aguinis, H. (2019). Innovation leadership: Best-practice recommendations for promoting employee creativity, voice, and knowledge sharing. Business Horizons, 62(1), 65-74.

WayBack Machine. (2013, March). Innovators Among Us: How UW Faculty are Enhancing Teaching with Technology. https://www.washington.edu/provost/files/2013/02/edtrends_InnovatorsAmongUs .