The Innovating Works… team launched their report 'Workplace Innovation in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises in Scotland' (Findlay et al. 2015) on March 17 and shared findings from their pilot project to an audience of industry leaders, SMEs, policymakers and researchers. The event was chaired by Sir Peter Housden (Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government) with 'expert listener' comments from Linda Murray (Head of Strategy Services, Scottish Enterprise) and Marion Beattie (Head of Employer Services, Skills Development Scotland).
Sir Peter argued that in the context of concerns over polarisation in the labour market and deteriorating work quality for some employees and workers, the potential of workplace innovation to transform workplaces is considerable. He suggested that Scotland should aspire to be known as a country characterised by its innovative workplaces.
The event showcased examples of workplace innovation in practice and the challenges faced in innovating. Workplace Innovation refers to innovations in the way organisations are structured, how they manage their human resources, the way internal decision-making and innovative processes are devised, the way relationships with clients and suppliers are organised and the way the work environments and internal support systems are designed. Good examples were found of innovating in these spaces through enabling employees, employers and workplace stakeholders to collaborate to do things better and to do better things (that is, things that add value).
Professor Patricia Findlay and the Innovating Works… team showed that while SMEs faced challenges and constraints in innovating, workplace innovation was delivering benefits to companies in terms of new products, processes, services and ways of working, and was also delivering positive employee outcomes – including better employee retention, job satisfaction and decent working conditions.
To read more about Workplace Innovation, access the full report.
To view the presentation given at the dissemination event, visit the Innovating Works website.