Bmgt

Management & Organization BMGT_335_801

Brian Doherty

Week 7 Assignment

03/14/2016

a. Are there any patterns regarding the innovative process in the three 3M stories you read? (don't discuss the McNerny years when Six Sigma was being heavily emphasized)

Whenever we have a company such as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) that continually shows such prevalence in long term sustained success in the innovative process we must realize that this company has developed a very successful pattern of strategies for its employees. In the 3M stories the pattern of innovation began early with an almost skunk works mentality as 3M allowed its employees in each story to take an ownership of a particular out of the box project. 3M allowed these employees to become individual risk takers which led to a sense of empowerment as managers turned their heads to allow these employees leeway to mold their creative minds around risky projects that became highly successful company staples.

b. How does 3M seem to foster a good climate for creativity and innovation?

3M fostered a climate of creativity and innovation by allowing team members to take risks while remaining a level of protection for its employees that encouraged them to take chances on new product development. 3M not only encouraged but actually rewarded employees creativity, which as seen in the articles has paid off in big ways for both the employees and the organization through profitability of the company and loyalty of their workers. 3M allowed a comfort to express and share creative ideas without a fear of it failing or of losing their employment. This seemed to motivate the employees with a power to create and a longing succeed, this benefited the organization as well. The employees became obsessed with not allowing their project to fail and with the desire to respond to an ever changing market to find the next big thing in new product development for both themselves and for 3M.

c....