Fostering a culture of innovation

The FY23 “fostering a culture of innovation” balanced scorecard initiative initiative originated from the concern that our intense focus on service quality may overshadow opportunities to develop innovative solutions. It explored prevailing attitudes on innovation and recommends an organizational approach to foster individual empowerment and innovative solutions to address constituent needs better while continuing to improve service quality.

What we heard

A survey and focus groups engaged over 150 participants. It found that our enthusiasm for innovation is much stronger at the team level than in the broader IT organization. Respondents raised over twenty-five complex and interrelated factors that affect our ability to develop innovative solutions.

We heard that we foster innovation through a team-oriented approach, aligned shared goals, a focus on constituent needs, psychological safety, cross-team collaboration, autonomous decision-making, supportive management, necessary tools and training, effective communication, available funding, and risk-embracing leaders.

We heard that we hinder innovation by insufficient time due to operational demands, lack of time for training and research, resistance to process change, inadequate funding, unsupportive leadership, project competition, interdepartmental limitations, and the pressure for quick solutions.

See the summary of participant feedback in the Fostering a Culture of Innovation Recommendation.

Recommendations

The Fostering a Culture of Innovation Recommendation proposes driving the necessary organizational change by achieving three goals corresponding to three categories of the most pressing factors affecting our ability to innovate. The recommendation also outlines a three-year program, a tactical approach, and measures of success.

• Goal 1: One IT at Yale values innovative solutions and explores innovative practices
  Develop and implement a program to engage One IT at Yale in exploring and communicating our innovative processes and solutions.
• Goal 2: One IT at Yale staff are empowered to innovate knowing the business context and professional expectations for innovation
  Develop essential organizational scaffolding and change management to empower One IT at Yale staff to innovate effectively and align with expectations.
• Goal 3: One IT at Yale lowers the barriers to innovation through a business process to identify and advance innovative projects
  Adjust the planning processes to empower teams to progress from innovative ideas to approved at-scale collaboration across teams and departments.

What’s Next?

Leadership appreciates the recommendations and thinks they are strong. We did not get a green light for all the goals for FY24 due to the operational pressures of the coming year. We will, however, lean in on the first goal. We will find and advance “innovation forward” opportunities using our existing structures. Don’t be surprised if you are asked to show your innovative work at an IT Leadership meeting, present a poster of your creative solution, attend a meet-up to discuss design thinking, or get interviewed for an IT Update article. We will engage with each other to explore creative processes and innovative solutions and continue to foster a culture of innovation. Check out these Innovation Hacks for ideas to engage your colleagues in innovation-forward activities.