Increasing employee-driven innovation in a large organization

Isotalo, Julia

Increasing employee-driven innovation in a large organization

Perustieteiden korkeakoulu | Master's thesis

Authors

Isotalo, Julia

Date

2019-10-22

Major/Subject

Information Networks

Mcode

SCI3047

Degree programme

Master’s Programme in Information Networks

Language

en

Pages

88 + 5

Abstract

To keep up with the fast evolving industries and competition, companies have realized that to keep their competence they need to invest in innovation; employee-driven innovation gives good grounds for increasing innovative actions within the company. In employee-driven innovation literature, much has been studied from the managerial perspective of increasing employee-driven innovation within companies: what are the actions to be taken to create an environment that supports entrepreneurial behaviour. Some research has also been conducted from employees’ motivation related to employee-driven innovation. However, the connection between the managerial actions and employees’ motivation has not been studied extensively. This thesis focuses to study the topic from this perspective. This study was conducted as a qualitative case study within a large organization in Finland, which had conducted an employee-driven innovation experiment recently. Previous research on employee-driven innovation comprised the grounds for this research. The main data collection method was thematic interviews, and the data consisted of 15 interviews with top management (n=3), middle managers (n=4), employees (n=6), and facilitators of the employee-driven innovation experiment (n=2). The data was analysed using an abductive approach and through categorization managerial actions, employees’ experiences and motivators, and challenges concerning employee-driven innovation were identified. The results of this thesis indicate the importance of the design process of an employee-driven innovation concept. It is essential to find a concept that suits the organization and its employees. The design of a concept should also emphasize the development and implementation phases of the ideas. Within the case organization, employees’ motivations was found in various factors, including colleagues’ attitudes and rewards, but the main motivator seemed to be in the design of the concept. A well-designed concept with interesting topics, good structure, and respect for employees’ desires, was in the end one of the biggest motivators for employees. This thesis contributes to employee-driven innovation research by presenting the connection between managerial actions and employees’ motivation. This thesis provides insights of putting an employee-driven innovation experiment into operation, and factors to be considered during the process.

Yritysten ymmärrys innovaatiopanostusten merkityksestä kilpailukyvylle on parantunut. Työntekijälähtöinen innovaatio on yksi keskeinen osa-alue, jossa yrityksen on mahdollista lisätä innovointia. Työntekijälähtöiseen innovointiin keskittyvässä tutkimuksessa on tutkittu paljon johdon toimia: millä tavoin johto kykenee luomaan ympäristön, joka tukee innovaatiota ja yrittäjyyshenkisyyttä työyhteisössä. Työntekijöiden motivaatiosta löytyy myös jonkin verran aiempaa tutkimusta työtekijälähtöisen innovaation kontekstissa. Johdon toimien ja innovointiin kohdistuvan motivaation suhteesta ei kuitenkaan löydy juurikaan aiempaa tutkimusta. Tämä diplomityö keskittyy kyseisen suhteen käsittelyyn. Tämä työ toteutettiin kvalitatiivisena tapaustutkimuksena ison organisaation Suomen kampuksella, joka oli hiljattain toteuttanut työntekijälähtöisen innovaatiokokeilun. Aiempi tutkimus työntekijälähtöisestä innovaatiosta antoi pohjan tälle tutkimukselle. Aineisto kerättiin pääasiallisesti teemahaastatteluilla, ja aineisto koostui 15 haastattelusta ylimmän johdon (n=3), keskijohdon (n=4), työntekijöiden (n=6) ja työntekijälähtöistä innovaatiokokeilua vetävien työntekijöiden (n=2) kanssa. Aineisto analysoitiin käyttäen abduktiivista lähestymistapaa ja kategorisoinnin myötä johdon toimia, työntekijöiden kokemuksia ja motivaatiota, sekä haasteita liittyen työntekijälähtöiseen innovaatioon pystyttiin tunnistamaan. Työn tulokset ilmaisevat suunnitteluprosessin tärkeyden työntekijälähtöisessä innovaatio- kokeilussa: on tärkeää löytää konsepti, joka sopii organisaatioon ja sen työntekijöille. Suunnitteluprosessissa tulisi myös korostaa ideoiden kehitys- ja toteutusprosesseja. Tutkimuksen kohteena olleessa yrityksessä työntekijöiden motivaation lähteinä toimi usea tekijä, kuten kollegoiden asenteet ja palkitseminen, mutta päällimmäisenä motivaation lähteenä tuntui olevan itse konsepti. Hyvin suunniteltu konsepti mielenkiintoisilla aiheilla, selkeällä rakenteella, ja jossa työntekijöiden toiveet tulevat huomioiduiksi, toimi loppupeleissä yhtenä suurimmista motivaation lähteistä työntekijöille. Tämä diplomityö kontribuoi työntekijälähtöisen innovaation tutkimukseen esittämällä johdon toimien ja työntekijöiden motivaation välistä suhdetta. Tämä diplomityö esittelee työntekijälähtöisen innovaatiokokeilun käyttöönottoa sekä tekijöitä, joita tulisi ottaa huomioon prosessin aikana.

Supervisor

Järvenpää, Eila

Thesis advisor

Kaukonen, Jukka

Keywords

employee-driven innovation, corporate entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, large organization, case study

Permanent link to this item

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-201910275830

Collections

[dipl] Perustieteiden korkeakoulu / SCI

Show all metadata

Increasing employee-driven innovation in a large organization

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Authors

Date

Department

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Language

Pages

Series

Abstract

Description

Supervisor

Thesis advisor

Keywords

Other note

Citation

Permanent link to this item

Collections