Title: Human side of innovation-individual and organisational environment-related aspects: the case of IBM

Authors: Katarzyna Krot, Dagmara Lewicka

Addresses: Technical University in Bialystok, Wiejska 45 A 15-351, Poland. ' AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30 31-059 Krakow, Poland

Abstract: This article presents practices applied in the IBM lab in Krakow. The purpose of this research was to identify tools for supporting innovation in the entity. Both hard measurements and employees| opinions on the company and management activities towards stimulating innovation were analysed. In this process, managers and the personnel department play a very important role. A conscious and well-planned concept of building the company|s culture and strengthening its value, motivation system, competence model and training policy, and an informed choice of innovation as an element of the company|s strategy are made. The article is addressed to managers, HR experts and management consultants. It shows areas material for creating a pro-innovative work environment and describes specific solutions applied by IBM. For this reason, it may inspire readers towards introduction of innovation-supporting changes in other entities, while identifying a group of issues to be considered in that process.

Keywords: personnel procedures; personality; HRM; IBM; Poland; human resource management; software development; laboratories; individual environments; organisational environments; Krakow; hard measurements; employee opinions; managers; personnel departments; company culture; corporate values; motivation systems; competence models; training policies; corporate strategies; change management; management consultants; pro-innovative environments; work environments; innovation; learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2011.040535

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2011 Vol.9 No.4, pp.352 - 371

Published online: 26 Nov 2014 *

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