Cyient: enabling innovation through idea tree initiative

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Nidheesh Joseph ◽  
Upam Pushpak Makhecha

Learning outcomes The case would help students to learn the concept of high involvement innovation activity and how to apply it in large service organizations to increase innovation involvement. The case will help the students to reflect on the significance of organizing structure and culture of an organization for enabling innovation and innovation process models. The case would further help the students to develop the skill to plan and implement simple, innovative innovation process models which will increase the ideation capabilities of the organization. The students will also be able to understand the role of informal learning in innovation and how to facilitate it. Case overview/synopsis Cyient – a global services firm – had always focused on innovation as a key strategic capability winning various annual client awards for over a decade. However, in 2012, Cyient missed the innovation awards which led to the introduction of Idea Tree initiative in Aerospace & Defense (AED) business unit of Cyient. Cyient was able to co-create patents and offer cost savings to its clients through the Idea Tree initiative. This cost-effective and unique initiative resulted in re-organizing the structure (from formal to a quasi-formal), culture (open to new ideas, mistakes and failures) and process (stage-gate) inside Cyient AED business unit. However, Idea Tree also suffers from challenges such as lack of a digital format, lack of corporate presence across Cyient and its highly informal nature. In this context, the CEO wants to review the Idea Tree initiative to decide on its future in Cyient. Complexity academic level The case is suitable for teaching multiple facets of innovation for MBA and Executive MBA classes in core Strategy, Managing Organizations and Entrepreneurship and for elective courses such as Innovation Management, Organizing for Innovation or HRM for Innovation. The case is suitable for both fresher and experienced participants. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 6: Human Resource Management.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-450
Author(s):  
Izabela Szymanska ◽  
Anita Blanchard ◽  
Kaleigh Kuhns

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on efforts of a large department store to increase its business advantage by boosting innovation. The first broad research question of this study investigated how the family and non-family members influence the process of organizational change aimed at greater innovativeness in a successful retail family business. The second research question was how the family enterprise handles the tension between change stemming from innovation and progress and the need for stability continuity tradition and maintenance of family control. Design/methodology/approach This study is an in-depth inductive analysis (Glaser and Strauss, 1967) of an important and unique case (Yin, 1994). Findings The results of the study indicate that the push toward innovation was initiated by family members and that it was focused largely on creating structural support for the innovation activity keeping this activity tightly under monitoring and control by upper management. The attempts at equipping employees with innovation-relevant decision-making authority or consulting the clients in designing novel projects were absent, while the move to change the organizational culture was measured. Originality/value This study makes several contributions to the academic literature. It offers an empirical assessment of the effects of emotional attachment and ownership concentration on innovation management, a phenomenon postulated by Kotlar et al. (2016). These two characteristics pulled innovation-boosting initiative in opposite directions creating a unique dynamics. This research also provides an example of organizational identity that hinders the innovation process in the context of a family business that survived and developed over generations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (181) ◽  
pp. 28-38
Author(s):  
A.A Stepanov ◽  
◽  
M.V. Savina ◽  
I.A Stepanov ◽  
◽  
...  

Based on a critical analysis of the authors’ various points of view on the content of the concepts of “innovation process” and “innovation activity” from the standpoint of modern concepts of innovation management in the era of information and digital transformation, the features of interrelated categories of the innovation process and innovation activity reflecting transformational changes in the moment are clarified and disclosed and the perspective of an innovative economic paradigm and perceived through the specifics and features of functional process-activity metamorphoses.


Circuit World ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohollah Abdollahi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a T autotransformer based 12-pulse rectifier with passive harmonic reduction in more electric aircraft applications. The T autotransformer uses only two main windings which result in volume, space, size, weight and cost savings. Also, the proposed unconventional inter-phase transformer (UIPT) with a lower kVA rating (about 2.6% of the load power) compared to the conventional inter-phase transformer results in a more harmonic reduction. Design/methodology/approach To increase rating and reduce the cost and complexity of a multi-pulse rectifier, it is well known that the pulse number must be increased. In some practical cases, a 12-pulse rectifier (12PR) is suggested as a good solution considering its simple structure and low weight. But the 12PR cannot technically meet the standards of harmonic distortion requirements for some industrial applications, and therefore, they must be used with output filters. In this paper, a 12PR is suggested, which consists of a T autotransformer 12PR and a passive harmonic reduction (PHR) based on the UIPT at direct current (DC) link. Findings To show the advantage of this new combination over other solutions, simulation results are used, and then, a prototype is implemented to evaluate and verify the simulation results. The simulation and experimental test results show that the input current total harmonic distortion (THD) of the suggested 12PR with a PHR based on UIPT is less than 5%, which meets the IEEE 519 requirements. Also, it is shown that in comparison with other solutions, it is cost effective, and at the same time, its power factor is near unity, and its rating is 29.92% of the load rating. Therefore, it is obvious that the proposed rectifier is a practical solution for more electric aircrafts. Originality/value The contributions of this paper are summarized as follows. The suggested design uses a retrofit T autotransformer, which meets all technical constraints, and in comparison, with other options, has less rating, weight, volume and cost. In the suggested rectifier, a PHR based on UIPT at its dc link of 12PR is used, which has good technical capabilities and lower ratings. In the PHR based on UIPT, an IPT is used, which has an additional secondary winding and four diodes. This solution leads to a reduction in input current THD and conduction losses of diodes. In full load conditions, the input line current THD and power factor are 4% and 0.99, respectively. The THD is less than 5%, which satisfies IEEE-519 and DO-160G requirements.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-210
Author(s):  
Viktoriia Bokovets ◽  
Olena Moskvichova ◽  
Iryna Hryhoruk ◽  
Svetlana Suprunenko

In the world economic space there is a complex transition from industrial technological system to postindustrial, in which the high tech, informatization and knowledge economy takes on the dominating role of the driving forces of development. Naturally, for such a turn of events, economic science was not well prepared, and today there is a certain gap between the practice of accelerated changes and the scientific provision of these processes. First of all, it concerns the development of a strategy and mechanisms for the development of the country's economy and identifying opportunities for realizing its innovative potential by doing innovative management. The researchers consider innovative management in their work in a number of aspects: science and art of innovative management (I. Dichkivska, P. Zavlin); kind of administrative activity in making decisions on innovations (I. Balabanov, M. Yon, V. Stadnik,); management of innovations (N. Kruglov, A. Porshnev); a system of rules of principles, norms, values orientations that regulate various spheres of innovation activity (V. Vasilenko, L. Oholova). In innovative management, the methods of socio-psychological series, heuristic and collegial (I. Ansoff, B. Gates, L. Karuushkha, A. Morita) prevail. There is a change in the general functions, structure and objectives of management (L. Danilenko, L. Oholova), there are special means and forms of organization of innovation activity (V. Vasilenko, L. Vashchenko).The study of literary sources and their generalization shows the importance of this issue, and requires a more in-depth study and analysis of international experience in implementing innovative measures. The research objective. The main purpose of this study is to analyze measures to stimulate innovation development in the countries of the world, assessment of their effectiveness, as well as consideration of the directions on the basis of their activation of innovation activity in Ukraine. The article reveals the essence of the concept of "innovative management", analyzes the international experience in implementing and stimulating the innovation process. Thus, to summarize, it can be concluded that the experience of leading countries in stimulating innovation usually involves quite similar measures, namely: subsidies, tax cuts or, in some cases, tax holidays, payment of a share of R & D expenditure. The following organizations are created: informational, technical, financial support for business engaged in innovation activities. Stimulates the development of innovations at the level of universities and other scientific institutions.  Keywords: innovative management; innovative activity; innovative measures; R&D; innovation.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Lichtenthaler

Purpose The aim of this paper is to present systematically a variety of benefits from innovating in response to an economic crisis. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper that draws on prior conceptual and empirical studies, especially the innovation-based view of firm performance. Findings Many firms have cut their innovation expenditures in response to the COVID-19 crisis. However, the financial crisis in 2008/2009 has shown that these short-term cost savings may have severely negative consequences on competitiveness. Several innovation examples from the crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic further indicate that companies may benefit from a variety of first-order innovations, which go considerably beyond product development. Consequently, researchers and executives need to consider the variety of innovation types beyond product development, and they further need to emphasize second-order innovations, which describe the dynamic transformation of innovation management. Originality/value Academics and practitioners need to put specific attention to the transformation of innovation processes at the beginning of a crisis because firms may have to redesign their innovation processes. This dynamic reconfiguration and realignment of innovation processes further is essential again if a crisis continues for a longer period, such as the crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic. For example, if a company currently does not respond to relevant trends, its competitive position will deteriorate because other companies will enter the market. If firms can afford to continue or strengthen the innovation activities, they may profit substantially after the crisis.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Brones ◽  
Eduardo Zancul ◽  
Marly M. Carvalho

PurposeThis study discusses the application of Insider Action Research to the systematic integration of an environmental perspective into industrial product innovation processes and projects. Applying Insider Action Research, it aims at a broader integration between top-down and bottom-up and soft and hard perspectives in the intersection of ecodesign and innovation and project management disciplines.Design/methodology/approachThe research design is based on action research and specificities from Insider Action Research to capture the change and transition aspects involving two main action research cycles. The longitudinal five-year research was carried out within a Brazilian cosmetics company. The outcomes of these cycles are analysed including customisation of ecodesign tools and related application, and views of different stakeholders of the challenge for the transition.FindingsThis paper describes an action research application aiming at faster learning loops in the field of sustainable innovation management. As a second contribution, an Ecodesign Transition Framework (ETF) is proposed, combining both technical and soft sides. The proposed framework is structured in three levels (strategic, tactical and operational), with two complementary perspectives of a mature ecodesign pattern and a transition pathway.Practical implicationsThe action research led to the intended outcomes both on the applied side, with increased diffusion of ecodesign in the company, and on the research side, with the ETF formulation and application. Practitioners interested in sustainable innovation can follow the ETF procedures, challenges faced, lessons learnt and conclusions.Originality/valueThe Insider Action Research addressed the literature gap to better relate the recommendations in the field to business reality. The resulting ETF brings a novel perspective for integrating environmental considerations in the product innovation process of a company. It organises the soft issues to be considered for the necessary transition towards such integration, consolidating and advancing previous theoretical views of ecodesign, with associated new practical implications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giustina Secundo ◽  
Antonio Toma ◽  
Giovanni Schiuma ◽  
Giuseppina Passiante

PurposeDespite the abundance of research in open innovation, few contributions explore it at inter-organizational level, and particularly with a focus on healthcare ecosystem, characterized by a dense network of relationships among public and private organizations (hospitals, companies and universities) as well as other actors that can be labeled as “untraditional” player, i.e. doctors, nurses and patients. The purpose of this paper is to cover this gap and explore how knowledge is transferred and flows among all the healthcare ecosystems’ players in order to support open innovation processes.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is conceptual in nature and adopts a narrative literature review approach. In particular, insights gathered from open innovation literature at the inter-organizational network level, with a particular attention to healthcare ecosystems, and from the knowledge transfer processes, are analyzed in order to propose an interpretative framework for the understanding of knowledge transfer in open innovation with a focus on healthcare ecosystem.FindingsThe paper proposes an original interpretative framework for knowledge transfer to support open innovation in healthcare ecosystems, composed of four main components: healthcare ecosystem’s players’ categories; knowledge flows among different categories of players along the exploration and exploitation stages of innovation development; players’ motivations for open innovation; and players’ positions in the innovation process. In addition, assuming the intermediary network as the suitable organizational model for healthcare ecosystem, four classification scenarios are identified on the basis of the main players’ influence degree and motivations for open innovation.Practical implicationsThe paper offers interpretative lenses for managers and policy makers in understanding the most suitable organizational models able to encourage open innovation in healthcare ecosystems, taking into consideration the players’ motivation and the knowledge transfer processes on the basis of the innovation results.Originality/valueThe paper introduces a novel framework that fills a gap in the innovation management literature, by pointing out the key role of external not R&D players, like patients, involved in knowledge transfer for open innovation processes in healthcare ecosystems.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Hampson ◽  
Carlie Goldsmith ◽  
Michelle Lefevre

Purpose Substantial government investment has accelerated innovation activity in children’s social care in England over the past decade. Ethical concerns emerge when innovation seems to be propelled by a drive for efficiency and over-reliance on process output indicators, as well as, or even instead of, improving the lives of children, families and societies. No ethical framework exists at present to act as a check on such drivers. This paper reviews the literature with the aim of considering how best to address this gap. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws on a review of innovation in children’s social care, conducted as part of an Economic and Social Research Council-funded project exploring innovation in services for young people exposed to extra-familial risk and harm. Findings This study proposes a new conception of “trustworthy innovation” for the sector that holds innovation in children’s social care to the standards and principles of the code of ethics for social work. This study offers an ethical framework, informed by the interdisciplinary school of organisational ethics, to operationalise this extended definition; the analytic framework guides policymakers and the practice sector to question at every stage of the innovation process whether a particular model is ethically appropriate, as well as practically feasible within a specific context. Implications for local decision-making and national policy are set out, alongside questions raised for future research. Originality/value This paper is the first to offer an ethical framework for innovation in children's social care. The conception of “trustworthy innovation” offers a guide to policymakers and the practice sector, which they can use to ethically test every stage of the innovation process and make decisions about whether a particular model is ethically appropriate, as well as practically feasible within a specific context.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-319
Author(s):  
Дмитрий Ерохин ◽  
Dmitriy Erokhin ◽  
Алла Горностаева ◽  
Alla Gornostaeva ◽  
Ирина Чернышова ◽  
...  

In the paper the innovation management of an industrial enterprise is considered. The cooperation problem of colleges and industrial enterprises is touched upon. The regularities in scientific-engineering development of production under conditions of the formation of market economy and its crisis state are revealed. New principles ensuring the purposefulness of development are elaborated, the peculiarities in re-search work are considered. The authors have formulated the factors affect-ing the innovation development of an industrial enterprise both in the view of acceleration and from the point of view of innovation process deceleration. On the basis of the analysis carried out there is formed a program of innovation project realization at the “UK”BMP” Co. with the indication of terms and costs. The stages of program realization with measures shown increasing innovation activity efficiency are formulated.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxim Kotsemir ◽  
Dirk Meisner

Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2249782 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2249782This paper introduces the evolving understanding and conceptualization of innovation process models. From the discussion of different approaches towards the innovation process understanding and modeling two types of approaches to the evolution of innovation models are developed and discussed. First the so-called innovation management approach which focuses on the evolution of the company innovation management strategies in different socioeconomic environments. Second is the analysis the evolution of innovation models themselves in conceptual sense (conceptual approach) as well as analysis of theoretical backgrounds and requirements for these models.The main focus of analysis in this approach is on advantages and disadvantages of different innovation models in their ability to describe the reality of innovation processes. The paper focuses on the advantages and disadvantages as well as potentials and limitations of the approaches and also proposes potential future developments of innovation models as well as the analysis of driving forces that underlie the evolution of innovation models recently.Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2249782 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2249782


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