Interestingly, he finds frontline managers and middle management staff are the most frequent individual initiators of innovations. Successful innovators display an ability to take objections seriously, and to respond appropriately by mobilizing a diverse array of support. An innovative culture needs support from the top, in terms of how the organizational priorities are set and what latitude is given for experimentation. Innovative organizations give rewards to innovative individuals, including financial compensation and recognition. Hence, diversity of backgrounds and ways of thinking within an organization will enhance innovativeness.
Innovative organizations draw ideas from people at all levels of their organization.
Innovative organizations are effective at experimenting and at evaluating their experiments. They recognize that failure is possible, they reduce the cost of honorable failures, and they continue with the successes.