Role of Employees in Organizational Innovation

Abstract: Creativity of the employees has emerged as a critical aspect that helps organizations innovate and enhances their performance levels. In the dynamic business environment, organizations require individuals who are capable of generating new ideas, identifying issues, offering possible solutions, and exploring new methods of conducting their operations. Employee creativity is capable of leading to innovations in product development, process improvement, technology utilization, and management practices. Creativity does not always lead to innovation. There is a requirement of an environment for the organizations that encourages creativity among the employees. The current study examines the relationship between creativity of employees and organizational innovations. This study relies only on secondary information obtained from research papers, journals, books, published reports, and other sources. It is found that there are certain things like management support, employee involvement, recognition, development, collaboration, communication, and experimentation that will help in increasing employee creativity. However, the heavy workload, fear of failure, insufficient resources, resistance to changes, and management support are some of the factors that will prevent creativity among employees. It is found that the creativity of the employees can help the organizations to innovate and perform better through effective utilization of creativity provided that the creative suggestions are appropriately analyzed and implemented. Organizational members should be involved in making decisions, and their efforts for creativity should be appreciated. They should also get the required training and resources to enhance their creativity. A supportive environment should also be developed within the organization for achieving this objective.