Making Employee Driven Innovation Achievable

This volume guides workplace trainers in teaching the significance of Employee-Driven Innovation (EDI) and recognising that each and every employee is capable of being the driver of innovation. Given that innovation has become imperative to unlock competitive advantage, and that employees are increasingly regarded as a quintessential aspect of innovation, this focus on EDI and how to enable it is both necessary and opportune. The book is split into three parts: first focusing on helping trainers to address the challenges of getting employees to engage in innovative work besides their regular job tasks. How can organisations instil this mindset in their employees who see themselves as stalwarts of status quo? The book then turns to how organisations can engage employees in innovation, with an accompanying emphasis that the enactment of EDI may not follow a prescribed or planned flow. It then closes by offering real-world examples of the unfolding of EDI in both the Finnish and Singaporean contexts. The book is aimed at educating enterprises, both employers and workplace trainers, and adult educators in the practices and approaches to engage employees in innovation. It seeks to bridge, specifically the theory-practice nexus of EDI, and nudge the enterprises and TAE (training and adult education) practitioners that have yet to involve or engage employees systematically in innovation to seriously consider it.

Presents research in Employee-Driven Innovation, an emergent field of study that meets the demand for exploiting new innovative potentials in organizations. There is a growing interest in creating new knowledge in innovation, emphasizing human resources and social processes. The authors intend to take the global lead in research on these areas.

Innovation-driven human resource management practices: A systematic review, integrative framework, and future research directions Abstract PURPOSE: It is increasingly emphasized that human resource management practices (HRMP), which refer to recruiting and selection, training and development, compensation and performance appraisal, are of great importance for creating innovation. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that traditional HRMPs are already insufficient, which entails the need to rethink and reformulate them in the direction of more effective innovation while also allowing organizations to survive COVID-19-like crises. While there is an extensive literature on human resources management and innovation, there is still no consensus on innovation-driven HRMP. This study aims to identify and synthesize most significant and trustworthy research contributions of innovation-driven HRMP. In addition, to facilitate theory building in the field of HRMP, this article consolidates the existing knowledge into an integrative framework. This framework can be used by future researchers to identify gaps and ambiguities in the meaning of innovation-driven HRMP. METHODOLOGY: The article presents the results of a systematic literature review of 71 empirical research articles referring to innovation-driven HRMP from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. FINDINGS: The systematic literature review allowed us to identify innovation-driven HRMP, taking into account three levels of analysis: individual, group and organizational, with the latter level of analysis being dominant in previous publications. Recognition of innovation-driven HRMP, taking into account the levels in question, is included in an integrative framework, which is the theoretical basis for guiding future research. Our results confirmed the growing trend in the number of publications on the subject since 2010. Most researchers used a quantitative approach. Based on the first author’s affiliation, authors from Great Britain contributed the largest number of publications. Articles are published in various journals, but mainly in those on human resources management. The research took into account a variety of organizational contexts, predominantly in dynamic and complex industries. Our findings show that the current state of research on innovation-driven HRMP confirms the need for further research in this area. Based on this, we provided thematic gaps and potential questions for future research divided into three levels of innovation-driven HRMP. IMPLICATIONS: Our systematic literature review allowed us to propose implications for future researchers planning to conduct research in the field of innovation-driven HRMP. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: Our systematic literature review focuses on identifying innovation-driven HRMP along with determining the current state of knowledge and future research directions in this area. In addition, we developed an integrative framework that aims at organizing existing literature but also at identifying promising future research directions into innovation-driven HRMP. Keywords: human resources management, human resources management practices, innovation, innovation-driven, integrative framework, systematic literature review, thematic gaps, emerging research directions Sustainable human resource management practices in organizational performance: The mediating impacts of knowledge management and work engagement Abstract PURPOSE: Modern business and global organizations are regularly presented with challenges caused by unpredictable competitive environments. Human resource management (HRM) practices give sustainable opportunities for employees to use their abilities and express their enthusiasm to obtain skills and knowledge and to apply them at the workplace with a view to achieving engaged individuals and increasing organizational performance. This article presents a recent study outcome to examine (i) the mediating role of knowledge management and work engagement and (ii) the effect of sustainable HRM practices on organizational performance. METHODOLOGY: 500 self-reported questionnaires were distributed to Jordanian university lecturers (research population) for data collection. The study data were assessed with structural equation modeling (SEM) using IBM-SPSS-AMOS 25.0. FINDINGS: Two pivotal outcomes were identified: (i) sustainable HRM practices, knowledge management, and work engagement were positively associated with organizational performance; (ii) knowledge management and work engagement played a mediating role in the sustainable HRM practice-organizational performance correlation. IMPLICATIONS: Overall, employee cooperation proved essential to optimize organizational performance, specifically during their engagement in sustainable HRM practices and knowledge management. Finally, the research proposed several practical recommendations and interventions on sustainable HRM for future research. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The research has provided proof of five variable relationships contained in the model. Firstly, organizational performance increased with sustainable HRM practices through knowledge management. Secondly, organizational performance increased with sustainable HRM practices through work engagement. Thirdly, work engagement increased with sustainable HRM through knowledge management. Fourthly, organizational performance increased with knowledge management through work engagement. Fifthly, organizational performance increased with sustainable HRM through knowledge management and work engagement. Keywords: sustainable HRM practices, organizational performance, knowledge management, work engagement, Ability-Motivation-Opportunity (AMO) theory Predictors of fairness assessment for social media screening in employee selection Abstract PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors that determine the response of potential candidates to the screening of private (represented by Facebook) and professional (LinkedIn) social networking sites (SNS) for personnel selection purposes, and in particular to examine how SNS screening in the personnel selection process is perceived by innovative candidates. METHODOLOGY: The empirical data were obtained through an e-questionnaire survey among c. 150 young Polish Internet users in 2021. Multiple linear regression with backward elimination was used to determine the predictors of perceived justice of Facebook and LinkedIn screening in the selection process. FINDINGS: The results confirmed previous scientific findings that the perceived justice of Facebook cybervetting is significantly lower than for LinkedIn and the privacy invasiveness of Facebook screening was rated significantly higher than for LinkedIn. The results of linear regression with backward elimination indicated that among the assumed factors influencing the perceived justice of Facebook and LinkedIn screening in the selection process (i.e., privacy invasiveness, personal innovativeness, self-image management, risk aversion, ability to control a social networking site’s information, above average performance self-assessment, a general concern for internet privacy, and – in the case of LinkedIn – having an account on LinkedIn) the perceived privacy invasiveness is the best predictor of perceived justice of both private (Facebook), and professional (LinkedIn) social networking site screening for personnel selection purposes. Also, the candidate’s self-image management affects the perceived justice of both types of social media used as selection tools, whereas personal innovativeness increases the acceptance of private social media (Facebook) scanning for this purpose. IMPLICATIONS: This study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the perceived justice of ICT-based selection tools, and of social networking site screening for personnel selection purposes in particular. It expands the knowledge about the applicability of social networking site content analysis of Polish users, especially of innovative candidates. The paper also provides some practical recommendations to help organizations apply social media content analysis in a way that minimizes potential candidates’ perception of privacy invasiveness and increases their fairness perception. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: It is the first application of a cybervetting scale on a Polish sample that is advantageous in terms of comparability of data from different countries. We found that activities focused on creating one’s online image foster a higher acceptance of cybervetting that can diminish predictive validity of this type of selection practices. Keywords: social networking sites, ICT-based selection tools, employee selection, fairness assessment, cybervetting Overcoming the pitfalls in employee performance evaluation: An application of ratings mode of the Analytic Hierarchy Process Abstract PURPOSE: Employee performance evaluation is a common exercise conducted in many organizations. Employees need to know the feedback on their performance from the management. Often the results of performance evaluation exercises are used for promotion, confirmation in service and awarding of bonuses for employees. However, the performance evaluation exercise often meets with criticism due to the presence of subjective factors and, specifically, the way in which these factors are handled. The purpose of the present paper is to show how the Ratings mode of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) can be applied to evaluate employee performance using objective as well as subjective criteria. METHODOLOGY: The whole AHP exercise for the present employee performance evaluation has been shown through a case study on CLSB, a company in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Four senior managers and the Managing Director of the company were involved in all phases of the present evaluation exercise, including elicitation of the criteria, sub-criteria and assigning weights to them. The AHP data were analyzed using software called AHP Calc version 24.12.13 developed by Klaus D. Goepel and available online. In particular, the Ratings mode of AHP was used to evaluate employees’ performance at CLSB. FINDINGS: Five criteria, namely Services, Quality, Financial, Timing, and Teamwork, are found to be important for the evaluation of employee performance at CLSB. Each of these criteria has sub-criteria. Harmonious work, Skills, and Punctuality are found to be the three most important sub-criteria for the present evaluation exercise. The outcome of the evaluation exercise provides an ordered set of ranks of 20 employees working in the company. Apart from the application of AHP for performance evaluation, an ordered set of detailed rubrics for all the criteria have been developed. The rubrics provide precise guidelines to the evaluators at the time of evaluating employees’ performance. IMPLICATIONS: An evaluation scheme that is scientific and systematic, such as the present one, will minimize criticism levied against the performance evaluation exercise. Once the employees are aware of the criteria and sub-criteria set along with the associated weighting scheme and the evaluation process itself, they will be motivated to perform their tasks and discharge their duties accordingly. Hence, employee job satisfaction and productivity are expected to increase. This will bolster not only the employees’ morale but also the organization’s overall performance. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: In the literature, many schemes are available to evaluate employees’ performance. But often, these methods are criticized as they either take all the criteria of evaluation as equally important or they lack the capability to strike a balance between objective and subjective factors. The main contribution of the present work is to show how AHP can alleviate the above drawbacks of the existing methods. The present research work has developed a performance evaluation method, which is simple and straightforward, and the detailed steps have been elaborated on how the method can actually be applied to measure the performance of employees. The method can be applied to measure employees’ performance of other companies with the necessary modification of the criteria set and assigning appropriate weights to them. Keywords: employee performance, employee performance evaluation, reward, training need, AHP Ratings The influence of e-trust on a job performance model based on employees’ dynamic capabilities during a crisis caused by a Black Swan event Abstract PURPOSE: In a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, employees play a key role in the ability to survive and achieve both sufficient and outstanding performance in the organization. Therefore, both the characteristics of people in the organization and the possibility of influencing the improvement of their performance at work, have become the focus of attention of scientists and practitioners. In this context, the purpose of this article is to analyze the role of e-trust in strengthening the influence of employees’ dynamic capabilities on the job performance of employees among organizations operating under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODOLOGY: An empirical study was performed based on the Employees’ Dynamic Capabilities model. In order to verify the potential relations, empirical studies were conducted in 1200 organizations located in Poland, Italy and USA. The companies were selected on the basis of the purposive manner. The structured questionnaire was prepared and the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) method was used in this research. The reliability of the scales used in the survey was tested and afterwards a multigroup path analysis was performed using IBM SPSS AMOS. The model was verified, confirming the presumed relationships between the variables. FINDINGS: It has been proven that the higher the level of e-trust is, the stronger the influence of EDC is on job performance of organizations operating under a crisis caused by a Black Swan event mediated by P-J fit, work motivation, job satisfaction and work engagement. IMPLICATIONS: This study contributes to the current knowledge of management, in particular human resource management. In the theoretical area, the relationships between the factors influencing job performance in the difficult conditions of the crisis caused by the Black Swan event were described. On the other hand, from a practical point of view, indications on how to shape leadership behavior during remote work, with particular emphasis on the e-trust aspect, seem to be important. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: This research enriches the considerations regarding the existing Employees’ Dynamic Capabilities model. The role of the e-trust factor, which is an important part of e-leadership, in the context of the impact on this model was indicated and discussed. The conclusions are a solid step in the development of knowledge about managing employees during remote work, which not only became a solution for the time of the crisis, but was also permanently introduced to the current work organization. Keywords: management, e-trust, employee dynamic capabilities, person – job fit, motivation, satisfaction, work engagement, job performance.

The central assumption that guides this book is that research and practice about learning at the workplace has recently lost its critical edge. This book explores what has happened to workplace learning and organizational learning and studies what has replaced it. In addition, the book discusses to what extend there are reasons to revitalize it. Today, themes such as ‘innovation’, ‘co-creation’ and ‘knowledge sharing’ seem to have become preferred and referred to as theoretical fields as well as fields of practice. In several chapters of this book it is argued that the critical power of learning could be regained by starting a new discussion of how these new fields of practice can be substantiated by topics such as learning arrangements, learning mechanisms, and learning strategies. Hence, the aim of this book is to both advance and recapture our knowledge of learning in today’s increasingly complex world of work and organizing. The contributions in this work do so by revisiting classic research on workplace and organizational learning and discussing how insights from this body of literature evokes new meaning. It sets the stage for new agendas and rethinks current practices that are entangled in activities such as innovation, co-creation, knowledge sharing or other currently widespread fields of practice.

This comprehensive book brings together research published during 2021 analysing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy – on output and employment, on inequality, and on public policy responses. The Covid-19 pandemic has been the greatest public health crisis for a century – since the ‘Spanish Flu’ pandemic of 1919. The economic impact has been equally seismic. While it is too early to measure the full economic cost – since much of this will continue to accumulate for some time to come – it will certainly be one of the greatest global economic shocks of the past century. Some chapters in this edited volume report on specific countries, while some take a comparative look between countries, and others analyse the impact upon the global economy. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, there had been calls for a ‘great reset’ in face of the climate crisis, the increased income and wealth inequality, and the need to avoid further global financial crisis. With the devastating Covid-19 pandemic – a harbinger for further such pandemics – there is an even greater need for a reset, and for the reset to be that much greater. The chapters in this book were originally published as special issues in the journal International Review of Applied Economics.

In 2005, Goodyear’s research and development (R&D) engine was not performing up to its full potential. The R&D organization developed high-quality tires, but the projects were not always successful. Goodyear embarked on a major initiative to transform its innovation creation processes by learning, understanding, and applying lean product development principles. Within five years, Goodyear saw its product development cycle times slashed by 70 percent, on-time delivery performance rise close to 100 percent, and throughput improve three-fold – all achieved with no increase in the R&D budget. Lean-Driven Innovation: Powering Product Development at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company describes in great detail how the Goodyear team was able to achieve such significant improvements. Revealing the ups and downs of this successful transformation, the book shares experiences of how this seismic change was managed, how people were engaged, and how Goodyear dramatically reinvigorated its product development and innovation processes—and, in the process, delivered substantial more value to customers and to the company. The book also explains how lean product development helped Goodyear dramatically improve revenue by having every new product available when the market needed it. Presenting wide-ranging perspectives from all levels of leadership, this book is ideal for anyone in R&D daring to take on a lean initiative in R&D or who is struggling with a lean transformation that is not delivering to its full potential. Since the book focuses on universal lean principles, it is as insightful to other manufacturing and nonmanufacturing disciplines in any industry as well. The book presents invaluable insights gained by the author during his 36 years within Goodyear, of which 10 have been directly involved in trying to develop, implement, and sustain lean to achieve the company’s business objectives. It distills ideas, practices, failures, and successes into key principles that lean product development practitioners can easily implement. After reading this book, you will gain a practical path for applying lean to the innovation processes of your organization, including where to begin and what to do, regardless of the industry and the status of your transformation. Watch Norbert Majerus discuss Lean-Driven Innovation at: https://youtu.be/yIlJEMJIcyA