January 16, 2002—Companies should create environments which encourage innovation and creativity if one is to believe an Industrial Society report, that suggests UK business should move away from highly controlled, assembly line offices.
The author of the report, Alex McKie, says the working culture of most British organizations—whether service sector, public sector or manufacturing—has yet to move beyond the traditional head-down model. She also claims the economic slowdown makes the environment for creativity even more hostile as managers become reluctant to allow people to deviate from established working practices.
According to McKie, companies should encourage better conversations at work and more flexibility. “Invention, innovation and creativity are crucial to Britain’s economic success, but are being stifled by the culture of most of our workplaces,” she says.
—Jessica Jarlvi
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2002 i-FM
