NWDF Innovation Project - Case Study Example

NWDF Innovation Project Case Study Introduction An innovation in literature is commonly defined as a new thing or something that has been commercialized (Popadiuk & Cho, 2006). The idea of novelty is a vital section of the perception of the word innovation. The opinions differ depending on the usage contexts. Innovations sprung from the combination of existing products. For example, technologies arise from the combinations of already existing technologies. According to Oslo Manual (OECD, 2005), it is the implementation of significantly improved or new products or a process in business practices (Echevarría, 2008). The majority of innovation projects are not based on recovery like in invention. They are based on the outcome of applied development and research that is informed by theoretical knowledge and experience about the user’s needs. The need in innovation is usually caused by the new phenomena, in our case it is a globalization. Globalization makes the companies face new challenges to work successfully in the multicultural environment. Innovation projects occur in a wide context that shapes its process, output and environmental outcome. The current paper is a case study based on the National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF) innovative project. It is the future print of Australian organizations and businesses. It was undertaken as the future print project representing a future of Australian companies. Project Detail NWDF has applied the Tidd and Bessant model in the most of its innovation programs. The innovation plan followed Tidd and Bessant model. The model was used to maximize the success of the innovation as it allowed it to search, select, implement and capture the ideas involved (Tidd & Bessant, 2009). The NWDF innovative project has also been applied in a number of Australian companies to help the workers fit the requirements. Some of these companies where the project has been implemented are illustrated below. The project worked through regional future print precincts that were supported by Future Print business Advisors. The FPBAs assisted businesses to make transitions review and establish their business strategies and development plans. Phase one of the project supported the conduct of skills and conduct of business reviews across the country’s businesses. Out of say 350 companies, 200 were expected to participate in the second projects phase (Tidd & Bessant, 2009). The advancement was done through identification of workers and the skills needed for the transition to emerging technologies, models and markets. It also supported ongoing innovation to underpin productivity and improvement. It also advanced business management and reforms that made businesses utilize capital and other resources effectively. The project innovation ensured that the 200 businesses participated in the training and up-skilling the employees, managers and business owners. The target was to provide training to over 500 workers (Icon, 2015). Tidd-Bessant Model application The motivation behind the NWDF innovative projects lies in the need of new and advanced skills as the current situation is characterized with diverse changes. Competition and need for efficiency has resulted in creation of the project funded by Commonwealth Government via the department of education and training. The case study applied a Tidd and Bessant model in its innovation project. The first step of the model identified the printing industry as grappling with the need of skilled workers who will benefit the industry in the future. Future skilled employees are a current and most pressing issue that the industry is confronted with not only within Australian nation, but also in other world nations (Müller, 2015). The industry is being negatively impacted by a combination of factors. The industry’s image is affected in relation to recruitment and employees retention especially through the following factors: There are high profile closures of printing firms as a result of shifts in technologies and increased printing business productivity. There is also a decrease in demand for all traditional print goods and services Also, the industry has been impacted by attractiveness of alternative careers The Australian print industry is moving from being a vital sector of the manufacturing industry and now encompasses information, services and creative industries. The current area covers more than 32000 businesses and over 260000 individuals. The development was supported by IBSA and approved in 2013-2014 of the NWDF innovative project. IBSA assists print businesses to undertake transitions especially to digital communication businesses. NWDF innovative project was a joint initiative of the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA) and Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU). It was cofounded by the Australian government and print businesses that started in July 2014 and will end in June 2017. The project aimed at developing capabilities and skills of business owners, existing and new employees, as well as managers in the print and related contexts. It also aimed at developing communications, information and creative sectors to respond to the economic, technological and demographic changes in the industry. The innovative project was conducted with the assistance of the funding that was offered by the Commonwealth nations through the department of education and training. The future print looked different from the historical print industry that underpinned communication in Australia. The emerging markets, technologies and business models are demanding integrated solutions that focus more on communication approaches (Icon). Innovation challenges The challenges that faced the innovative project are seen in the demographic changes. The retail industry employed large portions of the youth, women and casual/part-time workers than other industries. Part-time employees give management flexibility to meet changing demands from the employer’s perspective. It helps employees combine the work with other activities such as the study from the perspective of the employees. However, the implication of living standards and financial independence is affected for those with low pay and insecure work. The new economy, which is based on the principles of the continuous and accelerated innovative development needs the adequate level of preparation of personnel structure. Training of the personnel is the widespread strategy inherent in all modern economies and types of the enterprises, that is directly not connected only with high technological way. The projections of emerging Australia workforce profile suggests that a number of issues that affects employment and recruitment practices are increasing. It is foreseen that the figure of older workers is dramatically increasing. In the future, the print industry will be competing with other industries for the younger workers and the workforce share will gradually decline. Within innovative sector personnel training has almost obligatory status, and the innovative organizations, often, are called "self-training" organizations.T he NWDF approach is geared towards skills training that puts businesses at the core of the training effort. Being an innovative and industrial-driven, model helps facilitate co-existence between businesses and the government, particularly in training needs. NWDF has a strong industrial background, which proved to be successful in achieving the training needs of the workers in Australia. Using a sliding scale approach it operates with mostly large companies of up to 66 % of costs whereas the medium and small businesses contribute from 33% to 50%. The innovative project has been worked out to assist transport and logistics industry skills council to increase workforce capacity. It provides individual enterprise’s workers with opportunities to improve their skill levels by applying formal training. It also helps Service Industries Skills Council, Agrifood Skills Australia, Construction and Property Service Industry Skills Council and Forestworks ISC. The fast change of production (or technologies) changes the number of workplaces, and also nature of production functions. In order for the worker to adequately fit into a new production situation, he has to offer employers the whole set of skills. At the same time the enterprise working in the flexible mode is interested in increasing the qualification adaptability of the personnel that stimulates in-service training development. The project assists the future print and associated industries to transition to emerging technologies and business models. The project is seeking to help businesses lead the projects as the heads of the industry with employees updating their skills for the changing technologies, which influence jobs. Finally, the innovative project of NWDF provides training for Repco employees in more than 140 stores in every state. Over 500 Repco workers have undertaken training under a partnership that follows 12 months of skill analysis and consultation across the company(Innovation-Oriented Projects, 2014). WH Williams’sfamily business has invested in manufacturing workers of tomorrow. The third-generation business creates custom-made metal products, and it supports on people’s skills investment. In order to co-exist with the government and remain at the forefront of manufacturing it has decided to train some of its employees for a Diploma of Competitive Manufacturing.WH Williams is an example of a positive effect that the training can have on a workforce (Innovation-Oriented Projects, 2014). The other company where the NWDF innovative project was implemented is at Footscray Community Arts Centre. The company is an art practice company that is dedicated to keeping art real for Melbourne’s west communities. The target of the organization is to foster an environment that is essential to learning and offering prospects that contributes to skill development. Ms Barry said that there were many people going to their centre. Some had diverse and pre-existing skills, interests of art and ranging from new immigrants to indigenous Australians. Nine employees underwent training so as to attain a certificate in assessment and training across NWDF partnership that focused on up-skilling the centre’s team. She further pointed that training helped the centre’s trainers to enhance the delivery of formal qualifications of the student fraternity. The innovation project management The innovation project is one of the most effective modern system instruments of innovative management. According to concepts of project management procedures, the last can be considered as a method of innovative management as it is based on set of the principles, many of which are fundamental. Thus, the project has the innovation element, which allows to receive a certain high-quality change in the process of its realization. The main advantage of project management consists in decrease of the degree of uncertainty and risk during the specific problems resolution. It is reached as a result of continuous self-improvement of the internal organization and the personnel from the point of view of the development of their abilities of fast response to external changes and adoptions of necessary decisions. The Western Australian Division of Local Government Mangers Australia has also partnered with the Australian Government. In Western Australia region, it trains the needs of 48 councils in Western Australia region. The needs for project management skills, improvements were recognized in the analysis involving 464 workers. The Central Institute of Technology was in charge of delivering the project. They studied project management and frontline management for purposes of gaining the needed qualifications. With this training project, the local governments in the region were required to retain workers and some new roles, consequently, they were required to improve the quality of service they offered. The early feedback from the first trainees was already showing positive results. The participants agreed that the course was helpful as it opened their eyes to new possibilities in relation to working effectively with the learned skills. Professionals tasked with residential building throughout the country can access training to improve their skills by partnering with Housing Industry Association (HIA) and Australian government. The HIA had over 40000 members and devoted about $2.9 million for purposes of this innovative project. The innovative project makes it possible for the employees and other small businesses to improve the acquaintance and skills of the residential building industry. Over 1700 workers studied from Certificate (level five) qualifications in site management, contract administrations and building. The company is committed to improving skills in creating an industry to allow small business members and other industrial sectors t access important training at subsidized prices. According to HIA managing director, Shane Goodwin, the project is crucial as it helps benefit people and the industry by acquiring new skills. It also has a critical social and economic outcome for small businesses and affordability of housing. Morshead Home for Veterans and Other Aged Persons Inc is one of many residents that provide crucial care service to the aged across Australia. An innovative partnership exists between the Government, Canberra Calvary Retirement Community and Morshead Home. The need to train and attract upskilling workers in the aged care sector increases as the population ages in Australia. The innovative project has been adopted by workers allover Australia more so from the hospitality industry. These workers receive the necessary needed skills to help them maintain their performance. The training solution helps boost restaurant and catering businesses performance on top of their skill base of their employees is increased significantly. The involved companies then get a competitive advantage in the competitive hospitality industry across Australia (Keogh, 2001). The Regional Express together with the government has aided 40 engineers to obtain relative training by undertaking a Diploma in Aeroskills. The joint innovative project has helped the workers to meet the costs of upgrading their skills that are in accordance with newly set standards by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. This is line with the requirement that requires engineers to have a diploma coupled up with a certificate in that field. The Amazing Family Day Care Scheme (AFDCS) has been involved in the NWDF innovative projects where it offers affordable child care to Canberra and the Great Western Sydney basin. Over 184 employees were trained on how to care out of the homes and operate the family day and. Australian telecommunication workforce has to be the best of the game in this 21st century of the digital economy. It should deliver infrastructure that is essential to the country’s future of the Digital Switchover and National Broadband initiatives. The innovative project identifies that most workers in Australia’s telecommunication sector do not have formal technical qualifications. The joint NWDF project was instrumental in helping the employee attain Certificate III qualifications. Later they managed to become telecommunication cable experts, digital reception technicians, cable jointers, line workers and broadband technicians (Keogh, 2001). The Northern region’s largest private bus business with over 170 buses servicing within Jabiru, Alice Springs and Darwin, Buslink, was also involved in the NWDF innovation project. The company was offered an opportunity to train four of its staff to be trained and then be certified. The skills were important as they can help one earn from $900 to $1200 a week once they have the required skills. The training was ultimate in order to deliver driving operations as well as increase the pool of bus drivers (Müller, 2015). Management and leadership strategy Haigh’s is a South Australian chocolate manufacturer that was offered a chance to improve the staff’s skills while on their jobs. The workers at Haigh’s have also participated in the innovative project. Haigh’s is a South Australian chocolate manufacturer that was offered a chance to improve the staff’s skills while on their jobsHaigh’s Company improved the quality of its products with minimum expenses. It was argued by Marion Veal, Haigh’s training coordinator, that the partnering kept the company in front of the curve and kept the workers engaged, focused and interested in their work. Minister for Skills senator, Chris Evans described that workers who feel valued works hard and stays with the business. Also, training the workers with the needed skills delivers operational requirements. More than 800 workers from six companies and communications in information and computer technologies were given the chance to up-skill and re-skill across the partnership. AFDCS scheme allowed them to settle into a new environment and come from home to be mentored by the centre. The project ensured that these women can get a formal qualification that improved their employment future in the nation (Müller, 2015). According to the company’s sales manager, Jim Barclay, he was happy to have had the chance to improve his skills. He explained that the government funding could support his business and make the employees more productive. Employees now know how to improve their skills making them more efficient while executing their roles. The General Manager Allan Turner pointed out that the partnership of the innovation kept the workers skilled and the company competitive in the current globilized economy. The manager points out that, the impacts were being felt like the company recently employed ten welders after winning a mining industry contract. More than 170 frontline hospitality workers from medium and small businesses have undertaken Diploma qualifications and Certificate III in hospitality. The partnership provided training to about 30 existing Morshead workers and ten new staff in order to increase their ability and skills appropriate in looking after the older Australians with mental complications. Critical assessment The development of the new technologies, which are specific due to the innovation, demands special qualifications, which arent limited to a set of standard skills. In other words, new technologies demand new skills, which can’t be received in the process of standard education that, undoubtedly, stimulates the most various forms of intra firm training. In all the above innovation management that was undertaken by NWDF, it is realized that funding was a key concept that drove the training. The program managed to cut down the costs by only training a few members from all the organizations. The innovative plan of training workers on the current and future skills could not be applied to every employee because of a wider range of stakeholders. The representatives were important as a way to carry on the message to their teams. The representatives then acted as trainers on behave of the government and other partnership trainers. Another important strategy that could have been used is the use of seminars, where all the agents could have been though, but on a more generalized manner. Different training sessions must have expensed the involved parties. In general, the innovative project managed to achieve its purpose as most of its stakeholders appreciated the efforts, funding and training that they received from involved partners. The procedure of programs implementation is closely connected to the investment opportunities. However, rather wide opportunities of financing and stimulation of innovative processes used in industrialized countries nevertheless dont remove all the set of problems in this area as except receiving investments for the program, it is necessary to also have real opportunities to cope with them. First of all it is about attraction of all available innovative potential irrespective of its sectoral belonging to the implementation of research programs. . Reference Echevarría, Javier. The Oslo Manual And The Social Innovation. Arbor CLXXXIV.732 (2008): n. pag. Web. Icon, Melbourne.NWDF Innovative Project - Future Print | Innovation & Business Skills Australia. Ibsa.org.au. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. Innovation-Oriented Projects. Sci. innov. 10.2 (2014): 84-93. Web. Keogh, William, and Victoria Stewart. Identifying The Skill Requirements Of The Workforce In Smes: Findings From A European Social Fund Project. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development8.2 (2001): 140-149. Web. Müller, Ralf, and Jonas Söderlund. Innovative Approaches In Project Management Research.International Journal of Project Management 33.2 (2015): 251-253. Web. Roberts, Peter. Innovation Crisis In Australia – A Way Forward?. TJA 57.2/3 (2007): 36.1-36.4. Web. Bessant, John. Innovation Portal. Innovation-portal.info. N.p., 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. Tidd, J &Bessant, J. (2009).Managing Innovation.4th ed. USA.John Wiley & Sons. Read More