10 Jaw-Dropping Examples of Innovation in the Workplace that Will Inspire Your Team to Think Outside the Box

Innovation is the key to success in any business. With the rapidly changing business environment, it has become more important than ever to foster a culture of innovation in the workplace. In this blog, we will share 10 jaw-dropping examples of innovation in the workplace that will inspire your team to think outside the box.

Jaw-Dropping Examples of Innovation

1. Google’s 20% Time

Google is renowned as one of the most inventive companies on a global scale, with a significant factor being its 20% time initiative. This approach allows employees to allocate 20% of their work hours to pursue personal projects of their choosing. Remarkably, this approach has resulted in the development of some of Google’s highly successful products, such as Gmail and Google Maps.

2. Zappos’ Holacracy

Zappos, the online retailer, has adopted an innovative management system known as Holacracy. This system eliminates traditional hierarchies, empowering employees to make decisions and take ownership of their work. This approach has led to a more agile and innovative company culture.

3. Pixar’s Braintrust

Pixar is renowned for its groundbreaking storytelling and animation techniques. One of the secrets to its success is Braintrust, a group of senior executives who meet regularly to give feedback on each other’s projects. This system encourages collaboration and helps ensure that every project meets the high standards of the company.

4. Amazon’s Customer Obsession

Amazon is famous for its customer-centric approach to business. This approach has led to the creation of innovative products like Amazon Prime and Amazon Echo. By focusing on the needs of their customers, Amazon has been able to stay ahead of the competition.

5. Apple’s Design Thinking

Apple has earned acclaim for its chic and inventive product designs, largely attributed to the company’s embrace of a design thinking methodology that prioritizes placing the user experience at the core of all their initiatives. This approach has led to some of the most iconic products of our time, including the iPhone and the iPad.

6. IBM’s Open Source

IBM has been at the forefront of open-source software development for years. By collaborating with developers all over the world, IBM has been able to create innovative products that are both cost-effective and high-quality. This approach has also helped IBM stay ahead of the competition in the rapidly changing technology industry.

7. Microsoft’s Hackathons

Microsoft is a company that encourages innovation from its employees through hackathons. These events give employees the opportunity to work on passion projects and come up with new ideas. Many of Microsoft’s successful products, including Skype and OneNote, were born out of these events.

8. Facebook’s Move Fast and Break Things

Facebook’s motto, “Move fast and break things,” encourages employees to take risks and try new things. This approach has led to some of the most innovative products in the tech industry, including Facebook Live and Oculus VR.

9. Netflix’s Culture of Freedom and Responsibility

Netflix is a company that values freedom and responsibility in its employees. This means that employees are given the freedom to make decisions and take risks, but are also held responsible for the outcome. This approach has led to a culture of innovation that has helped Netflix become one of the most successful streaming services in the world.

10. 3M’s Innovation Time

3M is a firm that places significant importance on innovation, to the degree that it designates 15% of employees’ time for engagement in new project initiatives. This approach has led to the creation of some of 3M’s most successful products, including Post-it Notes and Scotch Tape.

Conclusion

These 10 jaw-dropping examples of innovation in the workplace show that there are many ways to foster a culture of innovation in your company. Whether it’s through giving employees time to work on personal projects or encouraging them to take risks and try new things, innovation is the key to success in today’s rapidly changing business.

Learn more: What is Innovation?