Change management and innovation go hand in hand. It is comparatively easy to innovate, however getting the entire organization to adopt that change is trickier, even though we all know that change is the only thing that is constant. In an area like supply chain, where conformity is favored over individuality, changing things gets even more challenging.
There are many reasons for it, including:
- Nobody likes a change in the status quo.
- People are territorial, and nobody wants to lose their territory.
- Organizational inertia makes it much easier to do things the same old way.
- Embracing the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality.
- People in general are risk averse. Nobody wants to risk what they have and where they have gotten.
So the critical task is not just innovating, but also fostering that innovation in a way that gains adoption. Without buy-in, it’s simply too easy to abandon a truly great and innovative idea.
I’ve experienced it in our business. For example, one customer, with the data center general manager acting as champion, bought and installed our product. A sudden management shift brought in a new DC GM and the product remained unused…and the potential for innovation was lost despite huge potential upside.
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