Architecting Innovative Engineering Organizations within Large Technology Enterprises Using a Systems Thinking Approach
Name
zhou-bnzhou-sm-sdm-2024-thesis.pdf
Description
Thesis PDF
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3.05 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
c450445bd23039fdc682a7cae9ada924
Author(s)
Zhou, Bingnan
Advisor(s)
Rhodes, Donna H.
Date Issued
May 2024
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The technology industry has experienced significant transformations driven by rapid technological developments, changing market demands, and evolving business models. These changes have led to the creation of new products and services across various segments within the technology industry. With their substantial market value, large enterprises are crucial for driving innovation and boosting the economy. However, they face fierce competition from both established and emerging players, compounded by challenges such as economic uncertainty. Overcoming barriers to innovation is essential. Engineering organizations are the backbone of technology companies, making it vital for large enterprises to design innovative engineering organizations to remain competitive and create real value in the industry.
The primary objective of this thesis is to investigate key factors, strategies, and approaches that foster an innovative environment to drive organizational innovation. Additionally, it demonstrates how a systems thinking approach can holistically analyze an enterprise and generate crucial considerations for designing future organizational architecture. To achieve this goal, the study begins with a literature review on innovation barriers and generic strategies that might help cultivate an innovative environment. A discussion of approaches drawn from case studies to improve innovative environments is also presented. Based on these strategies and approaches, the study suggests several desired attributes to consider in transforming the organizational architecture for innovation. The study then employs an enterprise architecting framework to holistically analyze an engineering organization within a large technology enterprise. This analysis identifies the emerging stakeholder values the organization may embrace to remain competitive.
Building on this foundational analysis, the thesis proposes multiple alternative architectures. These architectures are then evaluated to determine their effectiveness, with detailed discussions on important considerations for various potential future scenarios. Finally, the thesis suggests an actionable plan for implementing the new architecture, aiming to create an innovative engineering organization and enhance the enterprise's competitive advantages in the technology industry.
MIT Department
System Design and Management Program.
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