Building capacity for innovation as a source of individual and organizational fulfillment

Abstract

This thesis investigates the hypothesis "Building capacity for sustainable innovation, enabled by broader employee engagement and improved capabilities, increases both employee and organizational fulfillment". A deep understanding is first built around the relationship between individual fulfillment, organizational fulfillment, and innovation. We then examine capacity building for innovation, both in the context of capability as well as broader engagement of employee's in innovation. The intellectual bases of the thesis are literature surveys based upon the work of Peter Senge, in The Fifth Discipline and The Dance of Change; the work of Sumantra Ghoshal and Christopher Bartlett in The Individualized Corporation; the work of Gary Hamel and C.K. Prahlad in Competing for the Future; the work of Clayton Christensen in The Innovator's Dilemma; as well as current professional journal publications from these authors, and other literature relevant to the topic. Further intellectual support comes from author conducted interviews with Peter Senge, Sumantra Ghoshal, and Clayton Christensen, and exchanges with Gary Hamel. Study missions to two companies who are implementing the practices described in this thesis in pockets of their organizations provide relevant and current insight into the practical aspects and challenges of innovation, capacity building, individual fulfillment, and organizational fulfillment.