Lynda Aiman-Smith

Green career choices: The influence of ecological stance on recruiting

Ecological issues have become a growing concern to businesses. This experimental study examined the effect of a pro-environmental stance on the recruiting efforts of a fictitious firm. Results supported the idea that a proactive company stance on the environment would be positively related to perceived company attractiveness, intentions to pursue employment with that company, and acceptance of a job offer (n=303). Further, personal environmental stance influenced only the intent to pursue employment. This suggests that a positive environmental stance articulated in a recruitment brochure could positively affect potential recruits, even when a recruit does not personally see herself or himself as being particularly pro-environmental.

Product Champions: Truths, Myths and Management

OVERVIEW: Champions represent powerful forces in most organizations. Champions are passionate about what they do; they generate support for ideas; and they keep ideas and projects alive. The research literature contradicts some champion myths and validates others. For example, we now know that a champion moves projects along, while projects with no champion struggle—but having a champion does not guarantee market success. As well, we know that champions arise from all levels in an organization, and are as likely to support incremental as radical ideas. Champions work within a political environment, and rely primarily on relationships for influence, although they will resort to traditional influence tactics. Formal NPD processes with cross-functional teams go hand-in-hand with champions. Champions are motivated by working toward a strategic vision, from contact with a community of knowledge, and from opportunities to develop skills. Having a loyal antagonist may actually help champions in their work.

Assessing Your Organization's Potential for Value Innovation

OVERVIEW: Organizations must be innovative all across the value chain, not just in R&D, in order to succeed in todays rapidly changing economic environment. Over the past two years, an Industrial Research Institute subcommittee has worked to develop a valid and reliable survey tool, using good psychometric (measurement theory) practices. This tool can be used to assess the level of an organizations Value Innovation potential, what we call the Value IQ. Using this assessment tool can produce useful information for managers who want to strengthen innovation in their organizations.

What Does Your Most Important Customer Want

OVERVIEW: Its easy to say that success in innovation is a key driver of future growth and profitability—but its not so easy to accomplish that innovation. After assessing the level of Alcan Pharmaceutical Packagings potential for value innovation by using the Value Innovation Assessment Tool, Alcan recognized that it needed to develop a customer-centric innovation process that could be used by the entire organization. Internal champions launched a 12-step process to develop innovation–opportunity insight with customers across the value chain. One outcome was an expanded view of the types of jobs that packaging could be hired to do.

Optimizing ROI Of Time-to-Market Practices

OVERVIEW: Most managers recognize that time-to-market practices provide benefits for their organizations, but few have considered all available TTM strategies. Further, little research has been done into the advantages and disadvantages of these strategies. Developing a process for and examining the cost effectiveness of TTM can be particularly useful. Measurements of usage and cost derived from organizational experience can be used to calculate the cost effectiveness of TTM practices within any setting. This information can then be used by management to optimize return on investment by achieving TTM with minimal costs. The goal is to create a set of balanced practices that meet the specific needs imposed by industry constraints.