Implementation Of Innovative Strategies Research Articles

Organizational Innovativeness: A Theoretical Review and Integration

Researchers have made great efforts to understand the dynamics of various organizational elements that enhance innovativeness. They have identified certain organizational solutions in terms of structures, systems, and processes that contribute to innovations in organizations. Most of the existing research literature related to innovation has suggested designing sequential functions (Cooper, 1992; Marquis, 1969; Booz, Allen, and Hamilton, 1982), and/or changes in organization structural attributes as solutions to building innovative organization (Child, 1972; Covin and Slevin, 1988; Moch, 1976; Hage and Aiken, 1969; Burns and Stalker, 1969). The existing literature can be broadly classified into two categories namely, technically oriented 'process' approach and organizational design oriented 'structural' approach. But these 'process' and 'structural' approaches to innovativeness do not provide a complete answer to the problem and nor they are free from contradictions. Several researchers have identified the limitations of process approach (Wilemon and Millson, 1994) and there are classical debates centered around the structural solutions too (Gerwin, 1981; Normann, 1971; Daft, 1978). Recently, the cultural aspects of organization are receiving the serious attention, and developing the organization culture and climate that support innovation strategies is viewed as a primary task to enhance the innovative capabilities of organizations. Along the same vein, organizational researchers posit that cognition and knowledge serve as organizational DNA and meta-capabilities that shape the culture and climate required for innovation and creativity. This paper first reviews the existing literature on relationship between innovativeness and organization structure and culture, and technical process approaches, and identifies their limitations in building innovative capabilities. This paper further argues that certain organizational cultural attributes will provide better means for building an innovative organization. Next, this paper points out how knowledge management and organization culture can support the structural and process changes and create the climate required for successful implementation of innovation strategy.

The Fundamental Elements of Media Workflows

Since the advent of file-based technologies, innovative and powerful implementation strategies are being used for broadcast, news, post, and Digital Intermediate (DI) workflows. This paper covers four key features of these workflows—namely system design considerations, process orchestration, operational aspects (what, how, when, where, who), and workflow agility factors. Several fundamental flow models have been developed that have become components in other more elaborate systems. Select examples are given, including high availability concepts, documenting workflow using unified modeling language (UML) diagrams, file transfer advantages, loosely coupled design ideas, service-oriented architecture (SOA) integration, and more. Best practice guidelines are offered for several scenarios.

Incentives for retaining and motivating health workers in Pacific and Asian countries.

This paper was initiated by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) after identifying the need for an in-depth synthesis and analysis of available literature and information on incentives for retaining health workers in the Asia-Pacific region. The objectives of this paper are to:1. Highlight the situation of health workers in Pacific and Asian countries to gain a better understanding of the contributing factors to health worker motivation, dissatisfaction and migration.2. Examine the regional and global evidence on initiatives to retain a competent and motivated health workforce, especially in rural and remote areas.3. Suggest ways to address the shortages of health workers in Pacific and Asian countries by using incentives.The review draws on literature and information gathered through a targeted search of websites and databases. Additional reports were gathered through AusAID country offices, UN agencies, and non-government organizations.The severe shortage of health workers in Pacific and Asian countries is a critical issue that must be addressed through policy, planning and implementation of innovative strategies – such as incentives – for retaining and motivating health workers. While economic factors play a significant role in the decisions of workers to remain in the health sector, evidence demonstrates that they are not the only factors. Research findings from the Asia-Pacific region indicate that salaries and benefits, together with working conditions, supervision and management, and education and training opportunities are important. The literature highlights the importance of packaging financial and non-financial incentives.Each country facing shortages of health workers needs to identify the underlying reasons for the shortages, determine what motivates health workers to remain in the health sector, and evaluate the incentives required for maintaining a competent and motivated health workforce. Decision-making factors and responses to financial and non-financial incentives have not been adequately monitored and evaluated in the Asia-Pacific region. Efforts must be made to build the evidence base so that countries can develop appropriate workforce strategies and incentive packages.

A Green Approach to Combined Sewer Overflow Control: Source Control Implementation on a Watershed Scale

Comprehensive watershed management planning forms the basis for the development of innovative combined sewer overflow control implementation strategies. The principal advantage in applying a systems approach to storm water management is the reduction of effective impervious cover. That is, implementing low impact development and redevelopment concepts has the effect of reducing storm water impacts on receiving waters through decreasing the peak discharge rate, the total runoff volume, the stream velocities, and the frequency and severity of flooding during storms, while increasing the time for storm water to reach a stream and the stream baseflow rate between storms. Today, for communities served by combined sewer systems, the adoption of low impact development and redevelopment approaches translates directly into reduced public-sector costs of regulatory compliance with national and state water quality protection policies, laws, and regulations. In the near future, as water quality regulation of communities served by separate storm sewer systems evolves, the public-sector costs of compliance will be greatly reduced for communities that have adopted storm water regulations largely reliant on low impact development approaches.

Innovations in mental health services implementation: a report on state-level data from the U.S. Evidence-Based Practices Project

BackgroundThe Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Project has been investigating the implementation of evidence-based mental health practices (Assertive Community Treatment, Family Psychoeducation, Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment, Illness Management and Recovery, and Supported Employment) in state public mental health systems in the United States since 2001. To date, Project findings have yielded valuable insights into implementation strategy characteristics and effectiveness. This paper reports results of an effort to identify and classify state-level implementation activities and strategies employed across the eight states participating in the Project.MethodsContent analysis and Greenhalgh et al's (2004) definition of innovation were used to identify and classify state-level activities employed during three phases of EBP implementation: Pre-Implementation, Initial Implementation and Sustainability Planning. Activities were coded from site visit reports created from documents and notes from key informant interviews conducted during two periods, Fall 2002 – Spring 2003, and Spring 2004. Frequency counts and rank-order analyses were used to examine patterns of implementation activities and strategies employed across the three phases of implementation.ResultsOne hundred and six discreet implementation activities and strategies were identified as innovative and were classified into five categories: 1) state infrastructure building and commitment, 2) stakeholder relationship building and communications, 3) financing, 4) continuous quality management, and 5) service delivery practices and training. Implementation activities from different categories were employed at different phases of implementation.ConclusionInsights into effective strategies for implementing EBPs in mental health and other health sectors require qualitative and quantitative research that seeks to: a) empirically test the effects of tools and methods used to implement EBPs, and b) establish a stronger evidence-base from which to plan, implement and sustain such efforts. This paper offers a classification scheme and list of innovative implementation activities and strategies. The classification scheme offers potential value for future studies that seek to assess the effects of various implementation processes, and helps establish widely accepted standards and criteria that can be used to assess the value of innovative activities and strategies.

Issues and challenges arising from the application of innovation strategies based on the triple helix culture

The incubation system is discussed in this paper as an aspect of the ‘triple helix’ model of innovation in which universities feature as organizational actors interfacing the public-private/voluntary sector nexus in the process of economic growth and development. Questions arise, however, as to how effectively the incubation, and indeed the triple helix, system can be implemented in developing countries as a strategy of innovation. The introduction of the incubation system in Algeria shows the difficulties involved in implementing innovation strategies based on the ‘triple helix’ model in developing countries in general. It also shows the vulnerability of the triple helix model itself when one of the key actors does not possess the capability and power to play its role effectively. The paper explores the main issues and challenges to be envisaged in the course of implementation of innovation strategies based on the ‘triple helix’ culture. It argues that policy in developing countries like Algeria should seek to promote learning and innovation through an effective system of interactions between and within the main components of the triple helix model, namely government, university and industry.

Using a Culturally Competent Framework to Increase Annual Breast Cancer Screening Rates Among Low-Income Latinas

The Orange County, California, Cancer Detection Partnership is a successful example of a multitiered breast cancer detection program that reaches low-income, underserved women with remarkably high breast cancer screening rates for Latinas. Between July 1999 and June 2001, 65.3 percent of Latinas eligible for free breast cancer screening services were screened by the provider network affiliated with this partnership. This case study provides evidence that culturally competent services are effective. The key elements underlying the effectiveness of this program are a strong foundation of collaboration, commitment to integrate community participation into program decision-making, and innovative implementation strategies developed within a culturally competent framework. These elements have either reduced or eliminated barriers related to infrastructure, socio-cultural issues, and financial concerns that low-income women often face when accessing services. The California Department of Health Services, Cancer Detection Section, designed a model that enables ten regional cancer detection partnerships to prevent and reduce the devastating effects of breast cancer through early detection, diagnosis and treatment by incorporating these and other key elements into their programs. This case study includes discussion and recommendations for program enhancement and future research.

Using a Culturally Competent Framework to Increase Annual Breast Cancer Screening Rates Among Low-Income Latinas

The Orange County, California, Cancer Detection Partnership is a successful example of a multitiered breast cancer detection program that reaches low-income, underserved women with remarkably high breast cancer screening rates for Latinas. Between July 1999 and June 2001, 65.3 percent of Latinas eligible for free breast cancer screening services were screened by the provider network affiliated with this partnership. This case study provides evidence that culturally competent services are effective. The key elements underlying the effectiveness of this program are a strong foundation of collaboration, commitment to integrate community participation into program decision-making, and innovative implementation strategies developed within a culturally competent framework. These elements have either reduced or eliminated barriers related to infrastructure, socio-cultural issues, and financial concerns that low-income women often face when accessing services. The California Department of Health Services, Cancer Detection Section, designed a model that enables ten regional cancer detection partnerships to prevent and reduce the devastating effects of breast cancer through early detection, diagnosis and treatment by incorporating these and other key elements into their programs. This case study includes discussion and recommendations for program enhancement and future research.

Staff perceptions about barriers to innovative behavioral rehabilitation programs

Some staff attitudes about behavioral innovations may hinder the implementation of those innovations. Understanding these attitudes may lead to interventions that reduce barriers to the implementation of innovative strategies. Forty-nine members of the clinical staff at a large state hospital completed pencil-and-paper measures of burnout, collegial support, and perceived barriers to behavior therapy. The results showed that staff members who were burned out or who reported little support from colleagues were more likely to perceive significant barriers to implementing behavioral programs. Subsequent multiple-regression analyses suggested that burnout and collegial support did not account for independent variance in the perception of barriers.Post hoc tests suggested that staff members who had prior experience with behavioral interventions were less likely to perceive significant barriers to their implementation. Implications for improving the treatment team's receptivity toward behavioral interventions are discussed.

Teaching Writing in an On-Line Classroom

The promise and potential of computers in education continue to inspire efforts to design and implement innovative instructional strategies. In this article, Edward Barrett and James Paradis document an experimental writing course that uses the technology of electronic networks to create an "on-line" classroom for writing instruction. After examining a number of key design issues, the authors describe a typical class meeting and discuss both the challenges and results of teaching in this new environment.