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| Making innovation MTI’s rallying cry |
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| The
innovation process at MTI. (Click
on image for enlarged view.) |
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“Innovation is doing things differently and
doing different things to create value,” said
Mr Peter Ong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry
of Trade and Industry (MTI).
This message was reinforced at MTI Headquarters’
(HQ) annual staff retreat held on 8 June 2005.
The need to innovate is especially critical for
MTI as the world economy is constantly changing
at an ever increasing pace. To maintain our competitiveness
we have to be flexible and ready to change our mindset.
Innovation should therefore be linked closely to
all aspects of our work.
At the retreat, Mr Ong highlighted what all MTI
staff can do to be innovative:
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adopt the
customer’s perspective |
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look for alternative solutions
rather than say “no” |
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conduct regular reviews
to ensure relevance |
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be aware of latest developments
to identify and seize opportunities |
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share experiences, information
and success stories |
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aim to simplify rather
than complicate |
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initiate rather than wait
for instructions |
During the sharing session, MTI staff identified
several critical success factors that drive innovation:
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listening
to customers, identifying the cause and working
to improve the process to achieve quantum-leap
improvements |
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learning from best practices
and new developments and leveraging on them
for innovative ideas and approaches |
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most importantly, adopting
an “I Can” attitude to do things
differently or doing different things, believing
that everyone can contribute and make a difference |
The innovation movement (i-movement) in MTI HQ has
been enhanced to facilitate innovation.
Firstly, as ideas, improvements and innovations
should be linked to work, divisions are encouraged
to identify innovative projects at divisional meetings,
retreats and ideas generation sessions. The Organisational
Change Management Unit will then provide support
for facilitation, as well as contacts and advice.
Secondly, the assessment of the progress and performance
in innovation will be geared towards identifying
and sharing good and impactful ideas and projects.
Officers are to highlight one impactful idea/project
during their staff appraisal and supervisors should
highlight how they have facilitated or helped to
advance innovation.
Thirdly, MTI recognises achievements and rewards
contributors to the i-movement. Awards are given
out yearly to the staff or team that has made the
most suggestions, implemented the most suggestions
and contributed the most impactful project.
Lastly, to build MTI’s innovative capability,
innovation courses have been identified. Officers
have to attend at least one course per year. New
officers will be briefed on the importance of innovation
during the induction programme. |
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By
MTI
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