 |
| Innovation
takes pride of place in MINDEF |
| |
|
|
| The 18th
MINDEF PRIDE Day event attracted large
crowds. |
|
| |
Productivity and Innovation in Daily Effort (PRIDE)
has always been a driving force in the Ministry
of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF).
Started in 1981, the PRIDE Movement aims to make
MINDEF a learning organisation that continuously
seeks innovation and improvement.
Reflecting on the movement at the 18th MINDEF PRIDE
Day event held on 16 June 2005, Minister for Defence
Teo Chee Hean said: “The PRIDE Movement provides
a good foundation for transformation, a validation
of the good work of our people and that MINDEF and
SAF units have achieved world-class standards of
performance.”
To date, 247 MINDEF/SAF units have attained at least
the ISO 9000 certification, People Developer Standard
or the Singapore Quality Class. The frameworks adopted
in the process of pursuing these certifications
have enabled MINDEF to push the envelope on performance.
MINDEF also adopted Enhancing Value Organisation
(EVO) three years ago. EVO has helped 50% of MINDEF
and SAF units to measure their success against defined
outcomes and outputs.
In recent years, the organisation has taken more
steps to build its innovative capacity and capabilities.
One key initiative is the MINDEF Innovation Programme.
Its aim is to build an innovative ecosystem that
can support the innovation process and foster the
development of WITs teams to work on innovative
projects.
The Innovation Programme was rolled out in three
phases. Phase 1 saw the design of an Innovation
Framework. As there was no ready-made model for
innovation available in the market in 2002, MINDEF
developed a framework to cater to MINDEF/SAF’s
unique culture and organisational structure. The
elements in the framework were developed by researching
on winning organisations, conducting comparative
studies, and more importantly, getting feedback
from PRIDE activists who took part in MINDEF’s
interviews and Innovation Framework Design Workshops.
In Phase 2, the framework was introduced in nine
pilot units from different groups and services in
MINDEF/SAF.
In the final phase, the programme was rolled out
throughout the organisation.
The year 2004 proved to be an exciting one for the
innovation movement in MINDEF/SAF.
For example, at MINDEF’s second Innovation
Conference, participants found themselves at an
innovation marketplace. They were transformed into
venture capitalists and given a “cheque book”
with a credit limit of S$100,000 Innovation Dollars
for investing in projects that showed great potential.
At the end of the day, the team which came up with
the project that attracted the most investment received
S$5,000 in cash for prototyping and further development
of their idea.
The innovation marketplace reflects the onset of
an entrepreneurial culture taking root in MINDEF/SAF.
Ideas form the “currency” in a new economy
driven by innovative, resourceful individuals who
are willing to go the distance to uncover new ways
to create new value for the organisation. Instead
of waiting for management to give direction, these
“entrepreneurs” take the initiative
to market their ideas to potential champions who
can help realise the value of innovative projects
for MINDEF/SAF.
Another 2004 initiative that saw an acceleration
of innovation efforts by MINDEF/ SAF staff was the
Innovate@MINDEF Fund (read more about this in the
story: Paintball
technology is right on target).
Staff suggestions and projects from the PRIDE Movement
resulted
in about $274 million in savings and cost avoidance
for MINDEF/SAF
in 2004.
The outstanding ideas that exemplified transformation
through PRIDE made it to the Hall of Innovation
at the 18th MINDEF PRIDE Day.
At the event, 161 units, WITs and individuals received
awards from Minister Teo for their outstanding efforts
and contributions towards organisational excellence,
service excellence, innovation and productivity.
The theme of this year’s event, “Transformation
through PRIDE — A Learning Journey”,
is affirmation of MINDEF’s belief in PRIDE
as a continual process for innovation and learning. |
|
| |
| |
By
MINDEF
Next: Always eager to please |
