Question

Edwin Lee leads a cross-functional product development team at Lightspeed.com, a software company with employees in 10 countries around the world. The members of Edwin's team are hard-working and highly creative, but he wonders if there are ways to stimulate more innovation from the team. As the company has grown, so too has the bureaucracy. Numerous rules and policies have been introduced, and decision making has become highly centralized. This has resulted in resource limitations and tight project deadlines. Fortunately, with the use of web cams and other Internet technology, Edwin is able to hold frequent meetings with his global cross-functional teams. And despite some structural limitations, the company's culture does seem to foster creative solutions. Diverse opinions are encouraged, and even the most unrealistic, ""off-the-wall"" solutions are accepted without criticism. Mistakes are treated as learning opportunities—a good thing, since there have definitely been some mistakes!

Which of the following structural suggestions would most likely improve innovation at Lightspeed?
A) limit resources
B) increase time pressures
C) become more organic
D) increase external controls

Answer 1

To increase innovation at Lightspeed, Edwin Lee could make the organization more organic by decentralizing decision-making, encouraging flexible work approaches, and investing in employee development. The correct option is c.

Step-by-step explanation:

To stimulate more innovation at Lightspeed, Edwin Lee could consider making the organization more organic. This means reducing the rigidity of the bureaucracy, decentralizing decision-making, and allowing for more flexibility within teams.

Given the limitations stated such as centralized decision making and resource constraints, here are three specific steps that might help: Decentralize decision-making to empower employees and make the organization less hierarchical.

This could enable faster responses to challenges and opportunities, as well as increased employee morale and creativity.

Encourage a culture that values flexible work approaches. This could be done by reducing the emphasis on following strict procedures and giving employees more freedom to experiment and take risks without the fear of punishment. Invest in employee development to foster innovation.

This could include training programs, workshops, or even creating innovation labs where employees can work on projects separate from their day-to-day responsibilities. The correct option is c.