Preface

With the extraordinary contributions from practitioners and scholars across the world, this handbook provides evidenced-based case studies identifying workplace innovation practices in developing and developed countries. Never before, under one cover, have the positive, negative, outlandish, and eccentric aspects of workplace innovation been presented as a collection of unique evidence-based case studies. As innovation is a large area of research, this handbook presents six different themes of workplace innovation. Each theme has its own setting and focus. The themes intend to link workplace innovation to various organizational aspects.

Under the first theme, workplace innovation in context, the handbook presents a novel macro model comprised of the six elements of climate, culture, structure, leadership, management, and environment. This model has utility for developing an assessment of an organization’s innovation process and understanding the vital elements impacting on this process. Ten, workplace innovation in the European Union context is explored to determine the challenge of technological innovation and the nature of workplace innovation as a journey of learning and experimentation. Finally, the theme examines the relationship between organizational culture and workplace innovation within the context of public sector. Tis helps public sector managers to invest in developing positive cultural environments to support the advancement of workplace innovation. Specific examples, and identified highlights, are found in the first five chapters under theme one...