Innovation is listed by almost every organisation as being at the core of their expertise. However, measuring that innovation is often a tall order. The Innovation Potential Indicator focuses on key behaviours that are known to enhance or impede the development of new products, processes and procedures in organisations.

Looking beyond the ability to generate new ideas, the Innovation Potential Indicator was the first instrument designed to identify the potential to implement innovative ideas in the workplace. It provides a framework for understanding those behaviours that lead to, and those that inhibit, the realisation of innovation in the workplace. (Note you must be a BPS accredited Level B practitioner to use this instrument.)

These behaviours are measured by four scales. These are:

Motivation to change (MTC)
Examines an individual's intrinsic motivation to seek and adopt change. Assesses their readiness to tackle new and previously unsolved problems.

Challenging behaviour (CB)
Represents the extent to which an individual is comfortable challenging other peoples' way of thinking and points of view, in order to solve problems at work.

Consistency of work styles (CWS)
Concerns an individual's approach to work: whether they prefer an organised and structured work environment or one with variety and flexibility, and their attitude towards rules and policies.

Adaptation (AD)
Assesses an individual's problem-solving style and shows whether they are more likely to try to evolve existing procedures or to aim for originality.

Advantages

Development - work with teams and individuals at all levels to highlight areas for development.

Change management - identify individuals' differing reactions and approaches to change. This can then be used to understand how to manage these reactions effectively.

Selection - make more accurate selection and placement decisions by assessing individuals' innovation style against that needed by the organisation.

Career counselling - identify which areas of work an individual is most suited to, according to the amount of innovation involved and their approach to innovation.

Benefits

• Powerful yet straightforward measure of an individual's potential to innovate
• Identifies how individuals and teams can innovate more effectively
• Thoroughly researched and reliable
• Quick and easy to administer
• Self-scorable for immediate results