Identify the step in the innovation process at which the following actions are most likely to occur.

DevelopmentApplicationLaunchGrowthMaturityDecline A shoe company now has its marketing and distribution departments work together on release dates; this prevents ads from appearing before the shoes are actually available. Crystal compares several recent sneaker releases to choose the colorways for her companys next limited edition shoe. A single loan officer handles a customers application throughout the process, rather than having each step completed by a different bank employee. At first, Lorenzos company was the only clothing manufacturer to make low-waisted jeans. However, within a year, most clothing manufacturers offered similar pants. Charles started selling a mixtape on street corners. Once it got play time on a local radio station, thousands of people downloaded it from online sites. A manufacturer that makes compact disk (CD) players sold fewer CD players once people began buying music in MP3 format.

Consider the common impediments to innovation noted in the summary below.

The Innovators Dilemma: Why Great Companies Fail to Change, a book by Clayton Christensen, explains the common organizational impediments to innovation. These include a lack of resources or failure to allocate resources strategically, inability to act quickly due to bureaucracy, risk aversion, and an inability to recognize opportunities to innovate. The failure to recognize opportunities could be caused by the organizations structure, culture, complacency, and confidence.

Eastman Kodak remained entrenched in film photography, despite the innovation by its own engineers of digital modes. What were the most likely reasons for the companys failure to innovate? Check all that apply.

Lack of financial resources

Failure to recognize opportunity

Complacency

Lack of expertise

Organizations can encourage innovation by rewarding it, by designing jobs to support it, and by reinforcing a culture of innovation.

Which of the following statements describe an organizations use of organization structure and design to promote innovation? Check all that apply.

GradyWhite Boats offers a financial bonus company-wide when revenue goals are met.

All of Googles work facilities incorporate snack and beverage stations within a 150 feet of employee work spaces.

DreamWorks Animation offers employees fully-paid sabbaticals.

Google has a 20% Time policy. A fifth of an employees time at work can be spent working on ideas and projects of personal interest.